State Launches Driver Education Resources to Improve Safety For Bicyclists

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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) today announced a new set of driver education classroom resources that will help prepare future drivers to safely share the road with people bicycling. 

Developed in partnership with MassBike and LivableStreets Alliance and supported by federal funding from the National Safety Council, the new resources give driver education instructors practical, up-to-date tools for teaching safe driving behaviors around bicyclists. The materials focus on key safety topics, including Massachusetts' four-foot passing law, safe turning at intersections and checking before opening a vehicle door to help prevent "dooring" crashes. 

"Every new driver should graduate from driver education knowing how to safely share the road with people who bike," said Galen Mook, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. "These resources are designed to catch the attention of new drivers, and give instructors practical tools to build awareness, reduce conflicts, and help create safer streets for everyone." 

Bicycling continues to grow as both a popular form of transportation and recreation throughout Massachusetts, making it increasingly important that new drivers understand how to safely interact with people riding bicycles. The driver’s education module covers essential topics such as recognizing bicyclists' rights and responsibilities, yielding appropriately, navigating intersections, anticipating common riding behaviors and preventing common crashes. 

The classroom resources include instructional videos, presentation slides, lesson plans, discussion prompts and one-page reference materials that can be easily incorporated into existing driver education courses. The module aligns with current Massachusetts traffic laws and nationally recognized roadway safety best practices. 

The resources emphasize that roadway safety is a shared responsibility. By helping new drivers better understand the perspective and behavior of bicyclists, the program aims to reduce crashes, improve predictability, and encourage respectful interactions between all road users. 

The resources are available at no cost to driver education instructors, schools, and training programs throughout Massachusetts. 

For more information or to access the classroom materials, visit www.massbike.org

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Reign Goes Unbeaten in 17U Division at Home Tourney

By Stephen Dravis and Ben McDonoughiBerkshires.com Sports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The Berkshire Reign exploded for seven runs in the top of the fourth and held off the Berkshire Bananas down the stretch to earn a 12-11 win in the 17-and-under Division of the 1791 Classic at Joe Wolfe Field on Saturday.
 
Darius Taliferro hit a three-run double, and Robby Bazinet hit a two-run double in the winning rally as the Reign finished pool play with a record of 3-0 and the top seed in Sunday morning’s semi-finals.
 
Scott Hoffman went 2-for-3 with a triple for the Reign in a wild game filled with momentum swings.
 
The Bananas jumped on top with four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead only to see the Reign take a slim, 5-4 advantage after three.
 
Then, after the Reign scored seven times in the fourth to take a 12-4 lead, the run-rule was on the table, and all looked lost for the Bananas.
 
But they got off the mat with a five-run rally in the bottom of the fourth and scored twice in the fifth and had the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second in what was sure to be the game’s final inning due to the tournament’s time rule.
 
But Reign reliever Trevor Leonard delivered his only strikeout in an inning and a third on the mound when he needed it most to close the door and secure the win.
 
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