WASHINGTON -- The death of a Prince George's County cyclist on Tuesday has brought greater awareness to laws that have allowed drivers who inadvertently kill pedestrians to walk away with only minor penalties.

Prince Georges County State's Attorney Glen Ivey went to Annapolis in March to petition for change to Maryland's vehicular manslaughter laws.

"One of the toughest parts of our jobs is having to explain to families why the killer in the car is going to be able to walk away, or in some cases drive away, with nothing more than traffic tickets," he said.

Shane Farthing, of the Washington Area Bicyclists Association, emphasized that drivers are handling potentially lethal machines.

"It is your responsibility," he said. "If you hit someone, the fact that you didn't see them is not an excuse."