Oklahoma appears poised to join seven other states in allowing motorcycles to run red lights. Many lights in the state are triggered by the metal mass of the vehicle to turn the traffic signal. However, motorcycles lack the weight and mass to register with the ground sensors. Not surprisingly, the lights do not change soon enough for the “Sooners” of Oklahoma.
Safe driving advocates oppose the change but bikers insists that they often have to wait for any eternity due to the sensors.
The law reprinted below states:
d. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the driver of a motorcycle or bicycle facing any steady red signal may cautiously proceed through the intersection only if:
(1) the motorcycle or bicycle has been brought to a complete stop as required by subparagraph a of this paragraph,
(2) the traffic control signal is programmed or engineered to change to a green signal only after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle and has failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle or bicycle because of its size or weight, and
(3) no motor vehicle or person is approaching on the roadway to be crossed or entered, or is at a distance from the intersection that does not constitute an immediate hazard.
Notably, it requires that the signal be configured with ground sensors. What happens when teenagers say they were simply mistaken in running the red light?
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House Bill No. 1795
HOUSE BILL NO. 1795 – By: HOSKIN AND LUTTRELL of the House and BASS of the Senate.
An Act relating to motor vehicles; amending 47> O.S. 2001, Section <11-202, which relates to traffic control signals; establishing conditions under which motorcyclists and bicyclists may proceed through red traffic signals; specifying conditions under which motorcyclists and bicyclists shall not have a defense for certain violations; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY O.S. 2001, Section , is amended to read as follows:
Section . Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights or colored lighted arrows successively one at a time, or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
1. Green indication:
a. Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal, except when prohibited under Section 111302 of this title, may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the rightofway to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.
b. Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
c. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestriancontrol signal, as provided in Section 11-203 of this title, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
2. Steady yellow indication:
a. Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
b Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 11203 of this title, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown, and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
3. Steady red indication:
a. Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in paragraph 3b subparagraphs b and d of this section paragraph.
b. Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right or to turn left from a oneway street into a oneway street after stopping as required by paragraph 3a subparagraph a of this section paragraph. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the rightofway to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
c. In order to prohibit right turns or left turns as prescribed in paragraph 3b subparagraph b of this section paragraph on the red signal after the required stop, a municipality must erect clear, concise signs informing drivers that such turns are prohibited. The Highway Department shall specify the design of the sign to be used for this purpose, and it shall be used uniformly throughout the state.
d. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the driver of a motorcycle or bicycle facing any steady red signal may cautiously proceed through the intersection only if:
(1) the motorcycle or bicycle has been brought to a complete stop as required by subparagraph a of this paragraph,
(2) the traffic control signal is programmed or engineered to change to a green signal only after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle and has failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle or bicycle because of its size or weight, and
(3) no motor vehicle or person is approaching on the roadway to be crossed or entered, or is at a distance from the intersection that does not constitute an immediate hazard.
It shall not be a defense to a violation of subparagraph a of this paragraph that the driver of a motorcycle or bicycle proceeded under the belief that a traffic control signal was programmed or engineered to change to a green light only after detecting the approach of a vehicle when such signal was not in fact programmed or engineered in such a way, or that such a signal was not in fact inoperative due to the size or weight of the motorcycle or bicycle.
e. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 11203 of this title, pedestrians facing a steady circular red signal alone shall not enter the roadway.
In the event an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective .
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, dated 02-19-09 – DO PASS, As Coauthored.
There’s a light near here with one of those sensors, and when I ride motorcycles, I avoid it at all costs. I’ve sat there for about five minutes or more, I even tried the “push the walk button and get back to the bike” trick, to no avail. I hope this bill passed.
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A little background info and fact checking: Most stoplight sensors aren’t detecting the weight of the vehicle. They are actually a loop of metal with an electric charge running through it. This creates an electric field that is disrupted when a vehicle with a ferrous metal engine block and frame drives over it. The disruption is what the sensor picks up. Motorcycles have a tough time because they lack the amount of ferrous metals in their frame or engine block necessary to cause a significant disruption. Higher end sports cars are also hurt by this technology since many have aluminum frames and engine blocks to bring down the weight of the vehicle. Just a little FYI.
Mike, your story about getting passed reminds me of what my friend the doctor told me they call those “crotch rocket” motorcycles in med school: “donor bikes.”
I remember jumping off my Suzuki 50 cc moped at red lights and running up to press the walk button to get the light to change. I also remember that once a group of older kids, waiting behind me, were laughing hard at the way I had to go about this. But, hell, I was 14 and finally had a way to get around so that seemed a fair price to pay. It was either that or sit there all night, with them behind me. I even made it back in time, barely, to see the light change to green and I got the kickstand down and was off again, no helmet, at night, with them laughing as they passed me, my top speed of 35 being the speed limit.
Hadn’t thought about this in years.
I’m a cautious, middle-aged motorcyclist and this is a good idea. At some intersections, motorcycles simply do not trigger the sensors. What’s the rider to do then?
If it happens in the middle of the day, I’ll sometimes turn around and go out of my way to avoid that intersection. Earlier or later in the day, I’ll take my chances on the ticket.
No snark about driving a car instead, please. Motorcyclists pay the same road use fuel taxes that auto drivers pay; the roads ought to serve them as well.
If some people abuse the change then, as Mike said, it’s a great way to thin the herd.
This is a great way to thin the herd.
With the downsizing of cars to smaller and more fuel efficient “green” models, the sensors will require modifications anyway.
The sensors couldn’t trigger at a lighter weight?
Get some laser sensors?
Having learned to ride motorcycles at the Sturgis Rally in 1977, I gave it up after a week because I discovered that an unseen sandy patch could cause you to go out of control. I was a street drag racer in my youth so it wasn’t about going fast.
What I see down in Florida, with its “no helmet” law is motorcyclists passing me in the left lane of I95 doing 100mph
without helmets. Now since I have had many sensible friends who rode motorcycles exclusively, I am loath to condemn the entire sub culture. However, there is a significant percentage of bikers who thrill to the adrenalin rush of taking untoward chances and I think that affording them this discretion is not the best of ideas, nor is it an urgent necessity.
If you’ve ever been behind a sub-compact at a light at 3am, then you know why this law makes sense.
Some local idiots have been pushing for a -local- law allowing bicyclists to run red lights and the common understanding is that they are referring to running the light without stopping. They claim it’s too hard to stop and then start moving again. I’m sure some have pointed to the referenced laws as ‘proof’ that other areas have done this without realizing that the actual language is very different.
(I doubt the city has the authority to change traffic laws, but it could tell the police officers to treat it as the lowest priority law to enforce.)
It never seems to occur to the proponents that it’s extremely dangerous since drivers from outside the immediate area won’t expect bicyclists to fly through intersections. It’s inevitable that sime will cut it closer and closer until people start getting killed.
This is unfortunate since it makes all local cyclists look bad. We have a lot of responsible cyclists. But we also have a lot, often associated with the university, that don’t see anything wrong with riding at night without lights or helmet while wearing dark clothing. It’s bad enough on the road, but downright reckless on bike paths when they can’t see other users and those people have no warning before they’re hit or nearly hit.