Stop Lights
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,288
Likes: 2,425
From: Eastern NE
Some lights work on timers, but you're referencing one operating via. inductive loop where there's a coiled wire embedded into the road to trip a signal's sequence. One thing is to try and stop right over the wire (e.g. look for rectangle in road), but most of the time we're not paying attn at stops/signals. As others indicate, some states have m/c clauses allowing us to treat light as "stop & go." I know this article's from Dec 2013, but it does list a CA note where you can consider a light "disabled" if it doesn't sequence (1st comment below article). You can call your DMV to verify, but seems to be some wiggle-room there...
http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2013/12/08/...un-red-lights/
http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2013/12/08/...un-red-lights/
These states have comprehensive laws when it comes to motorcycles and red lights, the rest of the states need to get with the program.
A lot of the lights here around San Antonio are now on motion sensors rather than the magnetic style.
A lot of the lights here around San Antonio are now on motion sensors rather than the magnetic style.
• Arkansas (2005) The state law allows a motorcyclist to proceed with caution, after coming to a full and complete stop, through a red light that fails to detect the bike. (Arkansas Code section 27-52-206)
• Idaho (2006) If a signal fails to operate after one cycle of the traffic light, the motorcyclist may proceed, using due caution and care, after coming to a full and complete stop at the intersection. (Statute 49-802)
• Illinois (2012) Permits a driver of a motorcycle or bicycle facing a red light
that fails to change within a reasonable period of time of not less than 120 seconds to proceed after yielding the right-of-way to any oncoming traffic. However, this law doesn’t apply to municipalities of over 2,000,000 people such as Chicago. (625 ILCS 5/11-306)
• Minnesota (2002) A person operating a bicycle or motorcycle who runs a red light has an affirmative defense if the driver first came to a complete stop, the traffic light stayed red for an unreasonable amount of time and appeared not to detect the vehicle and no motor vehicles or people were approaching the street.(Statute 169.06)
• Missouri (2009) State law tells both motorcyclists and bicyclists who run red lights that they have an affirmative defense if they brought their vehicle to a complete stop, the light was red for an unreasonable time period, and there were no motor vehicle or person approaching. (Statute 304.285)
• In early 2013, Nebraska introduced Bill LB 85 proposing a safe-on-red law, but the bill currently has a status of “indefinitely postponed
• Nevada (2013) Those using motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds, and “tri-mobiles” are allowed to proceed through an intersection with a red light after waiting for two traffic light cycles, and they yield to other vehicle traffic or pedestrians. (Statute 484B.307)
• North Carolina (2007) Motorcyclists are permitted to move cautiously through a steady red light after coming to a complete stop and waiting a minimum of three minutes and if no other vehicle or pedestrians are approaching the intersection. (NCGS 20-158)
• Oklahoma (2010) Motorcycles can proceed cautiously through a steady red light intersection after making a complete stop and if no other motor vehicle or person is approaching the roadway. (Statute 47-11-202)
• South Carolina (2008) After making a complete stop and waiting for a minimum of 120 seconds, the driver of a motorcycle, moped, or bicycle may treat a steady red light that doesn’t change as a stop sign and proceed with caution. (S.C. Code 56-5-970)
• Tennessee (2003) After coming to a complete stop, motorcyclists and bicyclists may proceed through a steady red light when it is safe to do so. (Tennessee Traffic Control Signals 55-8-110)
• Virginia (2011) Drivers of motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles may move with caution through non-responsive red lights as long as they yield the right-of-way to others approaching the intersection, and have come to a complete stop for two complete light cycles or 120 seconds, whichever is shorter.(Statute 46-2-833)
• Wisconsin (2006) A motorcycle, moped or bicycle is permitted to run a steady red light after making a complete stop and waiting at least 45 seconds and then yields the right–of-way to any vehicular traffic or pedestrians using the intersection. (Statute 346.37)
• Idaho (2006) If a signal fails to operate after one cycle of the traffic light, the motorcyclist may proceed, using due caution and care, after coming to a full and complete stop at the intersection. (Statute 49-802)
• Illinois (2012) Permits a driver of a motorcycle or bicycle facing a red light
that fails to change within a reasonable period of time of not less than 120 seconds to proceed after yielding the right-of-way to any oncoming traffic. However, this law doesn’t apply to municipalities of over 2,000,000 people such as Chicago. (625 ILCS 5/11-306)
• Minnesota (2002) A person operating a bicycle or motorcycle who runs a red light has an affirmative defense if the driver first came to a complete stop, the traffic light stayed red for an unreasonable amount of time and appeared not to detect the vehicle and no motor vehicles or people were approaching the street.(Statute 169.06)
• Missouri (2009) State law tells both motorcyclists and bicyclists who run red lights that they have an affirmative defense if they brought their vehicle to a complete stop, the light was red for an unreasonable time period, and there were no motor vehicle or person approaching. (Statute 304.285)
• In early 2013, Nebraska introduced Bill LB 85 proposing a safe-on-red law, but the bill currently has a status of “indefinitely postponed
• Nevada (2013) Those using motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds, and “tri-mobiles” are allowed to proceed through an intersection with a red light after waiting for two traffic light cycles, and they yield to other vehicle traffic or pedestrians. (Statute 484B.307)
• North Carolina (2007) Motorcyclists are permitted to move cautiously through a steady red light after coming to a complete stop and waiting a minimum of three minutes and if no other vehicle or pedestrians are approaching the intersection. (NCGS 20-158)
• Oklahoma (2010) Motorcycles can proceed cautiously through a steady red light intersection after making a complete stop and if no other motor vehicle or person is approaching the roadway. (Statute 47-11-202)
• South Carolina (2008) After making a complete stop and waiting for a minimum of 120 seconds, the driver of a motorcycle, moped, or bicycle may treat a steady red light that doesn’t change as a stop sign and proceed with caution. (S.C. Code 56-5-970)
• Tennessee (2003) After coming to a complete stop, motorcyclists and bicyclists may proceed through a steady red light when it is safe to do so. (Tennessee Traffic Control Signals 55-8-110)
• Virginia (2011) Drivers of motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles may move with caution through non-responsive red lights as long as they yield the right-of-way to others approaching the intersection, and have come to a complete stop for two complete light cycles or 120 seconds, whichever is shorter.(Statute 46-2-833)
• Wisconsin (2006) A motorcycle, moped or bicycle is permitted to run a steady red light after making a complete stop and waiting at least 45 seconds and then yields the right–of-way to any vehicular traffic or pedestrians using the intersection. (Statute 346.37)
Last edited by SafetyMan; Feb 22, 2015 at 08:54 AM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,178
Likes: 5
From: Central Calif
know your local laws -- local police answered this question with the following comment -- it is a lot easier to explain to an officer why you pulled from the turn lane into the regular lane and proceed across the intersection on a green light than to explain turning on a red light --
many states have changed the law -- which is great -- however the officer may not have seen you wait for the designated amount of time and believes you ran a red light
many states have changed the law -- which is great -- however the officer may not have seen you wait for the designated amount of time and believes you ran a red light
Last edited by OwnerOfHarriet; Feb 22, 2015 at 10:30 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 4
Missouri (2009) same year give new motorcycles 5 year before they are required to get a vehicle inspection prior to getting a license plate.
Last edited by STLFLSTF_Mike; Feb 22, 2015 at 09:59 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 229
From: Saskatchewan
This works for turn signals. But there are a few traffic lights in my area that don't cycle, they stay red until they detect a vehicle. I'll treat them as a 4 way stop but if it is busy all you can do is turn right.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 17
From: San Jose
Even if i waited three cycles of the light, I'm not going to make an unsafe move!
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 193
From: ohio
Right on, And safety man is correct, all other states need to catch up
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
D.) all of the above.
induction loops are just like pickups in electric guitars ( or a stator)- a ferrous material moving over the loop of wire will cause electrons to move within the loop...and a smart machine somewhere should trigger a light change.
these loops are most sensitive right over the lines cut in the pavement.
( and engineers who place these loops into the cross walk ( LA) force drivers to sit in teh crosswalk to get a signal change)
as cars use less steel and more aluminum and plastic, many of the loop designs are being up graded- some aren;t.
Either way our bikes often don;t trigger a light.
Do call your city traffic department- that may help I have found the Guys at City of PHX to be responsive- but it still isnt perfect.
magnets can help- I had magnets attached to my left boot- on approach to a stop, I would drag my foot over the loop.
some success...sometimes no
some lights have sensors that will trigger from emergency vehicles- i have Pals who flash the high beams when approaching a light...maybe, maybe not.
Mike
induction loops are just like pickups in electric guitars ( or a stator)- a ferrous material moving over the loop of wire will cause electrons to move within the loop...and a smart machine somewhere should trigger a light change.
these loops are most sensitive right over the lines cut in the pavement.
( and engineers who place these loops into the cross walk ( LA) force drivers to sit in teh crosswalk to get a signal change)
as cars use less steel and more aluminum and plastic, many of the loop designs are being up graded- some aren;t.
Either way our bikes often don;t trigger a light.
Do call your city traffic department- that may help I have found the Guys at City of PHX to be responsive- but it still isnt perfect.
magnets can help- I had magnets attached to my left boot- on approach to a stop, I would drag my foot over the loop.
some success...sometimes no
some lights have sensors that will trigger from emergency vehicles- i have Pals who flash the high beams when approaching a light...maybe, maybe not.
Mike