Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bicycle Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Idaho stop law lets cyclists treat stop signs as yields, presenter says
Summary
A presenter summarized the Idaho stop law, explaining cyclists’ responsibilities at stop signs and red lights, the law’s stated safety benefits, and early data from states that have adopted similar rules.
Presenter explained a traffic rule known as the Idaho stop law that allows bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and, in some cases, red lights as stop signs.
The presenter said the law — modeled after a statute first passed in Idaho in the 1980s — requires bicyclists at a stop sign to confirm no other traffic, including pedestrians, must be yielded to before rolling through; at a red light, bicyclists must come to a complete stop and then confirm there is no other traffic before proceeding.
The law matters, the presenter said, because it can help bicyclists maintain momentum through intersections, reduce turning conflicts with motorists at signalized intersections and increase distance between bicycles and motor vehicles, which the presenter said lowers crash risk. The presenter also cited data and agency commentary to support those claims.
According to the presenter, 12 states have adopted laws similar to the Idaho stop. The presenter said Idaho saw a 14.5 percent drop in bike injuries and Delaware saw a 23 percent decrease at stop sign intersections after adopting similar rules. The presenter also referenced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, saying that agency finds such laws can improve cyclist safety, visibility and have environmental benefits.
No motions or formal actions were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided. The remarks in the record were explanatory: describing what the law allows, listing bicyclist responsibilities at stop signs and red lights, and summarizing safety data cited by the presenter.
