Motorcyclists' red-light bill goes to SanfordBy JIM DAVENPORT
Associated Press
Saturday, May 17, 2008
COLUMBIA — South Carolina might join six other states that let motorcyclists, mo-ped drivers and bicyclists go through red lights that don't change within a couple minutes of their stopping. The House and Senate sent a bill to Gov. Mark Sanford on Thursday that allows that even though it raises concerns about whether intersections will become more dangerous. Supporters say motorcyclists get trapped at red lights with sensors embedded in the road that don't respond to their smaller vehicles. The legislation would require them to stop and allow them to go through the red light if the signal doesn't change within two minutes, as long as they can do so safely. Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin all have similar laws, said Imre Szauter, who oversees state legislation for the American Motorcyclist Association. Among the states that allow post-stop, red-light running, only Tennessee requires all drivers to have helmets, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. South Carolina's death rates on motorcycles rose from 88 in 2004 to 109 in 2006, the last year for which the federal agency has numbers available. "I think the motorcyclist community is going to be very careful in the use of this," Szauter said. Motorcyclists around the nation complain about sensors that don't pick up motorcycles and trigger light changes. "There really was no alternative," said Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Larry Grooms. Public safety officials here didn't oppose the law change. While the bill started out applying only to intersections with the buried sensors, Grooms, R-Bonneau, said the Senate went along with a House amendment that made it apply to every intersection. But there are concerns beyond motorcyclists. For instance, car drivers could think the same law applies to them. "It invites a good deal of subjective law interpretation, everybody sort of deciding on their own," said Doug Hecox, spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration in Washington. |
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Comments
This article has 18 comment(s)
Posted by ForPnC on May 17, 2008 at 3:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gov Sanford - You've been making some good moves lately and I've been supporting most of them. I have a question on this one though -
How big was that bowl of STUPID you ate this morning?! Are you out of your f***ing mind or what?!
Posted by ChrisPia on May 17, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can anyone reasonably work on or pass this bill with dealy accidents happening on a daily basis.Someone in the Legislature musthave a motorcycle is my only thought.
Posted by Slick50 on May 17, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are only a handful of intersections that I would attempt to turn left on or proceed through against a red light. Statewide, there are probably hundreds. As a motorcycle operator, I have waited patiently for a light to change, recognizing that my bike is not being detected. When that happens, I pull up as far as safely practical and signal the vehicle behind me to do the same. Even if I had the legal right to proceed, I am not sure the guy behind me wouldn't do the same thing after I pulled out. Thus, he meets another SC driver via side impact.
On the other hand, you can back traffic up on Bees Ferry Road in a heartbeat when the light doesn't change.
Bottom line. I would rather see traffic backed up due to insensitive embedded sensors rather than a fatal accident.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 17, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! How the hell does someone come up with this and think it's a good idea?
Let me propose a few more:
Only used oil from Chevy vehicles can be dumped directly down a strom drain.
Entering a house, with a loaded gun in a robbery attempt, can only be done if no one answers the door after the second knock.
Women can removed their shirts and bras in public if the heat index remains over 90 F for more than one hour.
Sheesh...
Posted by amylrod on May 17, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ForPnc, the article didn't say Sanford signed it, it said the bill was sent to his office. If he signs it, then you can bemoan all you want. I hope he doesn't sign it, either.
Posted by ForPnC on May 17, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
amylrod - I stand corrected.
He's been doing all right lately with the occasional screwup.
Please don't sign, Governor.
Posted by forget on May 17, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My VW is not much different in size than some motorcycles. Could I fall into the going thru the red light group?
I think this is ridiculous. Like we don't have enough fatal accidents already.
Posted by onevoice on May 17, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is so screwed up! I have to wear a seat belt while driving my truck and motorcyclist don't have to wear helments. Now they want to let them pull off against red lights sounds like someone is trying to kill off the biking community. Don't sign it MARK, somebodies blood will be on your hands!
Posted by TheCat_inTheHat on May 17, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by forget on May 17, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My VW is not much different in size than some motorcycles. Could I fall into the going thru the red light group?
I think this is ridiculous. Like we don't have enough fatal accidents already.
What kinda VW are you driving? Unless its got two wheels, and no roof, i'd say its alot diff than motorcycles
Posted by magoo on May 17, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
put timers on the traffic lights
Posted by LowCountryCrime on May 17, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Harpo, just how strong a magnet do you need?
Hey, P&C - stop pushing your helmet law agenda. Every article having anything to do with the motorcycling community doesn't have to point out the helmet freedom laws in this state vs. the restrictive laws in other states.
Posted by OMG on May 17, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not just let those 18 year olds that our Governor is letting own handguns shoot out the long red lights.
OMG!!!!!
Posted by ForPnC on May 17, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Harpo posted - "I'd also like to see my fellow bikers ticketed for burning their bright high beams at nighttime and blinding other drivers; something they seem to think they have a right
to do."
THANK YOU HARPO!
Bike or not - My normal lights are two and people will get all six for this one! I'll give you a case of the s**ts for not turning off the high beams. And it won't bother me a bit.
Posted by JC on May 18, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is sooo STUPID! The cyclists aren't going to count 2 minutes. They are going to pull up and go. They will get hit, and they will lie and say they had the green light. Our insurance rates will go up even higher. South Carolina already pays more than most for car insurance and I doubt this idiotic law will do anything to help that. Ohhhh and not to mention, it is not uncommon for intersections to have cycle lenghts longer than 2 minutes! Maybe they should have consulted a traffic engineer on this one. Oh wait, they are all traffic engineers:) Won't this be fun to watch.
Posted by ForPnC on May 18, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, how's this one?
I'm coming up on and getting ready to go straight on my green light. A motorcyclist/bicyclist gets tired of waiting for their red light so they run it because they're allowed to now. We collide.
Because common sense has went out the window with this new found privilege/law, who wants to make bets that somehow it would be my fault?
Posted by JohnS on May 18, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't have a problem with the wino cycle moped. It's the regular bike rider who wears all the gear and rides in the middle of a rural rode needs to get the chrome horn if he does not move over to the shoulder. They should pass a law that says they have 30 seconds to get to the shoulder or get the chrome horn.
Posted by telitlikeitis on May 18, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the whole point of red lights is to stop and let other traffic go,people will be killed if they allow this bill !!! they must have got a hold of thomas ravenel drugs because this is retarded to the highest power
Posted by LowCountryCrime on May 18, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for the info, Harpo.