[Cyclelicious] New comment on Bicycles and defective traffic signals.

Philip has left a new comment on your post "Bicycles and defective traffic signals":

There is nothing in the Uniform Vehicle Code that addresses the issue. States regulate it individually, including many that have nothing to say about it. Here are a couple of more examples. Colorado has a statute dealing with inoperative or malfunctioning signals. In Idaho, cyclists are allowed to treat stop lights as they would stop signs (i.e., stop until it's clear to go), so it doesn't legally matter if it's functioning or not.

COLORADO
42-4-612. When signals are inoperative or malfunctioning.
(1) Whenever a driver approaches an intersection and faces a traffic control signal which is inoperative or which remains on steady red or steady yellow during several time cycles, the rules controlling entrance to a through street or highway from a stop street or highway, as provided under section 42-4-703, shall apply until a police officer assumes control of traffic or until normal operation is resumed. In the event that any traffic control signal at a place other than an intersection should cease to operate or should malfunction as set forth in this section, drivers may proceed through the inoperative or malfunctioning signal only with caution, as if the signal were one of flashing yellow.

IDAHO
49-720(2) A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a steady red traffic control light shall stop before entering the intersection and shall yield to all other traffic. Once the person has yielded, he may proceed through the steady red light with caution. Provided however, that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn. A left-hand turn onto a one-way highway may be made on a red light after stopping and yielding to other traffic.



Posted by Philip to Cyclelicious at 5/30/2007 12:32:00 PM