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Jan. 12, 2006
S.C. LEGISLATURE
Bill would give bikers green light to run on red
They’d have to stop for red lights and check for traffic but then could proceed
By JOHN O’CONNOR
Street-level complaints sometimes inspire letters to lawmakers. But Sumter resident Billy “Reb” Richardson took his concern one step further.
He was inspired to write a law.
Richardson got tired of getting stuck at traffic lights riding around the state on his Harley-Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle. His solution: Let motorcyclists drive through a red light once they have stopped and checked for traffic.
Traffic lights often are triggered by sensors that pick up metal and mass when a vehicle stops on them, but some modern motorcycles are made from plastic and aluminum that can fail to trip the sensor.
“It got to buggin’ me, so I wanted to do something about it,” Richardson said. “You’re not going to find this problem in metropolitan areas; most of those areas are on timers.”
Richardson did some research, cribbing from similar laws in Tennessee and other states, and with the help of a legislative odd couple, he got Senate Bill 1027 introduced.
The measure would allow those riding motorcycles to drive through a red light with no punishment if the light has remained red for at least 20 seconds and it is safe to proceed.
The bill was introduced by Sumter Democrat Phil Leventis — whose buttoned-down demeanor contrasts with that of the bill’s co-sponsor, Lexington Republican Jake Knotts, a bike enthusiast.
Leventis said he sponsored the bill at Richardson’s request.
“I may have a bow tie,” Leventis said in introducing the bill, “but I do not have a motorcycle.”
Leventis compared the bill to a current law allowing right turn on red.
“The responsibility is on the motorist proceeding,” Leventis said. “This is the ultimate in driver responsibility. You do it wrong, and you’re going to get smacked.”
Knotts, who does ride a motorcycle, said waiting out traffic signals can be an inconvenience.
“They can sit there on some of these controlled sensors five or 10 minutes,” Knotts said. “They sit there and they sit there and they sit there.”
The bill would discourage a practice Knotts calls the “Lexington slide,” where a motorcyclist makes a right turn, followed by a usually illegal U-turn, to bypass a traffic signal.
The fate of the measure is not clear. Senate Transportation chairman Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said he had not studied the bill, but that it would receive a hearing.
If the proposed change clears the Senate, it would face a similar round of hearings in the House.
Barnwell motorcyclist Clay Morris said he supports the legislation because it encourages making a safe stop.
““Let’s make sure we don’t have young guys coming up and just pulling through,” Morris said.
There were 96,234 motorcycles registered in South Carolina in 2004, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Rick Werts, director of traffic safety for the Department of Transportation, said his department receives some complaints about the problem of stuck lights and is taking action.
The agency has changed the standard for traffic signal sensor loops, which are about 6 feet wide, can extend as far as 30 feet from the intersection and are embedded in the pavement.
As the state does routine maintenance on signals, Werts said, it will upgrade the sensors. Werts said DOT also will upgrade an intersection if someone files a complaint.
Werts also noted that some traffic signal cycles take longer than 60 seconds, so requiring a 20-second wait might not be long enough.
Officials with the state Department of Public Safety, which patrols state highways, declined to comment, saying they do not discuss pending legislation. Local law enforcement agencies contacted also declined comment.
Richardson said he would defend the proposal at any hearing, especially because it will not cost the state any money.
“It’s just common-sense legislation,” he said. “And it’s cheap.”
http://www.thestate.com
Jan. 12, 2006
S.C. LEGISLATURE
Bill would give bikers green light to run on red
They’d have to stop for red lights and check for traffic but then could proceed
By JOHN O’CONNOR
Street-level complaints sometimes inspire letters to lawmakers. But Sumter resident Billy “Reb” Richardson took his concern one step further.
He was inspired to write a law.
Richardson got tired of getting stuck at traffic lights riding around the state on his Harley-Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle. His solution: Let motorcyclists drive through a red light once they have stopped and checked for traffic.
Traffic lights often are triggered by sensors that pick up metal and mass when a vehicle stops on them, but some modern motorcycles are made from plastic and aluminum that can fail to trip the sensor.
“It got to buggin’ me, so I wanted to do something about it,” Richardson said. “You’re not going to find this problem in metropolitan areas; most of those areas are on timers.”
Richardson did some research, cribbing from similar laws in Tennessee and other states, and with the help of a legislative odd couple, he got Senate Bill 1027 introduced.
The measure would allow those riding motorcycles to drive through a red light with no punishment if the light has remained red for at least 20 seconds and it is safe to proceed.
The bill was introduced by Sumter Democrat Phil Leventis — whose buttoned-down demeanor contrasts with that of the bill’s co-sponsor, Lexington Republican Jake Knotts, a bike enthusiast.
Leventis said he sponsored the bill at Richardson’s request.
“I may have a bow tie,” Leventis said in introducing the bill, “but I do not have a motorcycle.”
Leventis compared the bill to a current law allowing right turn on red.
“The responsibility is on the motorist proceeding,” Leventis said. “This is the ultimate in driver responsibility. You do it wrong, and you’re going to get smacked.”
Knotts, who does ride a motorcycle, said waiting out traffic signals can be an inconvenience.
“They can sit there on some of these controlled sensors five or 10 minutes,” Knotts said. “They sit there and they sit there and they sit there.”
The bill would discourage a practice Knotts calls the “Lexington slide,” where a motorcyclist makes a right turn, followed by a usually illegal U-turn, to bypass a traffic signal.
The fate of the measure is not clear. Senate Transportation chairman Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said he had not studied the bill, but that it would receive a hearing.
If the proposed change clears the Senate, it would face a similar round of hearings in the House.
Barnwell motorcyclist Clay Morris said he supports the legislation because it encourages making a safe stop.
““Let’s make sure we don’t have young guys coming up and just pulling through,” Morris said.
There were 96,234 motorcycles registered in South Carolina in 2004, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Rick Werts, director of traffic safety for the Department of Transportation, said his department receives some complaints about the problem of stuck lights and is taking action.
The agency has changed the standard for traffic signal sensor loops, which are about 6 feet wide, can extend as far as 30 feet from the intersection and are embedded in the pavement.
As the state does routine maintenance on signals, Werts said, it will upgrade the sensors. Werts said DOT also will upgrade an intersection if someone files a complaint.
Werts also noted that some traffic signal cycles take longer than 60 seconds, so requiring a 20-second wait might not be long enough.
Officials with the state Department of Public Safety, which patrols state highways, declined to comment, saying they do not discuss pending legislation. Local law enforcement agencies contacted also declined comment.
Richardson said he would defend the proposal at any hearing, especially because it will not cost the state any money.
“It’s just common-sense legislation,” he said. “And it’s cheap.”
http://www.thestate.com
