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Red Lights and
Stop Signs
I’m
sitting there. It’s hot. I’m the first person at the
red light… patiently waiting for it to turn green. I
see someone approaching from behind. “Is he going to
stop?” It’s hot. “Is this light ever going to turn
green?” Damn it’s hot!
Been there done that, huh?
Let’s take a look at this scene a little more
closely…
You’re approaching a red light and there are no other
cars ahead of you. You’re obviously going to stop,
right? Where do you stop though? A lot of folks simply
choose to pull up to the stop bar in the middle of the
lane, put the transmission in neutral and wait for the
light to turn green. So what’s the problem?
Consider the following:
Stopping at the stop bar limits your options should you
need to move out of someone’s way in a hurry. Though,
if your motorcycle is in neutral, you aren’t going to
move very quickly anyway.
I stop about a car length back from the stop bar on the
left side of the lane (where the left tires would be if
I were a car) with the motorcycle in first gear with the
clutch lever pulled in. I also monitor my mirrors while
I am looking around to see what else is going on.
I stop a car length back with the bike in gear to give
me an “out” should I need it. Being on the left side
of the lane, I am in the driver’s direct line of
sight. If he or she has tunnel vision, at least I (and
my brake light) will be in the tunnel.
When I first notice someone approaching in my mirror, I
flash my brake light a few times (I’m not associated
with this company, but the Brake! LED tail light has
really made a difference getting the attention of cagers
behind me). I can usually see the car slow quickly in
response. If they appear to not be slowing, I obviously
flash the brake lights again, but I am also ready to
release the clutch lever and pull forward or off to the
side should I need to. Stopping a car length back from
the stop bar allows me room to do this.
Have you ever stopped at a light or stop sign and put
your foot down and have it slip out from under you?
Another reason I stop on the left side of the lane is to
avoid fluids on the ground. Usually there is oil and
other random fluids on the ground at red lights and stop
signs from leaky cars and trucks. In the summer,
condensation from air conditioners is everywhere. If you
put your foot down in a puddle of fluid, there’s a
good chance you may slip. The left side of the lane
allows me to put my left foot down outside of where most
fluids accumulate under vehicles (my right foot is
usually working the rear brake). In addition, it also
keeps aforementioned nasty fluid off of my tires…
If I am not the first person at the light, I use the
same rational as above… I stop a car length back from
the car in front of me to allow me an out should I need
it. I still stop on the left side of the lane, and I
still keep the bike in first gear.
If it is a long light, I do put the bike in neutral, but
only when a minimum of two cars have stopped behind me.
I usually open my visor, stretch, etc., but I’m always
looking for someone to do something stupid.
When the light turns green…
If I’m first at the light, I do not immediately take
off when the light turns green. Here in Houston, many
many folks run red lights. When my light does turn
green, I look both ways to ensure someone isn’t coming
through the intersection (“But officer, I swear it
was yellow!”). I’m not in that big of a hurry…
I am sure the following has happened to you as well.
You’re sitting at the light. It’s just you. It’s
hot. You’ve been there for-friggin-ever, but the light
never changes. What do you do?
The law appears to vary from state-to-state, but many
states allow you to go even though the light is red. I
extracted the following from the Minnesota Statutes
2000, section 169.06:
(a) A person operating a motorcycle who violates
subdivision 4 by entering or crossing an intersection
controlled by a traffic-control signal against a red
light has an affirmative defense to that charge if the
person establishes all of the following conditions:
(1) the motorcycle has been brought to a complete stop;
(2) the traffic-control signal continues to show a red
light for an unreasonable time;
(3) the traffic-control signal is apparently
malfunctioning or, if programmed or engineered to change
to a green light only after detecting the approach of a
motor vehicle, the signal has apparently failed to
detect the arrival of the motorcycle; and
(4) no motor vehicle or person is approaching on the
street or highway to be crossed or entered or is so far
away from the intersection that it does not constitute
an immediate hazard.
(b) The affirmative defense in this subdivision applies
only to a violation for entering or crossing an
intersection controlled by a traffic-control signal
against a red light and does not provide a defense to
any other civil or criminal action.
You obviously need to check the rules of your state for
what you can and cannot do in this situation.
In summary, the following are my rules…
 | Leave yourself an out. |
| Leave your bike in gear with the clutch lever
pulled in until you get a few cars behind you. |
| Always always always be aware of what’s going on
around you and have an escape route ready and be
ready to implement it. |
| Avoid the fluids on the road. |
| When the light does turn green, proceed with
caution. |
Be safe!
References:
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3203.4&session=ls82 |
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