Legally running red lights in WA

[Coyote Chris]

We have all encountered improperly designed, calibrated stop lights. Very frustrating...I just run them.
Well, in WA, its legal to run red lights.
Under RCW 46.61.184, Washington's "dead red" law, bicyclists, moped riders, and street-legal motorcycle operators may legally proceed through a red light if the traffic signal's vehicle detection sensor fails to register their presence. [1, 2]

How the Law Works

• • Complete Stop: You must bring your vehicle to a full and complete stop at the red light.
  • Wait One Full Cycle: You must wait through at least one entire signal cycle without the light turning green.
  • Proceed with Caution: After waiting a full cycle and checking that the intersection is safe, you may proceed straight or make a left turn.
  • No Right-of-Way: The law does not give you the right-of-way; you must yield to oncoming and cross traffic

 

[Manfred]

Similar law in Texas.

 

[ST1100Y]

Over here they've just passed a bill on "turn right on red" exclusively for...

guess whom...

drum-roll...

bicycles!

Pretty useless to begin with IMO as they (as well as the stand-up e-scoots) just run red lights as they please anyway...

 

[junglejim]

Similar law in WI too. WI law does not specify waiting for a complete cycle. Just says wait and proceed with caution when no traffic is coming. In Milwaukee you might be there a while.
Years ago (maybe 30-40) WI had a law that bicyclists did not have to stop ad a stop sign, but only slow down and yield to other traffic. I believe that law has been replaced. But what the heck. Slowing down is what most of the cars do now-a-days. And some barely even slow down if they are in a hurry. Traffic law compliance is mostly a joke.

 

[ST1100Y]

Traffic law compliance is mostly a joke.

And that they're getting softened by the dept over the years...

When I made my (two) licenses (car '84, bike '92) the "behavior at intersection with a stop sign" was clearly specified:
- stopping your vehicle before the physical intersection, slowly creep forward while spotting for traffic from any direction
The "correct" answer these days though:
- move into the intersection to achieve clear view of cross traffic
err... excuse me?!! Do what??!
now that B.S. explains a lot of what I'm encountering these days... pfffff...
suddenly sticking out like 6 feet into the lane... with a semi approaching from the left... right...
pure suicide on a motorcycle...

 

[junglejim]

I must confess that I'm much better at coming to a complete stop at stop signs on my motorcycle than in my car because it is safer. My mental attention and caution are at an elevated level on the bike compared to a car. As it should be!

However in my very rural county (which doesn't have even a single traffic light) I confess to bending the rules a bit. When there is not a single car in sight from any direction at a stop sign it invites a "rolling stop" and I sometimes oblige. Never an issue in 66 years of driving. But on US 2, where I live, it is always stop and look at least twice before pulling out.

 

[JQL]

In the UK it is illegal to pass a red traffic light for any reason (Rule 175). This includes if it is stuck on red. As a lot of traffic lights have "Red Light Cameras", on crossing the white line while on red you will be fined automatically and have points deducted from your licence. If the lights are not functioning, i.e. no light of any colour is showing, you can pass the light but you must proceed with caution.

An emergency vehicle, responding to an emergency, may pass a red traffic light but you must not pass the red light to allow the emergency vehicle to pass. The rule for emergency vehicles, is they are supposed to turn off their siren while blocked at a red light (i.e. there is no safe path for them past the lights) and wait for the light to turn green before turning it back on.

 

[ST1100Y]

... you must not pass the red light to allow the emergency vehicle to pass...

err... zis doesn't seem smart...
I'd to peel (my car/service van) out onto the pedestrian X-ing for EMT's 'under signal' behind me on numberless occasions; I didn't cross the intersection though, just pulled aside to give them space to pass through... (and firefighters in their big red trucks have no hesitation of peeling off a fender or two...)

Of course do you then face some AH's closing the lane behind you, blocking you backing in... yeah, the viral lack of common sense paired with selfish ignorance will lead to a fast demise of the human race... no doubt... imbeciles...

And BTW: I also made a cab driving license, where we learned that for particular medical emergencies of your passenger (cardiac arrest, breech position...) you can (and should) slip a red light, under absolute caution of course, but every second counts...

Anyhoo...
While in Florida I found the "turn right on red" quite useful, it works because road layout supports it, drivers there are used to it for years...
Introducing this into European roads with mostly narrower, confusing road infrastructure paired with increasing numbers of erratic road users doesn't really appeal to me...

 

[ARKNT]

Instead of running a red light just stay away from them. Stay on scenic, curvy roads where motorcycles are the best they can be.
Easier said than done but avoid stoplights.

Arknt

 

[junglejim]

Stay on scenic, curvy roads where motorcycles are the best they can be.

Ya! That's the best plan yet.
2 days ago I rode for 40 miles on a scenic, curvy road and met only one oncoming vehicle. I also encountered 2 deer, 10 turkeys, and only 1 stop sign. That's about ideal. However that was NOT exactly on the road to Walmart or the liquor store.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Similar law in WI too. WI law does not specify waiting for a complete cycle. Just says wait and proceed with caution when no traffic is coming. In Milwaukee you might be there a while.
Years ago (maybe 30-40) WI had a law that bicyclists did not have to stop ad a stop sign, but only slow down and yield to other traffic. I believe that law has been replaced. But what the heck. Slowing down is what most of the cars do now-a-days. And some barely even slow down if they are in a hurry. Traffic law compliance is mostly a joke.

Sad to say, you are correct. No one enforces them. So the scofflaws just ignore the traffic laws and there arent many traffic cops anyway. And in WA WA land, a trooper cant chase a violator anyway....someone might get hurt....lawyers...lawsuits....

 

[Coyote Chris]

I must confess that I'm much better at coming to a complete stop at stop signs on my motorcycle than in my car because it is safer. My mental attention and caution are at an elevated level on the bike compared to a car. As it should be!

However in my very rural county (which doesn't have even a single traffic light) I confess to bending the rules a bit. When there is not a single car in sight from any direction at a stop sign it invites a "rolling stop" and I sometimes oblige. Never an issue in 66 years of driving. But on US 2, where I live, it is always stop and look at least twice before pulling out.

I never replace a clutch and very seldom brakes on either cause I am a believer that if there is no one in sight, I look twice and roll through the stop sign. Saving gas for America!

 

[Coyote Chris]

Ya! That's the best plan yet.
2 days ago I rode for 40 miles on a scenic, curvy road and met only one oncoming vehicle. I also encountered 2 deer, 10 turkeys, and only 1 stop sign. That's about ideal. However that was NOT exactly on the road to Walmart or the liquor store.

The Turkeys and their offspring are everywhere now......

 

[Coyote Chris]

err... zis doesn't seem smart...
I'd to peel (my car/service van) out onto the pedestrian X-ing for EMT's 'under signal' behind me on numberless occasions; I didn't cross the intersection though, just pulled aside to give them space to pass through... (and firefighters in their big red trucks have no hesitation of peeling off a fender or two...)

Of course do you then face some AH's closing the lane behind you, blocking you backing in... yeah, the viral lack of common sense paired with selfish ignorance will lead to a fast demise of the human race... no doubt... imbeciles...

And BTW: I also made a cab driving license, where we learned that for particular medical emergencies of your passenger (cardiac arrest, breech position...) you can (and should) slip a red light, under absolute caution of course, but every second counts...

Anyhoo...
While in Florida I found the "turn right on red" quite useful, it works because road layout supports it, drivers there are used to it for years...
Introducing this into European roads with mostly narrower, confusing road infrastructure paired with increasing numbers of erratic road users doesn't really appeal to me...

OK, now I am confused. In the US, a right turn on red after a stop is about par, although some intersections forbid them due to circumstance. In fact, if you are on a two lane two way surface street and it intersects with a one way road heading off to your left, you can do a left on red. All this helps keep traffic moving and saves gas.

 

[ST1100Y]

All this helps keep traffic moving and saves gas.

Nah! You got this upside down:
since they only intend "our best" city authorities take any, even remotely imaginary measures to block traffic, for the sole purpose of keywords like "traffic problems" and "emissions" to fan the flames on the "climate panic" and "energy transition" agenda...
Examples:
eliminating hundreds of parking spots on a stretch of city road in favor of a 12 feet wide "bicycle highway" now forces numberless local residents to desperately circling the block in search of a parking space for their vehicles... e.v.e.r.y. evening...
changing the traffic light timing on a mayor road artery from sequenced to alternating, so the previously flowing traffic now rolls from one red light to the next, successfully creates a total gridlock for literally no costs (other then fat-fingering a few buttons in the computerized main station) everyone can point their fingers at and complain about...

q.e.d. ...

OK, not related to stop signs, but you get the idea...

 

[JQL]

err... zis doesn't seem smart...
I'd to peel (my car/service van) out onto the pedestrian X-ing for EMT's 'under signal' behind me on numberless occasions; I didn't cross the intersection though, just pulled aside to give them space to pass through... (and firefighters in their big red trucks have no hesitation of peeling off a fender or two...)

Of course do you then face some AH's closing the lane behind you, blocking you backing in... yeah, the viral lack of common sense paired with selfish ignorance will lead to a fast demise of the human race... no doubt... imbeciles...

And BTW: I also made a cab driving license, where we learned that for particular medical emergencies of your passenger (cardiac arrest, breech position...) you can (and should) slip a red light, under absolute caution of course, but every second counts...

Anyhoo...
While in Florida I found the "turn right on red" quite useful, it works because road layout supports it, drivers there are used to it for years...
Introducing this into European roads with mostly narrower, confusing road infrastructure paired with increasing numbers of erratic road users doesn't really appeal to me...

That's the rule in the UK and people are fined and receive points every day for letting an emergency vehicle through. No Left (Right in the US) on Red. No crossing the white line.

There is a defence, but you must go to court and have sufficient evidence to challenge the conviction - it's nearly impossible to have it overturned.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Nah! You got this upside down:
since they only intend "our best" city authorities take any, even remotely imaginary measures to block traffic, for the sole purpose of keywords like "traffic problems" and "emissions" to fan the flames on the "climate panic" and "energy transition" agenda...
Examples:
eliminating hundreds of parking spots on a stretch of city road in favor of a 12 feet wide "bicycle highway" now forces numberless local residents to desperately circling the block in search of a parking space for their vehicles... e.v.e.r.y. evening...
changing the traffic light timing on a mayor road artery from sequenced to alternating, so the previously flowing traffic now rolls from one red light to the next, successfully creates a total gridlock for literally no costs (other then fat-fingering a few buttons in the computerized main station) everyone can point their fingers at and complain about...

q.e.d. ...

OK, not related to stop signs, but you get the idea...

I see you have heard about the anti destinatin League (ADL) Top secret society designed to block any attempt to improve traffic flow.