WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Motorcyclists take note: new left turn law

 Motorcyclists take note: new left turn law

Motorcyclists in Washington state who have been stuck idling at red lights cycle after cycle will have another option under a new law that went into effect last week.

Many modern traffic lights are triggered by sensors buried under the asphalt. The most common sensors use magnetic fields to trigger the sensors, which works well for cars and trucks. Motorcycles, however, sometimes fail to trigger the senors.

In these situations, riders are stopped for several minutes in the middle of the road while traffic cruises by in both directions. Some riders get off their bikes to press the crosswalk button to trigger a green light. Neither of these options are very safe for motorcyclists.

Under legislation that became law on Thursday however, motorcyclists will be able to proceed through a red light legally as long as they wait the duration of a full cycle without it turning green. To address safety concerns, motorcyclists must come to a complete stop and proceed with caution through the intersection.

The legislation, Senate Bill 5141, passed with bipartisan support in both chambers. The House companion was sponsored by Representative Luis Moscoso, D-Mountlake Terrace.