Nevada changes motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, moped and tri-cycle law allowing these vehicles to go thru, make left or right while the light remains red.
What law went into effect on October 1 2013?
The new law allows riders on motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, tri-cycles, and bicycles to go thru red lights, make lefts against red lights and make rights against red even when specifically forbidden if certain conditions allow it. The law is simple and so are the conditions and the law makes sense but can also cause injury if people aren't aware and watch out for these riders.
Origin of the law
Because a rider of one of these type of personal transportation devices are light in weight, sometimes the road sensors controlling a traffic light don't register a rider. Therefore, the computer controlling the light doesn't know there is a rider waiting to cross the intersection and doesn't change. That has happened to many riders and just comes with the territory. But it is frustrating watching the signals change for everyone but you if you are the only one in a changing lane or you are out late at night. In Nevada, because of the extreme heat in the summer, sitting at a traffic light for 10 minutes with a helmet on can actually cause a health emergency and this was the exact reason for the amendment to the traffic law.
Conditions needed to circumvent current traffic laws
The conditions needed to remain on the legal side of the law are simple. If you come to a full stop at a red light and wait TWO FULL CYCLES, you are then permitted legally to go thru the red light, make a left or right turn thru the light as well. Of course, you must yield the right of way to pedestrians and other vehicles before proceeding. If the intersections bears any addendum signage prohibiting these actions, the sign is dominant and takes precedent over the above. Simple and straight forward.
Everyone needs to tell a friend about his law
It is easy enough to look past motorcycles and not see them especially at night, at dawn and dusk. Tell a friend about these laws and look for bikes if you see in the distance that a light seems to be green your way a long time. That is an invitation for a motorcycle rider to start the two cycle count down and proceed but they may not see you and your extra awareness might just save their life and prevent a tragedy. Thanks for paying this forward.
Sources: Nevada Rider
