[net.cycle] "Traffic Light Defense"

bam (12/06/82)

I have heard that most traffic statutes have a clause to cover "broken"
lights.  Most of them say something to the affect that if a motorists
determines that a traffic light is defective, they may proceed with
caution after yielding to all vehicles.  I have gone through lights
on both my motorcycle and my bicycle when they haven't changed but
I have never had to use this defense.

	Bruce McLean PY N.J.

rogers (12/06/82)

	Here in Oregon (also in Idaho), an intersection with
mal-functioning traffic lights automatically becomes a four (
or three, five, whatever) way stop. 
	I have seen stop signs on saw-horses at some of the
major intersections around here to help ease the confusion also.


	       Not afraid to quill my John Doe....
		-Roger

donch (12/07/82)

Surely all cyclists out there in net.land have run into this catch-22:
an intersection with detectors implanted in the pavement to control 
the signals fails to detect your motorcycle AND there is only
one detector so the car waiting impatiently behind you cannot trigger
the light either.
I have inadvertently discovered most such signals between home and work
and select my route depending on the likelihood of a car doing trigger duty for
me on any given intersection.  
In the event that I get caught by one of these recalcitrant lights,
I usually wait two full light changes (which exclude my lane) then
take my chances at the first opportunity.  One friend of mine got caught
by just such a situation and the cop was unsympathetic.  When he went to
traffic court with the citation, the judge disgustedly tore up the ticket
and complained about the cop being unreasonable.  My mentally rehearsed
line in the event that I get caught is to offer the cop to accompany 
me through the light to prove my point.  Of course, I'm a firm
believer in Murphy's Law . . . .


Don Chitwood
Tek Labs
Tektronix, Inc.