A new Pennsylvania law has gone into effect that will allow motorists to drive through certain red lights.
The law went into effect across the state of Pennsylvania on Sunday, September 4th.
According to Fox 43, Act 101, or the “Ride on Red” law, allows any motorist to pass through a red light if they believe it’s unresponsive or malfunctioning.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Stephen Bloom, was originally written for motorcycles, as they are often too light to trigger weight-based traffic light sensors that make the lights change. The law has since been modified to include all vehicles on the road.
“If the vehicle detection system fails to recognize the vehicle and the driver has come to a complete stop, the driver must then make sure it is safe to continue, and only then would they be able to lawfully proceed with caution through the intersection,” Bloom explained, reported WGAL
“This law does not give drivers a free pass, but ensures a safe and legal option to avoid the danger and inconvenience of being trapped in perpetuity at a locked red light,” Bloom continued.
“This issue is more common than many people realize, especially on rural roads or during late hours when long periods often elapse before a heavier vehicle comes along to finally trip the unresponsive light.”
“It’s a common sense piece of legislation to solve a practical problem when a signal doesn’t detect a small vehicle, motorcycle, or even a horse and buggy,” Bloom said.
“This allows them to proceed safely as if they were at a stop sign. They can’t do anything dangerous, but it allows a practical solution for a problem many Pennsylvanians are running into.”