ILLINOIS: Law allows motorcycles to go through red lights

OFF THE WIRE
Written by John Schuller,
Daily Vidette Staff Writer

http://www.videtteonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35693:law-allows-motorcycles-to-go-through-red-lights&catid=60:newsstate&Itemid=53
Law allows motorcycles to go through red lights 

Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed a bill earlier this month that would allow motorcycles, after a reasonable pause at a red light, to go straight on red lights. However, both branches of the Illinois legislation overturned Quinn’s veto, now turning the proposal into a law.
Originally, the law was designated for just motorcycles, but through the amendatory process, Illinois legislators added bicycles to the list.This law was first proposed as a bill to ease riders while waiting on long red lights.
The sensors that are at stop lights are tripped by an electromagnet and are not always picked up the motorcycles because there is considerably less magnetic metal, such as steel, as compared to a car, the likelihood of a light turning green is reduced and can cause the rider delays or forced detours.
“I’ve sat at a stop light for several minutes several times before and been forced to make a right and come back around because it did not trip,” Raymond Mucha, director of the motorcycle safety program at ISU, said.
Mucha said aluminum and plastic are the majority of materials that make up motorcycles, and neither material would cause the sensor to be tripped.
“At the motorcycle safety program, we teach people how to deal with this problem, including putting the side stand down on the sensor,” Erik Hanks, program coordinator of the motorcycle safety program, said.
Several measures can be taken by the rider to increase the likelihood that the sensor at lights will change for them, Hanks said, including adding a magnet to their motorcycle.
There are some critics to this law, who fear it could be abused by motorcyclists.
Considering that the law only says for the individual to wait a reasonable amount of time, Hanks believes it may leave the possibility for some people to try to take advantage of it. He added there is also the option that it could cause more accidents involving motorcycles.
“A lot of motorcycle accidents happen when a car turns left in front of the rider, and this [creates] potential to have this happen more often,” Hanks said.
If the law will be abused or not is unknown, but until then, the motorcycle safety program encourages everyone to be careful and drive safely.
“I can see both sides of the argument and my advice is to wait and see what this changes,” Hanks said.