Kentucky motorcyclists no longer need to wait in vain for the traffic light to turn green. It’s now legal in Kentucky for motorcyclists to run a red light as long as they’ve already waited at least two lighting cycles and there are no vehicles in the intersection. Motorcyclists have been looking forward to this day due to their growing frustration on traffic sensors that do not sense their vehicle. Motorcycle owners stated that before this law, they either had to wait for a car to pull up behind them to trigger the sensor, which could take a long time, or run the red light, which they could get a citation. The law was introduced in February 2015 and was signed by Gov. Steve Beshear in early April.
Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were around 8.4 million motorcycles on the road in 2013. Needless to say, motorcycles are a popular vehicle despite the fact that they could be dangerous. NHTSA added that in 2013, motorcyclists are about 26 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled. They are also five times more likely to be injured.
Common causes for motorcycle accidents, according to studies
There are many factors that can cause an accident. Here are the most common causes for motorcycle accidents that riders should be aware of:
- Speeding. According to NHTSA, 34% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding. To motorcycle drivers, please watch your speed. You will also want to make sure that you maintain a safe driving distance with vehicles you’re sharing the road with.
- Alcohol. As per NHTSA, 27% of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or over. That is higher than 23% of car drivers involved in fatal crashes.
- Ignoring traffic signs. The new motorcycle law now allows motorcyclists to drive through a red light, under certain circumstances. However, they still need to meet certain criteria and make sure that no pedestrians or vehicles are approaching the intersection before they go. All other signs and lights must be followed by every driver.
As a Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Attorney, I would also like to remind motorcyclists that this new law comes with a big responsibility. There are rules to be followed before you can run the red light. I’m glad that motorcyclists won’t have to wait for another car to trigger the light, but please be careful. You’ll have to remember that the traffic on the main road has the right of way. It’s your responsibility to proceed through with caution. I hope that everyone will be careful with this new law.