By Charles Pekow — Laws that allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs not only don’t increase danger – they actually seem to make cycling safer. Previous research has suggested that the “Idaho Stop,” named after the state that initiated the rule, doesn’t seem to increase crashes (see our Fall 2024 issue or Study: ‘Idaho Stop’ No More Dangerous at Intersections than Full Stop on cyclingwest.com). Now a new federal study suggests it may even make crossing intersections safer for those cycling through them.
The report sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration looked at eight municipalities with stop-as-yield laws. While overall crash rates were down with stop-as-yield, the researchers couldn’t say why. They noted, however, that it wasn’t true in all cases and that factors such as road conditions and traffic patterns may play a role. But when crashes do occur at such junctures, riders’ injuries were just as severe as elsewhere.
The effects didn’t vary significantly among socioeconomic or demographic groups. Nor did the researchers find any evidence that the law increases reckless riding but they say more study is needed. They also suggested that the laws encourage bicycling by making it seem easier to get through intersections.
Find the Bicycle Stop-as-Yield Law Analysis at https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/78925
