Red lights are supposed to be triggered to switch when cars pull into the intersection. It can be incredibly frustrating to be stuck at a light that doesn’t change. This issue inspired a law in Pennsylvania designated as “Ride on Red.” 

Essentially, with this law, a motorist can proceed through the intersection if it’s determined that a light is malfunctioning.

It applies to any type of vehicle or motorcycle and includes bicycles. Visit Can PA drivers run a broken red light? What state law says | Centre Daily Times to learn more about Pennsylvania’s red-light laws. 

When the vehicle detection system for the traffic signal is not triggered by an approaching vehicle, drivers are to follow road rules that apply to a stop sign, which will override the signal. 

The issue is in determining whether the vehicle detection system is malfunctioning in order to progress through the intersection. 

The law doesn’t stipulate precisely how long a driver must sit before deciding the traffic signal is not functioning. Let’s look at a few more details to determine how a motorist can make these determinations. 

Understanding Pennsylvania’s Ride on Red Law 

People today are always hurried to get from one place to the next, considering overly booked schedules. No one has patience when coming to a stop sign or red light. They don’t want to waste those precious few minutes to pause their momentum. 

The frustration is intensified when coming upon a red light that doesn’t switch to green. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers addressed this aggravation by effecting the “Ride on Red” law in 2016.

Motorists can decide if a signal is nonfunctional and progress through the light using caution and following stop sign rules. Pennsylvania residents must recognize that the law does not condone bypassing all red lights. The traffic signal system must be malfunctioning to avoid legal repercussions.

The confusion for drivers is that nothing specific indicates a time frame for sitting at a light before determining the light is not functional. 

The State Police and Department of Transportation encourage motorists to follow common sense regarding whether sufficient time has passed before taking advantage of the law. 

If a signal light is malfunctioning, it will either be frozen on red or completely dark; it could also go through many cycles without turning green. 

The Possibility of an Accident 

Laws like the Ride on Red law can be controversial because they give motorists the authority to drive through a red light, which can potentially result in an accident.  

Again, the authorities ask that drivers take a common-sense approach when Navigating Pennsylvania’s Latest Red Light Law and only proceed through the intersection when the path is clear to do so with no possibility of colliding with a vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian.  

When incidents or accidents occur, thorough investigations are performed as is true with any collision. The person who took advantage of the new law will need to make a case for the decision and the signal light will be inspected to see if there is a malfunction or if it’s working correctly.

Signal Lights in Pennsylvania 

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania places traffic lights throughout the state to maintain a safe flow of traffic. Motorists must be aware of the laws pertaining to these lights, including red and yellow signal laws, who has the right of way, and when it’s necessary to stop. 

The red lights 

When a traffic signal is glaring at a steady red, the indication is that you make a full stop and wait for the light to switch to green before proceeding into the intersection. In Pennsylvania, you can turn right when the light is red unless a sign is posted instructing you not to do so.  

Before turning right on red, you must make a full stop at the red light, check for pedestrians and other oncoming traffic, yield the right of way, and then proceed with your turn.

If the red light is flashing or blinking in Pennsylvania, this is comparable to a solid red light. You must come to a full stop at the light. However, you can then proceed through the light when the intersection is clear.

Flashing lights are used when the intersection has a heightened risk for accidents and encourage people to be more cautious when crossing the intersection. 

The yellow light 

When a traffic light sets steady on yellow, it is a warning that the signal is about to turn red. This tells drivers they need to slow their speed and prepare to stop. If a motorist cannot stop or has progressed into the intersection, they can cautiously continue through the yellow light.

Many drivers misperceive that a yellow light means they can drive faster to get through the intersection before the light goes red. Speeding up to get through a yellow light can have dire consequences, such as a citation, least of all and worse, an accident when other drivers assume you’ll stop.  

Final Thought

It’s vital to pay attention to traffic signal laws. The Ride on Red law allows some lenience if a light is malfunctioning but it’s essential to be confident and cautious when taking advantage of this law. Read here for details on the red-light law.