WHO REALLY STOPS?

The Bike Column

By Tom Frady

Recently, I took a couple of hours of my precious retirement time to observe motorists at stop signs.  I sat at three 4-way stop intersections (McCourtney and 12th, 3rd and L, and Sun City and Stags Leap) in Lincoln.  I tallied 100 vehicles at each location.  I counted only behavior that was not influenced by other cars at the intersection.  Admittedly, this is only semi/quasi-scientific, since some of my judgements were a bit subjective, but I think the results are interesting.

Before I continue, let me say I am in no way suggesting drivers or cyclists should run stop signs.  Nor am I saying that because few drivers actually stop at stop signs, it’s OK for cyclists to run them, too.  Cyclists are terrible, TERRIBLE, at stop signs.  But maybe motorists aren’t all that great either.

Only 16 (5%) of the cars came to a dead stop.  60% (180 cars) performed what I deemed an “acceptable” stop, that is, while the wheels never stopped rotating, there was a clear change in momentum and I think a traffic officer would have let them slide.  34% (101 cars), while slowing, did not come anywhere near stopping, Finally, I saw three drivers barely slow down.

A large percentage of the cars paid little attention to the limit line, slowing 20-25 feet behind the line, then accelerating on through or inching out into the intersection.  Many of those who rolled through the stop sign were “piggy-backing” on a car in front of them, as if that car’s stop counted for them, too.

Idaho has allowed cyclists to regard stop signs as “yield signs”, when safe, since 1982.  That state has seen a reduction in accidents.  A few states have joined them in this legislation, albeit it has failed in California at least twice.  Over 90% of drivers I observed are already doing the “Idaho Stop”.

In my small sample, I saw no situation that was dangerous (including the three who ran the stop sign), as each driver exercised caution before proceeding.

Cyclists have a better field of vision and are going slower when approaching intersections.  Idaho has found its policy to reduce accidents.  I am wondering if riders rolling through a stop sign at 5 - 7 mph are not behaving in a manner as safe as drivers who roll through at 3 – 4 mph?  Intersections are the most dangerous place on the road for cyclists, and there is something to be said for anything that gets a bike rider through one quickly.

While I was not studying cyclist behavior, I observed 10 riders.  Each slowed significantly before proceeding, albeit one rider (dragging a trailer behind him) should have yielded the right of way.  Only one rider came to a complete stop.  He was also the only one in a helmet and dressed for a long ride.

OK, you seven loyal readers: break up into groups and discuss.