Evaluation of the Idaho (Bicycle) Stop Laws in the Pacific Northwest

The Oregon legislature recently passed a bill legalizing a type of Stop as Yield Law, similar to the “Idaho Stop”. The Oregon traffic law allows bicyclists to yield at stop signs and flashing red lights, as opposed to being required to make a complete stop. The law became effective on January 1, 2020. As a result, the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Transportation Safety Division would like to know the potential safety implications of the law. This project seeks: (1) to clarify the anticipated safety impact of the Stop as Yield (“Idaho Stop”) for all roadway users in Oregon (and its potential application in neighboring states such as Washington where such a law is being considered), and (2) to evaluate the historical impact this law has had in the state of Idaho since adoption in the early 1980s. This research will include both (1) an on-line expert survey sent to transportation agency staff in the region who have experience with the Idaho Stop and (2) Human-in-the-loop simulator studies using the bicycle and driving simulator at Oregon State University to collect data on likely cyclist and driver responses to varying conditions.

• Record URL:
  http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/research/projects/evaluation-of-the-idaho-bicycle-stop-laws-in-the-pacific-northwest/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $360000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747110

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium

  University of Washington
  More Hall Room 112
  Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium

  University of Washington
  More Hall Room 112
  Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700
• Project Managers:

  Hurwitz, David

• Performing Organizations:

  Oregon State University, Corvallis

  Department of Civil Engineering
  202 Apperson Hall
  Corvallis, OR  United States  97331-2302

  University of Idaho, Moscow

  Department of Civil Engineering
  P.O. Box 441022
  Moscow, ID  United States  83844-1022
• Principal Investigators:

  Young, Rhonda

  Chang, Kevin

• Start Date: 20200816
• Expected Completion Date: 20220815
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cyclists; Driving simulators; Flashing traffic signals; Impacts; State laws; Stop signs; Surveys; Traffic safety; Yielding
• Geographic Terms: Idaho; Oregon
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01763324
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747110
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Feb 3 2021 3:46PM