FINAL BILL REPORT
SSB 6208
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
C 66 L 20
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Increasing mobility through the modification of stop sign requirements for bicyclists.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Billig, Rivers, Liias, Randall and Wilson, C.).
Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation
Background: Drivers of vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians must obey a traffic control device.
Every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign must stop.
A driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign must slow to a speed reasonable for the conditions, and if required for safety come to a stop, and then after slowing or stopping, the driver must yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard. If a driver is involved in a collision with another vehicle in an intersection or junction of roadways, after driving past a yield sign without stopping, the collision must be deemed prima facie evidence of the driver's failure to yield right-of-way.
At least four other states and some municipalities have adopted a law allowing bicyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield sign. This movement is often referred to as a rolling stop.
Summary: A person operating a bicycle approaching a stop sign must either stop, or follow the requirements for approaching a yield sign.
The provision allowing a person operating a bicycle to treat a stop sign as a yield sign is not applicable to:
a stop sign at a rail road crossing; and
a stop signal displayed by a school bus, when the rules of the road require an approaching vehicle to stop.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate | 44 | 1 | |
House | 77 | 20 |
Effective: | October 1, 2020 |