Each week, The Park Record asks For the Record, encouraging residents and visitors to weigh in on a topic of interest. This week, the Utah Legislature is considering a bill, H.B. 151, that would allow drivers to pass through an intersection if the stoplight is still red under certain circumstances.
Under the bill, vehicles would need to wait at least 90 seconds and have no oncoming traffic before running the light. The bill has passed the House and as of Thursday was being heard in the Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee.
Some entities, including the Summit County Sheriffs’ Office, have voiced safety concerns about the bill. The Park Record talked with Utahns and visitors about the proposed bill and other possible solutions. Comment with your own answer below, or consider sending a letter to the editor.
[poll id=”19″]
Justin Bryant, Rock Springs, Wyoming
“It sets a bad precedent. It gives you a little bit of leeway; how far do (people) push it? Pretty soon, 90 (seconds) becomes 30, then becomes 10. I’m an emergency professional so it would become more work for me.”
Judd Werner, Park City
“For 90 seconds? I wonder really how many people would be impacted by that law. I’m trying to think the last time I had to wait at a light for 90 seconds. I honestly think the Legislature has better things to do.”
Teresa Carrera, Clearfield
(Translated from Spanish) “It’s risky, isn’t it? I would be in favor of (the law) but everyone needs to respect what the law would be. For example if I go through and someone else isn’t respecting the law? I would prefer how it works now when the stoplight turns green. It would be safer.”
Molly Nyenhuis, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Can’t you just wait an extra how many seconds? Just wait, you’re fine. In Michigan, the lights turn to flashing red at certain points at night, between 2 and 6 a.m. It’s flashing when you would have to theoretically sit at a light.”
Quotations have been edited for clarity and length.