This state has just announced that cyclists will no longer need to adhere to stop signs in these specific instances. Across the country, new state legislation has gone into place, which intends to create both safer driving environments for all road users and also more efficient traffic systems in order to reduce the amount of time drivers spend in congested traffic. To do so, new legislation ranges from increased convictions for repeat offenders and redesigning road systems to improve traffic flow.
Improving road traffic legislation for all road users
Authorities are constantly monitoring the realities of the roads and responding with improved legislation and driving interventions. The biggest challenge authorities face is preventing drivers from committing repeat traffic offences that endanger the lives of all road users. This is because traffic laws are easy to break, and especially so when drivers are frustrated or in a rush.
Behaviors such as speeding and texting while driving are two examples of unlawful behaviors that can become habitual if drivers are not caught and punished for the behavior, but also if other road users regularly commit the same violation, creating a culture that does not take these unlawful behaviors as serious road offences. To address this, many state authorities have been forced to implement harsher penalties for unlawful driving practices in an effort to deter drivers from doing it.
Other legislation updates pertain to creating a traffic flow system that ensures that traffic is as efficient as possible with minimal congestion buildups. By creating infrastructure updates to accommodate increases in population sizes as well as expanding public transportation options, these changes can contribute to a more reliable transportation network to reduce commute time and driver frustration, which, ultimately, contributes to reducing traffic offences all around.
No more stop signs for cyclists in this state
Part of the road traffic authorities’ obligations includes improving the realities of the road for more vulnerable road users, especially for those who do not make use of a passenger vehicle. In New Mexico’s Senate Bill 73, this new piece of legislation aims to do exactly that, by allowing cyclists to pass through red lights and stop signs.
The bill was passed in July of this year and permits cyclists to do the following at red lights and stop signs:
- Cyclists will now be legally allowed to treat a stop sign as a yield sign.
- Red lights can be treated as stop signs, with cyclists permitted to legally roll through if there are no other vehicles or road users present.
The legislation intends to improve cyclists’ safety as it not only makes these common practices legal, but also improves visibility of cyclists, as well as seeing them exit intersections quicker, which is where cycling accidents regularly occur. This type of legislation is becoming increasingly common across states, whereby authorities are tightening measures to protect the lives of cyclists.
Encouraging safer conditions for alternative modes of transport
By introducing legislation that actively aims to enhance the safety of road users who use alternative modes of transport, such as bicycles, this encourages more road users to reduce their use of passenger vehicles and opt for more sustainable modes of transport.
While electric vehicles have been targeted as an avenue for automakers to achieve their net-zero carbon targets, a holistic approach is to continue to design cities to embrace a transportation system that does not necessitate the need for a passenger vehicle. These infrastructure improvements, as well as improving the efficiency and widespread availability of public transportation systems, aim to create a society that is not built around cars, but rather built for people, with the health of the planet in mind.
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