Like other states, Arkansas expects bicyclists to use the roads the way other vehicles do. This means bicyclists must obey traffic signs and signals, just as drivers do.
However, the realities of bicycling are different from the realities of driving a car. For bicyclists, it is often safer to proceed through an intersection if no traffic is coming, even if a stop sign halts traffic.
Bicyclists continue to suffer deaths and serious injuries at higher rates than other road users. In 2021, bicyclists accounted for 2.2 percent of all roadway deaths in the US, despite making up less than one percent of road users. In Arkansas, bicyclists accounted for 1.4 percent of all roadway deaths.
Recognizing the need for bicyclists to maintain traffic flow for safety, Idaho passed the nation’s first “stop as yield” law in 1982. Today, several states, including Arkansas, have similar laws.
What is the Stop-As-Yield Law?
A “stop as yield” law allows a bicyclist to treat a stop sign like a yield sign when it’s safe to do so. This means that a bicyclist approaching a stop sign may “roll through” the sign if there is no oncoming traffic. Bicyclists must yield to oncoming traffic, just like at a yield sign.
Some stop-as-yield laws, including Arkansas’ law, also allow bicyclists to treat a red light as a stop sign. The bicyclist must stop at the red light, but they do not have to wait for it to turn green before proceeding. If there is no oncoming traffic at the light, the bicyclist can continue.
Stop-as-yield laws do not change how vehicle drivers must behave at red lights or stop signs. These rules apply only to bicyclists.
Risks for Bicyclists at Local Intersections
Stop as yield laws seek to address several risks bicyclists face at intersections.
Visibility. Many bicycle accidents at intersections occur because drivers aren’t looking out sharply for bicyclists. A bicyclist is easier to see when they’re in motion. By allowing bicyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield, the Arkansas law allows bicyclists to stay in motion at intersections, making them easier for drivers to see.
Exposure. Bicyclists’ risk of a collision increases at an intersection. A swift, safe trip through an intersection reduces the time the bicyclist is exposed to the intersection, thus reducing the risk window. Stop-as-yield laws allow bicyclists to travel through an intersection in the shortest time possible, reducing their exposure.
Safety in numbers. When bicyclists can travel more easily through intersections, they’re more likely to ride – and to ride together. Groups of bicyclists are safer on the roads because they’re easier to see. Multiple studies of driver behavior reveal that drivers proceed more slowly around groups of bicyclists. Stop-as-yield laws make it easier to travel by bicycle, increasing the number of bicyclists on the road – and altering driver’s behavior to make the roads safer for everyone.
Stop-as-yield laws seek to reduce risks by taking advantage of natural behavior patterns at intersections. One study found that nearly 90 percent of bicyclists pay extra attention at intersections to spot traffic and avoid collisions. However, the same study found that vehicle drivers didn’t yield the right of way to bicyclists, even when they did so for other cars. Stop-as-yield laws give bicyclists more flexibility to avoid collisions with inattentive drivers.
What To Do If You’re In a Bicycling Accident
Bicycling is a healthy, environmentally-friendly way to travel. It can also be highly enjoyable. Bicyclists have a right to use public roads in Arkansas, but they also face risks from cars and others on the road.
If you’re injured in a bicycle accident, put your safety and health first. Move out of the road if you can. Call 911 or have someone else at the scene do so. If you can take photos or video, draw a diagram, or get contact information from witnesses at the scene, do this as well.
Get medical attention as soon as possible. Prompt medical attention ensures you get the diagnosis and treatment you need to maximize your chances of medical recovery.
Collect and save paperwork related to your injuries. Your paperwork might include medical bills, letters or notes from your employer about time off work, repair or replacement costs for your bicycle, and police or accident reports. This paperwork can help you build a case for full, fair compensation.
Finally, speak to an experienced Arkansas bicycle accident attorney. The team at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield can help.