Ohio fixes law that let cars run red lights; only applies to bikes

Have you heard about the new law that lets drivers run red lights if the traffic light isn’t working? Yeah, forget about that.

Ohio lawmakers on Wednesday moved to pass a new bill to clarify that the run-the-redlight-if scenario only applies to bicyclists when they don’t trip the traffic light detectors embedded in the pavement.

House Bill 9 sailed through the Ohio Senate on a unanimous vote on Wednesday.

It corrects a law passed during the “craziness of lame duck” that would have let motorists run red lights if the intersection were clear, said state Rep. Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield.

The new bill swaps out the word “vehicle” and replaces it with “bicycle” in that section of the traffic laws.

Related: New law allows Ohio drivers to run red lights with specific restrictions

Related: Ohio drivers now required to leave more distance when passing bikes

The new bill needs final approval from the House and then it’ll head to Gov. John Kasich for consideration.

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