March 5, 2021 – In the last hours of the 2021 legislative session, the Utah Yield Law, HB 142, passed the Utah Legislature today with a final vote in the Senate of 28-1. The bill would allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. Rep. Carol Moss has put this bill forward since 2011, and after the fifth try, the bill finally passed. Even Sen. Harper, a previous foe of the bill, voted to pass, and noted, “I’d like to explain my vote. I’ve had concerns with this for ever year it’s come up. It’s time to stop, and Rep. Moss has won, therefore I vote Aye.” Sen. Bramble sponsored the bill in the senate. Sen. Johnson was the only no vote.
Rep. Moss commented, “With the continual support and encouragement of our great community of cyclists, I persisted in running this bill. One big difference this year is that more legislators than in the past are cyclists, so they get it now. I’m thrilled to have Utah joining Idaho, Oregon, Arkansas, and Delaware. I believe Utah will be leading the way in encouraging more and safer cycling.”
This year, the bill was modified to remove stop lights as those already do have a provision in Utah code for cyclists to cross after 90 seconds if they don’t trigger for cyclists.
Utah joins Idaho, Oregon, Delaware, and Arkansas as the current states where the Idaho Stop has passed.
The next step before it becomes law is for Gov. Cox to sign the bill. If he signs the bill, it would be enacted later this year. Cyclists are cautioned to stop at stop signs until the law is enacted.
Cycling Utah worked with Rep. Moss on the bill. We also testified in support.
The relevant portion of HB 142 is below:
(5) (a) As used in this Subsection (5), “immediate hazard” means a vehicle approaching
91 an intersection at a proximity and rate of speed sufficient to indicate to a reasonable person that
92 there is a danger of collision or accident.
93 (b) Except as provided in Subsection (6), an individual operating a bicycle approaching
94 a stop sign may proceed through the intersection without stopping at the stop sign if:
95 (i) the individual slows to a reasonable speed; and
96 (ii) yields the right-of-way to:
97 (A) any pedestrian within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk;
98 (B) other traffic within the intersection; and
99 (C) oncoming traffic that poses an immediate hazard during the time the individual is
100 traveling through the intersection.
101 (6) Subsection (5)(b) does not apply to an intersection with an active railroad grade
102 crossing as defined in Section 41-6a-1005.
