An increasing amount of research is confirming what Idaho has known since the early 1980s: Allowing cyclists to yield at stop signs, instead of coming to a complete stop like vehicles are supposed to do, may be good road policy for cyclists and other road users alike.
Idaho passed the first stop-as-yield (SAY) law in 1982. Currently, only eight other states and Washington, D.C. permit the so-called “Idaho Stop.” Some states, including California, have dabbled with the idea, some of them even debating legislative bills, but ultimately, the policy has been slow to adopt across the country. New research, however, supports the idea that implementation of SAY laws may be associated with reduced crash rates.
→ Read More: Do bicycles have to stop at stop signs?
Cycling advocates in California say new studies show the policy is both logical for riders and the law, but they’re still facing road bumps in getting a legislator to carry water for the proposal after its demise in 2021, when a SAY proposal was vetoed by the governor.
“One of the factors that stopped California’s stop-as-yield bills has undoubtedly been concerns about rising rates of traffic violence,” writes the California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike), a statewide advocacy group. “Despite mounting evidence showing the safety of these laws, it remains difficult to convince law enforcement and legislators that allowing bike riders to treat stop signs as yields won’t increase fatalities.”
New studies confirm known evidence
In the year following Idaho’s passage of the first SAY law, the state experienced a 14.5% decline in cyclist injuries in traffic crashes. Other states have also found perks to approving similar measures. Delaware, for example, found that in the 30 months after passage, traffic crashes involving cyclists at stop sign intersections fell by more than 20%.
Still, the topic of SAY laws is contentious and there’s little agreement on their efficacy in the policy world. This has led researchers, now including the U.S. Department of Transportation and the University of California, Berkeley, to investigate what’s true and what research gaps exist in SAY law discussions.
In a December 2024 report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wrote that their research team “found no significant change in reckless behaviors following the enactment of SAY laws. This suggests that such laws do not foster a disregard for traffic regulations among bicyclists.”
Arguments that the laws lead to more dangerous roads simply aren’t rooted in reality. There’s even some speculation in the research world — based on scientific findings — that because SAY laws endorse what’s already happening on the road, vehicles would be more aware of a cyclist’s actions, thus reducing crashes.
“Nevertheless, the analysis identified areas where further research into crash-contributory behavioral factors could provide additional clarity,” the report continued. “SAY laws have the potential to positively influence bicycling volumes, with a potential increase in bicycling activity encouraged by the perceived ease of navigating intersections.”
In another SAY law review, UC Berkeley researchers hone in on what such a policy would mean for California, where in 2021 Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that had broad support from across the state.
Newsom said he believed the bill’s intent to keep cyclists safe would have “the opposite effect.” He wrote that the bill “may be especially concerning for children, who may not know how to judge vehicle speeds or exercise the necessary caution to yield to traffic when appropriate.”
In looking at the impact SAY laws had in five states — Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington — compared with states that had no law, the researchers say they saw “no significant change in cyclist crashes among the states with a stop-as-yield law compared to the average number of cyclist crashes for the states without stop-as-yield law.”
These studies combined show, at worst, SAY laws don’t negatively impact the status quo, as some of California’s top politicians believe. At best, they play a part in reducing cyclist fatalities.
“Results demonstrated that SAY laws were associated with reduced crash rates, particularly at suburban stop-controlled intersections and urban signal-controlled intersections,” the NHTSA report said. “The investigation into bicyclist injuries and fatalities found little evidence that SAY laws reduce injury severity or lead to more crashes involving children.”
With no downsides, what’s next?
It’s difficult to know what a SAY law will have in California. What is known is that cycling continues to grow in popularity across the state, which is evidenced by bike sales, dedication to other safety measures, and the priority many municipalities have given to bike lanes and other infrastructure.
CalBike says electric bicycles, commonly called e-bikes, may be a conflicting factor in pushing a SAY law forward.
“…unfortunately, illegal e-motorcycles marketed as e-bikes and sold to underage riders. That, coupled with driver-caused fatal crashes and the resulting anti-e-bike hysteria in several California cities, has led to a rising public perception that bike riders are reckless. Why would we want to give these dangerous lawbreakers free rein to run stop signs?” the organization says.
For now, California cyclists should continue to follow the law: stop at stop signs and avoid rolling through. While enforcement in many parts of the state is lenient, if found in violation of current law, a cyclist could face a fine.
As for crashes where a cyclist is injured, having rolled through or stopped at the stop sign may be important information in a personal injury case. Bay Area Bicycle Law works with clients all over California and is one of the state’s only personal injury law firms that specializes exclusively in bicycle accidents. We handle cases in your area, and there are many benefits to working with a specialist.
Contact us today for a free consultation by email or by calling (415) 466-8717. Years of advocacy for bicycle crash victims have seasoned our attorneys with the necessary skills to handle bicycle accident cases with the utmost level of professional expertise. And as cyclist advocates, we will always offer you legal advice that is in your best interest.