Green to Pass Through Red in Pennsylvania

Does that make sense? We are allowed to make a right on red in many instances in various states across the U.S., including New York and Pennsylvania, but that's about it...until now.

Apparently there's a new traffic law going into effect this September in Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill recently that allows drivers to proceed through a red light if it appears to be malfunctioning on roads that rely on a sensor to trigger the light to turn green.

Now on the surface (pardon the pun), that sounds fine, given that motorcycles are light and may not trigger the sensor, but I'm not so sure this is a good idea. Maybe as a compromise, it could only apply to motorcycles, but if I understand this correctly, it includes all motor vehicles.

We've all been at a red light and thought it's taking too long to change, but that's just the setting of the light cycle. The problem is, if motorists are waiting longer than they think the light should change, will they just assume there's a problem and drive through it?

I've been stuck at lights around construction zones where it took a while to change, there is only one lane, and you can't see the other side, so what's going to keep motorists from using the excuse that the light is malfunctioning, proceed through it and maybe cause an accident?

The new law does state that drivers need to come to a complete halt before proceeding, and make sure it's safe before going through that red light, but I'm not sold on this new law. What if you are at the red light, drivers behind you get impatient and start blaring their horns at you to move? Road Rage maybe?

Time will tell how if it works well, or we will see more accidents. What are your thoughts on this new Pennsylvania law?