We all know that a red light means that you need to come to a stop. It is quite straightforward. Nevertheless, red light accidents are common and are often exceedingly dangerous or even deadly. As such, the State of Texas has implemented red-light laws to help protect everyone who travels on our roadways.
Traffic Lights and Their Meanings
There are several critical red-light rules in Texas that every driver should know, understand, and adhere to:
Right-On-Red Rule – Once you have come to a complete stop at a red light, you can make a right turn when it is safe to do so as long as no sign specifically restricts such a turn. If you do proceed to make that right turn, you are charged with exercising extreme caution and with following all the usual right-of-way rules in the process.
Left-On-Red Rule – When you are stopped at a red light at the intersection of two one-way streets, you can make a left turn when it is safe to do so (as long as that left turn corresponds with the direction of the one-way street you are entering).
Yellow-Light Rule – A solid yellow light is a warning sign that the traffic signal is about to turn red. You can enter an intersection when your light is yellow, but you may not do so once it has turned red.
Traffic Lights and Their Intentions
Traffic lights are intended to help keep everyone who travels on our roads safer. Traffic lights are carefully calibrated to help keep traffic moving smoothly and safely forward. These lights, however, are only as safe as the drivers who respond to them. When a negligent driver interprets a red light as applying to everyone but himself (or herself), that driver endangers everyone with whom he or she shares the road.
Your Red-Light Accident
When it comes to traffic lights, negligent drivers have a variety of tricks in their arsenals, including:
Drivers who jump green lights by heading into the intersection immediately before the red light turns green
Drivers who turn right on red without coming to a complete stop before doing so
Drivers who push red lights by blasting through intersections immediately after the light changes from yellow to red.
Intersections are home to some of our road’s most dangerous accidents, and drivers who fail to abide by traffic lights are a primary cause.