You’re cruising along Sam Houston Parkway or Old Galveston Road, perhaps on your way to visit one of Houston’s famous attractions like the Houston Zoo or Museum of Fine Arts. Suddenly, the light turns yellow. You’re seconds away from the intersection, and you have to make a decision quickly — do you stop or run the yellow light?
Below, a Houston car accident lawyer explains whether it’s legal to run a yellow light in Texas and the consequences you might face for doing so.
Texas Yellow Light Traffic Laws
Per Texas Transportation Code, a yellow light is a signal that the traffic light is about to turn red. In Texas, it’s not illegal to run a yellow light, although it’s always better to stop if you can.
That’s because if you have an accident, the fact that you ran the yellow light might come into play. For instance, the police or insurance company might say that you were driving recklessly and thus, you have accident liability.
Disregarding intersection safety laws can have legal ramifications and affect your ability to recover damages in an accident claim, even if you've hired a good Houston car accident lawyer to back you up.
When Is It OK To Run a Yellow Light?
Although it’s preferable to stop at a yellow light rather than running it, there are times when it’s better to proceed through the intersection.
- Flow of traffic: If slamming on your brakes at a yellow light would disrupt the flow of traffic and potentially cause an accident, it’s better to proceed through the light. Houston’s roads are infamously jam-packed, so going through a yellow light to avoid a collision is often necessary.
- Speed: If you’re driving too fast to stop at a yellow light safely, it’s better to run the light. Keep in mind, though, that you might end up with traffic violations if you’re exceeding the speed limit when you run the light.
- Distance: If you’re very close to the intersection when the light changes yellow, it’s preferable to proceed through the light. This is because, as mentioned above, suddenly hitting your brakes at an intersection can cause a nasty pileup.
- Emergencies: If you’re having an emergency, it’s okay to proceed through a yellow light if it’s safe to do so. Likewise, if there is an emergency vehicle behind you and stopping would disrupt the vehicle, it is better to go through the light.
Still not sure if it’s okay to run a yellow light? A Houston car accident lawyer can explain more.
Is There a Penalty for Running a Yellow Light?
Because it’s not illegal to run a yellow light in Texas, there isn’t specifically any penalty for doing so. That might not be the case, though, if you cause an accident while running the light. You might end up with a ticket for speeding or reckless driving. If you injure someone, you may have to pay for their damages.
Although you’ll typically avoid fines for running a yellow light, that’s not the case for running a red light. In Houston, the fine for running a red light is a whopping $269. Police can slap you with a fine if you’re in the intersection when the light turns red, too.
Did Someone Cause an Accident While Running a Yellow Light? Call a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
Are you the victim of an accident where the at-fault driver ran a yellow light? Had a crash while cruising through one of Houston’s bustling intersections? Reach out to McLaurin Law, PLLC. Our attorneys can guide you through the compensation process.
For a consultation with a Houston car accident lawyer, call us at (713) 364-1895.
