Legality of Yellow Lights In Houston

February 24, 2025 by Greg Baumgartner

As you approach the intersection, the traffic signal turns yellow. Do you stop or speed up? Texas traffic laws provide straightforward guidelines, yet drivers who fail to understand them might receive tickets or cause accidents.

Texas Laws On Red and Yellow Lights

Texas legal statutes do not establish any restrictions against driving through yellow traffic signals. The yellow signal indicates an approaching hazardous situation because the light will soon become red. The Texas Transportation Code 544.007 states that yellow traffic signals require drivers to decelerate and get ready for stopping. You do not commit a violation by driving through an intersection during the yellow light if you were already inside it when the signal changed.

A Houston car accident attorney typically handles cases involving drivers who fail to understand the intended purpose of yellow traffic lights. Police officers decide through their judgment whether drivers breaking yellow lights acted lawfully or dangerously. An officer possesses the authority to give out citations based on particular circumstances.

Accelerating to pass through the intersection before the light turns red is considered a factor. The officer’s observation of sudden aggressive acceleration can be used to prove unsafe driving. A late arrival at the intersection could cause a driver to violate the red light rules. Any unintentional traffic violation, including momentary distraction, which prevents proper stopping, can create penalties or accident liability.

The statutes of Texas grant police officers the power to base their actions on their professional assessments. You may face legal penalties because officers will view your actions as dangerous to others. The unique details of these situations must be understood because they determine whether you will face fines and legal responsibility for any accidents.

Running Yellow Lights Can Cause Crashes

Numerous drivers interpret yellow traffic signals as permission to drive faster despite this practice putting themselves and others in danger. The dangerous nature of intersections makes them risky road areas, but improper yellow light judgment further increases this risk.

A common type of accident occurs when a trailing vehicle expects forward movement during a yellow light while the preceding driver stops. The situation occurs when drivers ignore yellow lights, causing accidents with cars that correctly enter an intersection. The danger increases at fast intersections since drivers have less time to react while the impact force strengthens.

Traffic engineers implement yellow lights to protect the time interval between green and red signals. Yellow light timing primarily aims to create safe transition periods between green signals rather than provide additional passage opportunities. The combination of doubt and self-assurance when estimating yellow light duration can result in life-threatening vehicle collisions.

Negligence and Yellow Light Running

The responsibility for causing an accident by operating through a yellow signal depends on various elements in determining liability. Under Texas law, you can recover compensation, but your share of responsibility under the modified comparative negligence standard will evaluate your eligibility. A claim for damages will not be possible if you are responsible for more than 50% of the accident.

When another driver enters the intersection against a red signal while you are crossing at a yellow traffic light, liability might be shared between you. However, your responsibility for the accident will be primarily attributed to you if you were speeding to beat the traffic light and entered the intersection after the safe period.

Multiple types of evidence, such as eyewitness testimonies, traffic cameras, and accident reconstruction findings, contribute to identifying faults in cases. Insurance companies thoroughly examine this information before deciding on claims. A traffic citation given to you by a police officer because of reckless driving will be evidence of your negligence.

Judicial disagreements about yellow light traffic accidents mainly hinge on how people interpret the situation. Professional legal representation plays a critical role at this point. By hiring an attorney with experience, you can gain protection of your rights while your attorney challenges evidence and presents mitigating circumstances.

Driving through a yellow traffic signal does not permit speed between intersections. Failure to correctly gauge yellow light timing might lead to car crashes, traffic citations, and legal problems. Learning about Texas traffic regulations can help you drive more safely while reducing your exposure to avoidable dangers.

Baumgartner Law Firm
 
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy 
Houston, TX, 77069
 
(281) 587-1111