Texas Traffic Laws (and
Good Driving Habits) |
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This page last updated September 17, 2022 |
We've
all seen it and, if we're honest with ourselves, we've probably all
done it, too. The "it" I'm referring to is bad
driving. Unfortunately, more and more, I think the offender
knows what they're doing is wrong and just thinks the rules don't apply
to them. However, in many cases, the bad driver may not even
be aware that they're doing anything wrong through either
ignorance of the law or just not paying attention and would likely
alter their behavior if they knew the problems they were
causing. That is the intention of this page.
Below
is a discussion of commonly-violated traffic laws along with some (in
my opinion) good driving habits that,
if adopted, yield a safer and more pleasant driving experience
for everyone.
Whenever
applicable, I've quoted the Texas Transportation Code. Those
references are in a gray box and start with the section number (e.g.
§545.066.) Wherever you see the term
"operator" in the law, it is referring to you, the operator of a
vehicle. After each citation, I've included my own comments
to help better explain or clarify the law.
If
you want to look up the the laws yourself, you can do so at
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/?link=TN.
Almost everything pertaining to traffic laws is in Sections 544 and
545. The Texas Department of Public Safety's Driver's Manual
is also online at
http://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdf.
The Texas Manual of Uniform Traffic Devices, which is the official
"law" regarding the meaning of traffic signs, signals, and markings, is
at http://www.txdot.gov/government/enforcement/signage/tmutcd.html.
One
thing you should remember-- aggressive, arrogant, dangerous, or just
plain bad driving can get you killed. Besides the obvious
risk from getting killed in a wreck that such driving often causes,
your actions may cause other drivers to become angry or even enraged,
the phenomena known as "road rage." Someday, you may honk at someone or
cut them off, and that person may go
berserk and kill you. So be cool and "drive
friendly"-- it could
very well save your life.
Editorial
Many of you find this site after getting a ticket or being involved in
an accident. Oftentimes, you've been cited with something you
hadn't heard of before, or you dispute the allegation. You may
or may not find the answer here. If not, I encourage you to
continue your search. In the end, you may find that the
citation is valid. If that's the case, then take your medicine and pay
the fine or, better,
take defensive driving, and
consider it a learning experience. However, I have gotten messages from
many folks that clearly indicate to me that sometimes even
the police don't always get it right, so it's perfectly reasonable to
double-check. Also, it's certainly not unheard of that traffic
enforcement (especially speed enforcement) in many places is
done for revenue enhancement, and officers may get overzealous
and
sloppy in their duties as a result.
We're
all in this together, so your
comments and suggestions are welcome. You can reach me using
the "contact" link at the
top of the page.
Legal disclaimers
LONG
VERSION
This page is provided
for informational
purposes only. The author, his agents,
and/or sponsors (herein collectively referred to as "the author") do
not offer, nor do they imply that they intend to offer, legal advice or
counseling to any individual or organization by providing this
information. You should not rely or act upon any information
contained herein without seeking legal advice from a
duly licensed attorney competent to practice law in your jurisdiction.
The
information presented on this page is based on a good-faith
interpretation of the statutory language cited and is
provided on an "as-is" basis
without warranties or
representations of
any kind either express or implied. The author expressly
disclaims all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken
based upon the information contained herein or with respect to any
errors or omissions in such information. Any content that could be
construed as advice is an expression of what the author either has done
or would do personally in the given situation and is not to be
construed as being or giving legal advice to anyone else in any
particular or general situation.
Links
to official sources of information elsewhere on the Internet are
provided for reference, but the author makes no representations or
warranty of any kind as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the
information contained on other Internet sites and specifically
disclaims
any and all liability for any claims or damages that may result from
information on those other sites.
SHORT
VERSION
What
you see on this page is my own good-faith interpretation of the law. If
you need legal advice, get a lawyer as I am not a lawyer nor do I
play one on TV. If it seems like I'm giving advice on a particular
subject, you should interpret that to be my own personal musings on
what I have done before or would do in that situation. I try to keep my
site up-to-date, but I can't
guarantee that something hasn't changed since the last time I
checked. I don't rule the world, so I can't control or vouch
for the accuracy of what's on other websites that I may suggest to you
here. Be sure to eat at least five servings of vegetables and
drink eight glasses of water every day. Do unto others as you
would have them do unto you. Drive safely. Don't text while driving.
Live
long and prosper.
OTHER
THINGS I'M NOT BUT WHY THIS IS PRETTY GOOD INFO ANYWAY
In addition to not being a lawyer, I'm also not (nor ever have been) a
professional traffic engineer or law enforcement officer. Therefore,
the explanations below are strictly those of a layman.
That said, I've had an inexplicable interest in roads and
traffic since I was a youngster and have studied the transportation
code at length, and
my site has been reviewed by numerous law enforcement officers and
traffic engineers over the years (and often referenced by them, I'm
told), so I am confident in the accuracy of
my interpretations and discussions below. If you do find
something you believe is incorrect, I welcome your feedback-- use the
Contact link at the top of this page to reach me.
Listing
of topics
Below
is a list of topics on this page grouped by major subject areas; some
topics may fall under more than one subject area:
RIGHT-OF-WAY
INTERSECTIONS
TURNING/TURN LANES
TRAFFIC
SIGNALS
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PARKING
FREEWAY DRIVING
YIELDING TO SPECIFIC VEHICLES
SIGNS, SIGNALS, AND MARKINGS
OTHER
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Lane markings |
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The officially-sanctioned meaning for lane markings is not in the
Transportation Code. Instead, §544.001 requires the state to
maintain an official manual of signs, signals, and markings. This
manual, the Texas Manual
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(TMUTCD), is the "law" when it comes to all traffic
control
devices,
including lane markings. The meanings of these devices, as
defined in the TMUTCD, is enforceable.
Some lane markings seem to confound
drivers. For example, many drivers don't realize the
difference between white
and
yellow lines. So, without
further ado, here are the definitions of lane markings in Texas:
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YELLOW LINES: Traffic going opposite
directions is separated by yellow lines. If you're to the
left of a yellow line and you're not intentionally passing somebody,
you'd better get over to the right FAST before you see the head
ornament of a Mack truck directly in front of you. I see this
confusion happen a lot when city folks get off on a rural, two-way
frontage road. There are various types of yellow lines; see
below for the specifics of each. |
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SOLID DOUBLE YELLOW LINES: Double
yellow lines indicate that passing is not permitted (in other words, a
"no passing zone".) Even if you think you can see far enough
ahead, there may be some other hazard or reason that you can't see
that makes it unsafe for you to pass. However, it is legal to
turn left across a double yellow line (with one exception; see sidebar
below.) |
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SINGLE SOLID YELLOW LINE: This
is used to mark the left edge of the roadway on a divided
highway or separate the left shoulder from the through lane. The use of
this marking to mark the center of a
two-way road is non-standard and has no official meaning. |
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SOLID YELLOW LINE ON YOUR SIDE, BROKEN
YELLOW LINE ON THE OTHER: You may not pass when there is a
solid yellow line on your side. Traffic on the side of the
road with the broken (dashed) line is allowed to pass. Two
sets of these, with the broken lines facing each other, are used to
demarcate two-way center left turn lanes. |
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BROKEN YELLOW LINE: A single
broken (dashed) yellow line means that passing is permitted in both
directions. |
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BROKEN DOUBLE YELLOW LINES: This
marking is fairly rare and is used to separate reversible lanes (i.e.
lanes that can change direction.) Pay
attention to and obey the lane control signs or signals. |
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WHITE LINES: These separate
traffic going the same direction. There
are several varieties of white lines; see below for the meanings of
each. |
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DOUBLE WHITE LINES: Parallel
white lines indicate that changing lanes or turning across the lines is
prohibited. Doing so may be dangerous or interrupt the smooth
flow of traffic. In Texas, you'll most often see these where an
exit ramp continues into its own lane on the frontage road (see the
"Yielding on frontage roads" section below.) |
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SINGLE SOLID WHITE LINE: This is
used to channelize traffic and indicates that changing lanes is
discouraged, although not specifically prohibited. You can
cross it if you have to, but you should avoid it if possible. Even a
thick single white line can be crossed if necessary; however,
they are really discouraging you from crossing, so
you should think twice about it. Note that there is an
exception; see below. A single
white line is also
used to mark the right edge of the roadway or separate the
right shoulder from the through lane. |
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BROKEN WHITE LINE: A broken
(dashed) white line separates lanes of traffic traveling in the same
direction. |
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SHORT BROKEN WHITE LINE:
A short
broken
(dashed) white line marks a lane that will soon become an exit or
turn-only lane. Short broken lines are also used to mark lanes through
an
intersection. |
Crossing
a single white channelizing line
In
the explanation above, it is noted that crossing a single white line--
even a thick one-- is allowed. However, there is an exception
to
that-- the channelizing island. This is when there are two
single
white lines that are converging or diverging in a roughly triangular
shape. The area between the lines in this case is known as a
"neutral area" in which vehicles are not allowed because crossing it
interferes with the smooth merging or diverging of traffic. (As a
footnote, engineers call this area the "theoretical gore". The
"gore"
is that triangular area of grass or concrete island that comes to a
point where the pavement merges or diverges. The
"theoretical
gore" is the area of pavement that would be grass or concrete island If
the gore were extended to its maximum extent.)

Turning left over double-yellow lines
A big misconception in the arena of lane
markings is the meaning of
the double-yellow line with regards to left turns. A
double-yellow line simply means "no passing"; it does not prohibit left
turns. In fact, you are specifically permitted by statute to
turn left over double yellow lines:
§545.055. PASSING TO THE LEFT: PASSING ZONES
- [...]
(b)
An operator may not drive on the left side of the roadway in a
no-passing zone or on the left side of any pavement striping designed
to mark a no-passing zone. This
subsection does not prohibit a driver from crossing pavement striping,
or the center line in a no-passing zone marked by signs only, to make a
left turn into or out of an alley or private road or driveway.
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Of
course, there
is an exception to the above rule: if
there are two
sets of double-yellow lines, you may not cross over at all,
including for left turns. These areas are defined as "flush
median
islands" in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices. As such, they have the same purpose and function
as a physical traffic island and are legally enforceable as a "dividing
space" for the purposes of §545.063(b) (see below.)
These areas often also have diagonal hash
markings to help emphasize that they're off-limits.

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Yellow traffic signal |
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§544.007. TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS IN
GENERAL
- [...]
(e) An operator of a vehicle facing a steady yellow
signal is warned by that signal that:
- (1) movement authorized by a green signal is being
terminated; or
- (2) a red signal is to be given.
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Lots of folks
have questions as to just what a yellow
light really means. By law, a yellow light is simply a
warning that the light is about to change to red. Technically, since no
conflicting traffic can have a green
while
you have a
yellow, you still have the right-of-way-- it's really just an extension
of the green but letting you know that the green is ending. Therefore,
you
are still
allowed to cross the stop line or crosswalk when the light is yellow,
and as long as you have done so before the light turns red, you have
not violated the law. Now, does this mean you should race to beat
the red-- no, of course not. If the light is yellow and you
have not passed the "point of no return" and can safely stop, you
should do so. Note, however, that I said "safely"
stop. If the road is wet and you don't reasonably think you
could stop without sliding into the intersection or perhaps having the
guy in back slide into you, then keep going (carefully, of course)--
your duty to prevent a crash is foremost.
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Flashing yellow signals |
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§544.008. FLASHING SIGNALS
- (a) The operator of a vehicle facing a flashing red
signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. In the
absence of a stop line, the operator shall stop before entering the
crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. In the
absence of a crosswalk, the operator shall stop at the place nearest
the intersecting roadway where the operator has a view of approaching
traffic on the intersecting roadway. The right to proceed is
subject to the rules applicable after stopping at a stop sign.
(b) The operator of a vehicle facing a flashing yellow signal may
proceed through an intersection or past the signal only with caution.
(c) This section does not apply at a railroad crossing.
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|
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I added
this
section because a lot of motorists
seem to be confused about the meaning of a flashing yellow signal,
particularly when a regular traffic signal (red-yellow-green) is
flashing yellow. (I'm specifically talking about a full
circular flashing yellow like the one shown at the right, not the new flashing
yellow arrows.) A flashing yellow signal simply
means
"proceed with caution", even when it's being displayed by a regular
traffic signal. Inexplicably,
I am seeing more and more people actually stop when they come upon a
one of these. This is unnecessary and a bit
dangerous because the person behind you may not be expecting you
to stop. It would be the same as stopping at a green
light. You only need to stop if it is a flashing red
signal; in those cases, treat the signal like you would a stop
sign. Otherwise, just proceed through with a bit of extra caution since
a driver on the intersecting street might think you have a flashing
red and suddenly shoot out into the intersection expecting you to stop. |

This
signal does
NOT mean stop!
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Most traffic
signals will default to a flash
mode as a fail-safe measure if there has been a malfunction or power
outage and the signal did not properly reset. Some signals
also
go into flash mode during overnight hours, and brand new signals are
typically
run in flash mode for a few days before being fully activated (this is
done to burn in the electronics as well as to give regular commuters
notice that the signal will be activated soon.) In some cases, the
signals will flash red for all directions, but in many cases, the main
road will get a flashing yellow while the minor road will get a
flashing red.
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Traffic signals out |
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§544.007. TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS IN
GENERAL
- [...]
(i) An operator of a vehicle
facing a
traffic-control signal, other than a freeway entrance ramp control
signal or a pedestrian hybrid beacon, that does not display an
indication in any of
the signal heads shall stop ... as if the intersection had a stop sign.
|
|
|
If a
traffic
signal is out of
order (that is, all of the lights are dark), then the intersection
reverts to a four-way stop. Some drivers will assume that if
the
light is off, they can just keep going, but if someone on the
intersecting street thinks the same thing at the same time,
then it should be obvious what might happen. Common sense
also dictates that if the signals are otherwise obviously
malfunctioning (e.g. two colors on at the same time, stuck on
yellow, etc.), treat the
intersection as a four-way stop as well.
Note that this statute does not apply
to signals on freeway entrance ramps (metering or
"flow" signals) as well the new "HAWK" pedestrian crossing signals
that
are
dark until activated. |

This
signal DOES
mean stop!
|
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Turning on red |
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§544.007 - TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS IN GENERAL
- [...]
(d) An operator of a vehicle facing only a steady
red signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. In the
absence of a stop line, the operator shall stop before entering the
crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. A vehicle
that is not turning shall remain standing until an indication to
proceed is shown. After stopping, standing until the
intersection may be entered safely, and yielding right-of-way to
pedestrians lawfully in an adjacent crosswalk and other traffic
lawfully using the intersection, the operator may:
- (1) turn right; or
- (2) turn left, if the intersecting streets are both
one-way streets and a left turn is permissible.
[...]
(f) The
Texas Transportation Commission, a municipal authority, or the
commissioners court of a county may prohibit within the entity's
jurisdiction a turn by an operator of a vehicle facing a steady red
signal by posting notice at the intersection that the turn is
prohibited.
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Here are two common questions related to legal
turns on red.
Left on red
Whenever
I drive downtown, I often end-up stuck
behind someone on a
one-way street stopped at a red light waiting to turn left onto another
one-way street with no traffic coming. If only they knew that they were
wasting their time (and mine) sitting there. A left turn on red (after first stopping) is
allowed when the street you
are is one-way and the street you are turning onto is also one-way (to
the left, of course). Makes sense if you think about it--
it's just a mirror image of a right on red.
There are a handful of states that allow a left on
red from a two-way to one-way street, but Texas does
not. Unless both streets are one-way, you
can not make a left on red. Also, there are some who believe
that you can make a left on red if there are no signs such as "LEFT
TURN SIGNAL" or "LEFT ON GREEN ARROW". Again, not in
Texas. Those signs are purely informational and as long as a
signal is obviously intended to regulate traffic turning left (which a
red arrow or signal to the left of green signals for through traffic
would
be), then drivers are required to obey it regardless of the
absence of any signs. Turning left on a red light, unless both
streets are one-way, is running a red light and you can be ticketed for
such.

Right on red from double turn lanes
In a
related matter, I often get the question of whether it is legal to make
a right on red from both lanes when there are double or dual right
turn lanes. The law simply states that you can turn right on red after
stopping; it doesn't specify which lane(s) it applies to. So, if you
can legally turn right from a lane, you can legally turn right on red
from that lane so long as there
aren't any signs prohibiting it such as those shown
below.

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Waiting in
intersections |
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§545.302 - STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING
PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PLACES
- (a) An operator may not stop, stand, or park a
vehicle:
-
- [...]
-
(3) in an intersection;
- [...]
-
- (f) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply if
the avoidance of conflict with other traffic is necessary or if the
operator is complying with the law or the directions of a police
officer or official traffic-control device.
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The issue of waiting in an intersection is a
little tricky. The law specifically prohibits stopping in an
intersection. However, subsection (f) of the same law makes
an exception "if the avoidance of conflict with other traffic is
necessary." Therefore, the following sections cover the two
conflicting issues regarding when to wait in an intersection.
Paradoxically, many people do exactly the opposite of these.
Waiting to turn left
Sometimes, you come to an intersection where you want
to turn left and there's a flashing yellow arrow or a green through
signal but
no green arrow. You may have seen people pull into the intersection and
wait to turn left there and wondered, is that legal? The answer is,
yes, it is. But how is this legal when §545.302(a)(3)
specifically prohibits stopping in an
intersection? In this case, subsection (f) makes an exception "if
the avoidance of conflict with other traffic is necessary".
If you were
to turn left in front of oncoming traffic, that would be conflicting
with that traffic. Therefore, stopping so as to not conflict with
oncoming traffic fulfills subsection (f), which then exempts you from
the (a)(3) prohibition on stopping in an intersection.
But if you're still in the intersection when the
light turns red, wouldn't that then be
considered running a red light? No, because you lawfully
entered
the intersection on
a green and other traffic must by law allow you to clear the
intersection before they can go (§544.007 (b)).
So
why would you want to do this? Because it reduces your wait time and
helps reduce congestion. For
every car that makes it through, that's one less car idling in line.
The more people that do this, the more the benefit accrues. It also
puts you in a better position to make a quick turn when traffic
permits. And at
intersections without protected left arrows on busy streets, you often
have to do this if you ever want to turn. At larger
intersections, sometimes two or even three cars can turn when the light
turns red.
With that said, there are some
important caveats:
- First of all, don't do this if the street
you want to turn onto is congested and backed-up to the intersection or
nearly
so (see "Don't block intersections" below.)
- Secondly, if you're still
in the intersection when your light turns red, make sure that
the
oncoming traffic is stopping before you actually turn-- sometimes
someone will be trying to beat the red.
- Finally, sometimes oncoming
traffic will still have a green even when your direction has a
red. In these cases, there is supposed to be a sign
that reads "ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS
EXTENDED GREEN", but I honestly have never seen one. If there is such a sign, you should
wait behind the stop line.
This doesn't happen with a flashing yellow
arrow which was developed specifically to
eliminate this hazardous situation.
And
one final tip: always stop with your wheels pointed straight ahead.
That way, if you're rear-ended, you won't be propelled into oncoming
traffic.
Where to wait to turn left
Avoid backing out of an intersection
If you are waiting in an intersection when
the light turns red, you should avoid backing out of the
intersection. Just wait for oncoming traffic to clear and
then
complete your turn. Don't panic if this means you have to
wait in
the intersection for a few seconds after the light has turned red--
just stay calm and wait until it's safe to turn. Signals typically
incorporate an all-way red period after one direction turns red but
before another direction turns green. If anyone on the
intersecting road honks at you, you can be secure in the knowledge that
they're in the wrong.
Don't block intersections
If the
street you are on is bumper-to-bumper and you come to an intersection
with a green light, remember: "Don't Block The Box!" You
should not enter an intersection if congestion would prevent you from
immediately vacating the intersection when the signal turns
red. In other words, don't drive into an intersection unless
you know you can get out quickly if the light turns red. So
why doesn't the exception provided by subtitle (f) apply? In
this case, you're not stopping to avoid conflicting with other traffic,
you're stopping due to congestion, which is different. It's
basically a matter of common sense and good faith in keeping with the
spirit of the law. With the left-turn rule above, assuming
there is nothing obstructing the street you want to turn onto, you will
be able to vacate the intersection before or immediately after your
light turns red and therefore won't be blocking the intersection for
cross-traffic. With congestion, your egress is blocked by
stopped traffic which will prevent you from being able to exit the
intersection immediately when the light turns red and thus will leave
you blocking the intersection for cross-traffic.
By the way, this rule can also cancel the waiting-to-turn-left rule
above: if you have a green light, or even a green arrow, but the street
you want to turn onto is backed-up to the intersection, wait behind the
stop line or crosswalk until there's room for you on the other street,
then turn.
New York City had such a problem with blocked intersections that they
started a public education program called "Don't Block The
Box!", and several Texas cities have now adopted it as
well. Obstructing intersections in this manner causes traffic
on the intersecting street to also become congested. This
leads to the phenomenon known as "gridlock" where several blocks of
traffic in all directions are "locked" because of obstructed
intersections.
Yield on green
Even if you have a green light, the law requires you to yield to
traffic already in the intersection. So if someone on the
cross street was hanging-out in the intersection waiting to turn left
when your signal turns green, don't roar into the intersection and
pound your horn-- they're legally there and have the right to make
their turn unmolested and you're just being a putz by not giving them a
few seconds to move on.

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Changing lanes in an
intersection |
|
I'm
not sure where this belief started, but I have gotten several inquiries
about the legality of changing lanes in an intersection. In
Texas, and in every other state that I could find, it is perfectly
legal to change lanes in an intersection, so long as it can be done
safely (which is always the requirement when changing lanes.) If this
were
the law, it would be very difficult to ever change lanes along most
major streets since there is an intersection every few hundred
feet!
Additional information
Several people have written me saying that §545.056 does in fact
prohibit changing lanes in an intersection. However, they are
incorrectly interpreting the statute. Here is the text of
that statute:
§ 545.056 - DRIVING TO LEFT OF CENTER OF ROADWAY:
LIMITATIONS OTHER THAN PASSING
(a)
An operator may not drive to the left side of the roadway if the
operator is:
(1) approaching within 100
feet of an intersection
or railroad grade crossing in a municipality;
(2)
approaching within 100 feet of an intersection
or railroad grade crossing outside a municipality and the intersection
or crossing is shown by a sign or marking in accordance with Section
545.055;
(3)
approaching within 100 feet of a bridge,
viaduct, or tunnel; or
(4)
awaiting access to a ferry operated by the
Texas Transportation Commission.
|
Notice that the statute specifically says "an
operator may not drive to the left side of the roadway". This
is different than the changing lanes discussed above. "Changing lanes"
is when there are two or more lanes for the direction
you are traveling (i.e. they're marked with a white dashed line) and
you wish to change between those lanes. "Driving
to the left side of the roadway" is just that-- going across
the yellow line down the middle of the roadway and crossing into
oncoming traffic. As you can see by the statute, doing this
is illegal within 100 feet of the approach of an
intersection. My guess is many people misconstrue or
misremember this rule to mean that you can't change lanes at an
intersection. However, the two are completely separate
things; there is no restriction on changing lanes.
That said, you should avoid changing lanes while approaching an
intersection, especially if you see someone waiting at the
intersection. That person may decide to make a turn onto your roadway
based on which lane you're in. For instance, if you're in the left
lane, someone may use that as an opportunity to turn into the right
lane. If you suddenly change into the right lane after they've
committed
themselves to making that turn, then you're creating a dangerous
situation for both yourself and the other driver and may very well
end-up in a crash because of it. |
Look before crossing
intersections |
|
Even if you have a green light, you should always look both ways before
you cross any intersection. You don't know... there could be
somebody running the red or maybe an emergency vehicle
approaching. So always look both ways before you cross any
intersection, even if you have (or think you have) the right-of-way.
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Stopping for school buses |
|
§545.066 - PASSING A SCHOOL BUS; OFFENSE
- (a) An operator on a highway, when approaching from
either direction a school bus stopped on the highway to receive or
discharge a student:
- (1) shall stop before reaching the school bus when
the bus is operating a visual signal as required by Section 547.701; and
- (2) may not proceed until:
- (A) the school bus resumes motion;
- (B) the operator is signaled by the bus driver to
proceed; or
- (C) the visual signal is no longer actuated.
- (b) An operator on a highway having separate
roadways is not required to stop:
- (1) for a school bus that is on a different
roadway; or
- (2) if on a controlled-access highway, for a school
bus that is stopped:
- (A) in a loading zone that is a part of or adjacent
to the highway; and
- (B) where pedestrians are not permitted to cross
the roadway.
- [...]
- (f) For the purposes of this section:
- (1) a highway is considered to have separate
roadways only if the highway has roadways separated by an intervening
space on which operation of vehicles is not permitted, a physical
barrier, or a clearly indicated dividing section constructed to impede
vehicular traffic; and
- (2) a highway is not considered to have separate
roadways if the highway has roadways separated only by a left turn lane.
|
It's been
widely reported by numerous school districts and police agencies that
many
drivers either have no clue about the requirement to stop for
school
buses, are simply are not paying attention, or frankly are in too big
of a hurry to stop (I hope it's not that last one, although in this day
and age, it's certainly possible.) The law is simple: if
you are
approaching
a school bus that has stopped and its red lights are flashing, you must
stop. Most school buses also
have one or more stop signs on the driver's side that swing
out
to
remind
you of your duty to stop.Traffic heading in both
directions is required to stop and the
requirement to stop applies in both urban as well as rural areas.
Once you have stopped, you are required to remain
stopped until the
lights stop flashing, the bus has started moving again, or the driver
waves you to move on.
Note that in Texas traffic code, the term "highway"
is defined to mean any public roadway, including
city streets (§541.302).
Exceptions
There are a couple of exceptions to the requirement to stop. One is if
there is a median, island,
or physical divider between you and the school bus; in those cases, you
can
proceed, but I recommend that you do so cautiously in case any
kiddos are crossing carelessly (it's been known to happen.) Note
that the law specifically indicates that a left turn lane does not
count as a divider-- this means that even on a street with three lanes
in each direction plus a center turn lane, traffic in all seven lanes must
stop for a school bus. (The
reason for the difference is that an island provides a safe place for
pedestrians to wait for a break in traffic while a left turn lane
doesn't.) There is also an exception for when a bus is stopped in a
loading zone on a
controlled-access highway (i.e. a freeway), but that seems to be an
"old school" artifact (ha, see what I did there?) as I have
never actually seen one of
these.

Intersecting
streets
A
common question is whether you have to stop if a school bus is
stopped at an intersection but is on the intersecting
street, i.e. is not on the same street you're on, and you're traveling
straight through or turning away from the bus. The law is not clear on
this. However, the statute reads that you have to stop "when approaching from either
direction."
This would seem to indicate that you have to be moving toward the bus
from the front or rear. If the bus is on a different roadway than you,
you're not really approaching it from either of those directions.
Furthermore, it says drivers "shall
stop before reaching the school bus",
but if you're on an intersecting roadway, you would never "reach" the
bus. Finally, the title pretty much indicates the intent of the
statute-- that drivers may not pass
a stopped bus. Again, if you're on an intersecting roadway, you would
never "pass" the bus. Given all of that, it appears the law does
not require you to stop in this situation. That said, if the
bus
is at or in close proximity to the intersection, and you're not on a
major thoroughfare (where stopping unexpectedly poses a hazard), it's
probably a good idea to stop, if not for legal reasons, then certainly
for safety-- especially if there are kids who look like they
might
want to cross your street. If you do chose to proceed, do so with
extreme care.
Now,
if you're approaching a school bus stopped across an intersection from
you on the same street and you wish to turn before reaching the bus,
that's even less clear. In that case, it's probably best to
stop.
As a footnote, I've
seen some school bus drivers who will stop their
bus in the intersection to make this all a moot point, and
some stops are located mid-block to avoid any such
issues.
School buses with hazard flashers on
School buses are required by law to stop at
all railroad crossings. (That, BTW, was the subject of the bill in School House Rock's "I'm Just a Bill" song.) When they do this, they usually
switch on their hazard flashers to warn traffic behind them of the
impending stop. You are not required to stop for the bus in
this case (unless you are directly behind them, of course.) You are
only
legally bound to stop when the alternating
red lights at the top of the bus are
flashing. It should also be noted that sometimes when
discharging or boarding passengers, the driver may determine that there
is not a need to stop traffic, for example, when stopped in a loading
area in front of a building, and will
only activate the bus's hazard
flashers. Again, in this case, you are not required to
stop; however, you should proceed with extreme caution.
Yellow flashing lights
Finally,
most school buses also have yellow alternating
flashing lights next to the red ones. The meaning of these lights
confuses many drivers. In short, these are used to
warn drivers that the
bus is about to stop, much like a yellow traffic signal warns that the
red is about to come on. You are not required to stop when the
yellow flashers are on, but you should show down and prepare to stop.

|
Yielding to and passing
emergency vehicles
|
|
§545.156 - VEHICLE APPROACHED BY AUTHORIZED
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
- (a) On the immediate approach of an authorized
emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals..., or of a police
vehicle lawfully using only an audible signal, an operator, unless
otherwise directed by a police officer, shall:
- (1) yield the right-of-way;
- (2) immediately drive to a position parallel to and
as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway
clear of any intersection; and
- (3) stop and remain standing until the authorized
emergency vehicle has passed.
- (b) This section does not exempt the operator of an
authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for
the safety of all persons using the highway.
§545.157 - PASSING CERTAIN VEHICLES
- (a)
This section applies only to the following vehicles:
(1) a stationary authorized
emergency vehicle using visual signals that meet the requirements of
Sections 547.305 and 547.702;
(2)
a stationary tow truck using equipment authorized by Section
547.305(d);
(3)
a Texas Department of Transportation vehicle not separated from the
roadway by a traffic control channelizing device and using visual
signals that comply with the standards and specifications adopted under
Section 547.105;
(4)
a service vehicle used by or for a utility, as defined by Section
203.091, and using visual signals that comply with the standards and
specifications adopted under Section 547.105; and
(5) a
stationary vehicle used exclusively to transport municipal solid waste,
as defined by Section 361.003, Health and Safety Code, or recyclable
material, as defined by Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code, while
being operated in connection with the removal or transportation of
municipal solid waste or recyclable material from a location adjacent
to the highway.
(b)
On approaching a vehicle described by Subsection (a), an operator,
unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall:
- (1) vacate the lane closest to the emergency
vehicle when driving on a highway with two or more lanes traveling in
the direction of the emergency vehicle; or
(2) slow to a speed not to exceed:
- (A)
20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted
speed limit is 25 miles per hour or more; or
- (B)
five miles per hour when the posted speed limit is less than 25 miles
per hour.
- (c)
A violation of this section is:
- (1)
a misdemeanor punishable under Section 542.401;
- (2)
a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500 if the violation results in
property damage; or
- (3)
a Class B misdemeanor if the violation results in bodily injury.
- (d)
If conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes
an offense under another section of this code or the Penal Code, the
actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both sections.
|
The purpose of the first law quoted
above is obviously to give
emergency vehicles a clear path, and the reason they need that
right-of-way is also obvious. Think of it like this: if you
or a loved-one needed help and called 911, wouldn't you want everyone
to make way for those emergency vehicles?
As the law says,
you are required to pull-over to
the right-hand side of the road and stop. This law applies no
matter which direction you are traveling relative to the emergency
vehicle. Also, needless to say, give emergency vehicles the
right-of-way at all intersections, even if they would normally have to
yield to you (see "Look Before Crossing Intersections" above.)
The second law requires drivers who are approaching
an emergency vehicle stopped on
the road with their emergency lights flashing to do one of two things:
move out of the lane nearest the emergency vehicle or slow down to 20
miles per hour below the posted speed limit (down to a minimum of 5
mph). In other words, if you're going down the freeway in the
right lane and there's an emergency vehicle parked on the right
shoulder ahead, you should immediately move into the next lane to the
left. If you can't, or if you're on a road where there is no
extra lane to move over to, then you must slow down to 20 mph below the
posted limit. The purpose of this law is to give emergency
workers a safe area to work in when they're on or near the road.
The
"move over" law was updated in 2013 to include tow trucks and
TxDOT vehicles, and again in 2019 to include utility and
garbage
trucks.
Emergency vehicle behind you at a
traffic signal
If you're stopped at the head of the line at a red light and an
emergency vehicle with its lights flashing and siren sounding is behind
you and can't get through or around the traffic, then you should first
try to make room for them if at all possible by scooting
over. If that is not possible, then you should consider
running the red. The law does not specifically require or
allow this, but the spirit of the law dictates that the
right-of-way of the emergency vehicle takes priority over the traffic
signals. Before you go through the red, though, make
sure it is absolutely safe to do so. In most cases,
cross traffic will see your predicament and stop, but if not, nudge
slightly into the intersection as a signal to other drivers but wait
until it is safe before you cross. Then, go through the
intersection, pull over and stop. A safer alternative would
be to turn right, but again, only when it is clear to do so.

|
Parking in front of fire
hydrants |
|
§545.302 - STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING
PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PLACES
- [...]
(b) An operator may not, except momentarily to pick
up or discharge a passenger, stand or park an occupied or unoccupied
vehicle:
-
[...]
(2) within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;
|
You'd think most people would have enough common
sense to know not to park in front of a fire hydrant, but I see it done
all the time. In case of a fire, the fire department needs to
be able to find and access hydrants quickly. If you're parked
in front of it, it obstructs them and delays their response to a
fire. Would you want someone blocking the fire hydrant
nearest your home if it were on fire? (Footnote: Remember the
scene in Backdraft where the firefighters break
the windows of a car parked in front of a hydrant and run the hose
through the car? Apparently, from the photo below, it happens
in real life as well.)

Don't
let this be you!
|
Parking vs. Standing vs.
Stopping |
|
§541.401 - MISCELLANEOUS TERMS
- [...]
(6) "Park" or "parking" means to stand an occupied
or unoccupied vehicle, other than temporarily while loading or
unloading merchandise or passengers.
[...]
- (9) "Stand" or "standing" means to halt an
occupied or unoccupied vehicle, other than temporarily while receiving
or discharging passengers.
- (10)
"Stop" or "stopping" means:
(A) when required,
to completely cease movement; and
(B)
when prohibited, to halt, including momentarily halting, an occupied or
unoccupied vehicle, unless necessary to avoid conflict with other
traffic or to comply with the directions of a police officer or a
traffic-control sign or signal.
|
The terms "no parking", "no standing", and "no
stopping"
are not well-understood and often conflated.
No
stopping
is the
most restrictive-- you cannot stop there even briefly for any reason
except if you have to because traffic has stopped, you need to
stop to avoid hitting a pedestrian or another vehicle, or a police
officer
directs you to stop.
As for no
parking and no
standing,
the difference basically boils-down to whether or not you're loading or
unloading
people or stuff. If you stop for a passenger to get in or out, that's
standing. If you stop to load or unload cargo, that's parking. To help
summarize the differences, I've created this
handy-dandy reference table that shows what's allowed and not allowed
in each situation:
|

|
 |
 |
Loading/unloading
passengers |
 |
 |
 |
Loading/unloading
cargo |
 |
 |
 |
To summarize, if
there's a "no parking" sign, you can only stop briefly to load
or
unload people or cargo. If there's a "no standing" sign, you can only
stop
briefly for people to get in or out, but you cannot load or unload
cargo. If there's a "no
stopping" sign, then you can't stop at all (other than as discussed
above.)
Here's another summarization: "no stopping" also means no standing and
no parking, and "no standing" also means no parking.
It's a common belief that "standing" means the vehicle is
parked but occupied, while "parking" means the vehicle is not occupied.
However, this is not the case-- all of the definitions above apply
whether the vehicle is occupied or not. So, if you're not actively
loading or
unloading passengers or cargo, you can't wait in a no parking zone even
if you're in the vehicle with the engine running.
When loading or unloading, it should be brief and continuous. If you're
not actively loading or unloading, it's time to move on.
Other things to
know about street parking
Many
parking restrictions apply to the entire block on that side of the
street, so be sure to check for signs up and down the street. Sometimes
there will only be one sign for the whole block.
When
there is
free timed parking on a street, it applies to the entire block on the
same side. For example, let's say you park on a street with two hour
parking
and then leave before the two hours, but you return and park on the
same side of the street in
the same
block but in a different space and are there past the original two hour
period. In this scenario, you could actually be cited for overtime
parking
even though you left and came back and you're in a different space. The
reason is
because when officers time vehicles by recording license plates, they
record the block and side of the street as the location; they don't
record specific spaces. When they come
back later to see who is still there, they have no way of knowing that
you left and came back during the interim because you're in
the
same block and side of the street where they recorded you earlier. The
upshot-- if you leave and return within a few hours, park on the other
side of the street or in a different block.
(Note that this applies when time is tracked on hand-held devices using
license plate numbers; it doesn't apply if they use the old-fashioned
method of chalking your tires.)
In
many places, individual parking meters have been replaced by parking
kiosks located either in the middle or ends of the block, so be sure to
check for this when
parking, especially in a business district. If the kiosk generates a
receipt, it must be placed on your dashboard with the time visible.
Some systems allow you to pay by mobile phone; for these, you'll enter
your license plate so the officers know who has paid.
If a
parking meter is defective, you can park for free up to the maximum
time shown on the meter. If there is a handwritten note or other
obviously unofficial indication that the meter is broken, be
sure
to confirm it for yourself.
When
parking at a single-space parking meter, you should park with
your
front bumper at the meter and pay that meter unless there are markings
that indicate otherwise.
Sometimes, areas with meters
will also have a no parking restriction during certain times such as
during rush hours or for street cleaning. Most of the time, this will
be indicated on the meter, but not always, so be sure to also look for
signs--
a "no parking" sign overrides a meter, even if you feed it.
There
are many parking restrictions that don't have to be signed because they
apply everywhere and you're supposed to know them if you have a
driver's license. Here are the most common ones people seem to forget:
- No parking or standing in front of a fire hydrant
(see section above)
- No parking or standing within 30 feet on the
approach to a stop or yield sign or traffic signal
- No parking or standing within 20 feet of a
crosswalk (marked or unmarked) at an intersection
|
Parking facing the wrong
direction |
|
§545.303 - ADDITIONAL PARKING REGULATIONS
- (a) An operator who stops or parks on a two-way
roadway shall do so with the right-hand wheels of the vehicle parallel
to and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
- (b) An operator who stops or
parks on a one-way roadway shall stop or park the vehicle parallel to
the curb or edge of the roadway in the direction of authorized traffic
movement with the right-hand wheels within 18 inches of the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway or the left-hand wheels within 18 inches of
the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway. This subsection
does
not apply where a local ordinance otherwise regulates stopping or
parking on the one-way roadway.
|
When parallel
parking on a street, it is illegal to park facing oncoming traffic.
Lots of folks do it, though, especially in residential
neighborhoods. But it's illegal because it's generally unsafe
for several reasons.
First
of all, to park facing traffic requires one to drive on the wrong side
of the street, which is illegal unless overtaking another vehicle or
passing an obstruction. And in doing so, pedestrians,
cyclists,
children, or other motorists are not expecting you to be
coming from that
direction on that side of the street and may enter the street without
looking for you.

Secondly,
all cars have reflectors on the rear, but the front of most cars do not
have reflectors, so when parking at night, a vehicle facing the wrong
way is less visible, especially in low-visibility
conditions. And parking the wrong way may cause someone approaching
your vehicle in
low-visibility
conditions to misinterpret which side of the road it's on and
attempt
to go around it on the wrong side.
Also,
when leaving a parking space faced the wrong way, you have to
clear traffic from both directions, a more complicated task,
especially from a parallel position.
Finally,
when you are parked the wrong way
and another vehicle parks in front of you-- especially one that is
larger-- your view of traffic will be obstructed since you will be
seated at the curb side instead of on the traffic side.
Therefore, you will not be able to see oncoming traffic until your
vehicle is most of the way into the traffic lane, thus creating a
hazardous condition.
But,
you say, you park where someone won't park in front of you.
Yes, then in that case, this specific reason wouldn't apply.
However, the law does not provide that exception, and for good reason--
sure,
maybe there's not a place to legally park in front of you. But what
if a car broke down there? Or someone parked illegally there?
Not to mention that the other safety reasons mentioned above
still apply. So take the extra 30 seconds to turn around and
park facing the right way.

|
Using your hazard lights
while parking illegally
|
|
Many people who park someplace they shouldn't in
order to briefly run inside will switch on their hazard lights
(flashers)
to indicate that they're parking
for "just a minute" and that they'll be right back. Some even
believe this legalizes what they're doing.
It doesn't.
If the sign says "no parking", then that means no parking.
It doesn't mean "no parking except for a
minute or two" while you run into the store, restaurant, etc. If that's
what they meant, then the sign would say
that. Switching on your hazards doesn't magically exempt you. In fact,
most parking
enforcement officers say that a car with its flashers on is a beacon
to them that the car is parked illegally and tells them
that the driver knew they weren't supposed to park there.

This tells parking enforcement
officers "come give me a ticket!"
|
Driving with parking lights
only |
|
§547.302 - DUTY TO DISPLAY LIGHTS
(a) A vehicle shall display each lighted lamp and illuminating device
required by this chapter to be on the vehicle:
- (1)
at nighttime; and
- (2)
when light is insufficient or atmospheric conditions are unfavorable so
that a person or vehicle on the highway is not clearly discernible at a
distance of 1,000 feet ahead.
|
First, let's talk about the law in this
situation. The law requires you to use all your lights
(including headlights) at nighttime, which is defined as being one half
hour after sunset to one half hour before sunrise, as well as any time
when you cannot see clearly for 1,000 feet, which essentially covers
all inclement weather as well as dusk and dawn. Therefore,
you should never be driving with just your parking lights on. If you're
in a situation where you need to have any lights on at all,
then you must use all your lights, which includes your
headlights.
Some people will
say that they don't want to use
their headlights during bad weather or at dusk because there's enough
ambient light for them to see and their headlights won't be
illuminating anything. However, headlights are not
only for
lighting-up the road ahead for you to see, but they also make you more
visible to
other drivers. Headlights are visible at a greater distance
than parking lights alone. This is why
motorcycles and emergency vehicles always use their headlights and is
also
the rationale behind daytime running lamps (see below for more
discussion on DRLs.) So whenever
visibility is reduced, you should use your headlights, if not to help
you see but to help others see you.
Others may argue that using their headlights puts a
strain on their electrical system or battery. This is simply
not true. Your vehicle's electrical system is designed to
operate all of the vehicle's electrical devices, including the
headlights. Your battery is only used to start your car and
to power electrical devices in the car when the engine is not
running. When your engine is running, the alternator, which
is cranked by the engine, is providing power to your vehicle as well as
recharging your battery. If using your headlights does indeed
cause electrical problems for your car, then your car is unsafe and
needs repair.
So what are parking lights for then? They're mostly
a relic from before hazard flashers were common. Their purpose was to
give your car visibility while stopped on the side of the road. They're
essentially obsolete now and many manufacturers have eliminated them.
Parking lights vs Daytime Running
Lamps
Note that parking lights
are not the same as Daytime Running Lamps.
Parking lights are when you can activate the
front and rear marker lights without turning-on the
headlights (see the photo below for an example.) These are intended to
make your vehicle more visible while it is parked on the side
of a dark road, thus the term "parking
lights". However,
as discussed above, parking lights are mostly obsolete nowadays and
many
recent-model vehicles
in the United States are no longer equipped with them. For
vehicles
that have parking lights, there is typically a third setting or
position on the
headlight switch-- position 0 is off, position 1 is the parking lights,
and position 2 is all the lights including the
headlights. Daytime running lamps are essentially
the
opposite of parking
lights-- they're the headlights illuminated with the
front, rear, and side
marker lights off and are generally automatically
controlled. Some vehicles use a completely separate set of
lamps instead of the main headlights for the DRLs. Wikipedia
has a good write-up on the differences
at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_lighting.

Parking
lights
|
Turn signals in turn-only lane |
|
§545.104 - SIGNALING TURNS; USE OF TURN SIGNALS
(a) An operator shall use the signal authorized by
Section 545.106 to indicate an intention to turn, change lanes, or
start from a parked position.
(b) An operator intending to turn a vehicle right or left shall signal
continuously for not less than the last 100 feet of movement of the
vehicle before the turn.
(c) An operator may not light the signals on only one side of the
vehicle on a parked or disabled vehicle or use the signals as a
courtesy or "do pass" signal to the operator of another vehicle
approaching from the rear.
|
It might seem logical
that if you are in a turn-only lane, you don't need to signal
your
turn. As you can see above, however, the law is quite
straightforward-- you must use a turn signal any time
you want to turn or change lanes. There is no exception for
turn-only lanes. The reason is simple: while it may be
obvious to you and to the guy behind you that you are in a turn-only
lane, it may not be evident
to motorists or pedestrians across the intersection or on the
intersecting road. Using your turn-signal clearly indicates
to everyone who may need to know that you are are going to turn.
Some states waive the requirement to
use turn signals if
no other vehicles are in the vicinity, but Texas has no such exception.
You don't know what you don't know, so you should always
signal
in case there's someone nearby you don't see.
|
Turning from and into the correct
lane |
|
§545.101 - TURNING AT INTERSECTION
- (a) To make a right turn at an intersection, an
operator shall make both the approach and the turn as closely as
practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
- (b) To make a left turn at an intersection, an
operator shall:
- (1) approach the intersection in the extreme
left-hand lane lawfully available to a vehicle moving in the direction
of the vehicle; and
- (2) after entering the intersection, turn left,
leaving the intersection so as to arrive in a lane lawfully available
to traffic moving in the direction of the vehicle on the roadway being
entered.
- (c) On a street or roadway designated for two-way
traffic, the operator turning left shall, to the extent practicable,
turn in the portion of the intersection to the left of the center of
the intersection.
- (d) To turn left, an operator who is approaching an
intersection having a roadway designated for one-way traffic and for
which signs are posted from a roadway designated for one-way traffic
and for which signs are posted shall make the turn as closely as
practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
- (e) The Texas Transportation Commission or a local
authority, with respect to a highway in its jurisdiction, may:
- (1) authorize the placement of an official
traffic-control device in or adjacent to an intersection; and
- (2) require a course different from that specified
in this section for movement by vehicles turning at an intersection.
|
Imagine you are on a street approaching an
intersection with lanes marked
like the right hand illustration above. Recently, I have
seen an
increasing number of people turn from the two center lanes. BUZZ!
Unless there are signs and/or
lane markings indicating otherwise, the law only allows you to turn
left from the far left lane or to turn right from the far right lane.
When there are dedicated turn lanes like those in the right
hand example above,
those lanes
fulfill those roles. So, for example, if you
wanted
to turn right from the right hand through lane (i.e. the lane
immediately to the left of the right-only lane), you would only be
permitted to do so if it was marked as shown in the right hand
illustration below.

OK, now that we know which lane to turn from, we
need to know which lanes we can legally turn into. In Texas,
when turning right, you are required to turn both from the right lane
(as discussed above) and into the right lane
unless there is an obvious
safety reason not to (e.g. you're driving a long vehicle or there is a
pedestrian or debris in the road) or, of course, if there are signs are
markings indicating otherwise (e.g. a double turn lane.) When
turning left,
however, you are permitted to turn into any lane designated for traffic
headed in that direction and it is recommended that you pick the lane
that interferes least with other traffic. The exception is if
you're turning left from a one-way street onto another one-way street;
in that case, you must turn from and into the left lane
(i.e. the mirror of a right turn.) Also, if you
are turning from one of two lanes designated for the same turn movement
(i.e. double turn lanes), then you must turn into the appropriate lane
as
indicated by signs and/or pavement markings. And one final
word: keep in mind that other people may not always follow the law, so
be prepared to yield if necessary, even if you're in the right.
Extra tip
Good driving habits dictate that you turn into the lane nearest
you, so, if you're turning left, you should turn into the
left lane if possible.
|
Center left turn lanes |
|
§545.060 - DRIVING ON ROADWAY LANED FOR TRAFFIC
- [...]
(b) If a roadway is divided into three lanes and
provides for two-way movement of traffic, an operator on the roadway
may not drive in the center lane except:
- (1) if passing another vehicle and the center lane
is clear of traffic within a safe distance;
- (2) in preparing to make a left turn; or
- (3) where the center lane is designated by an
official traffic-control device for movement in the direction in which
the operator is moving.
|
As
you can see above, the law for the use of center two-way left turn
lanes is pretty much non-existent. The statute above is the only one
that pertains to center lanes, and other than allowing its use for left
turns, doesn't give any restrictions on how it can used for that.
Before
we move on, now would be a good time to point-out that while section
(b)(1) above says you can use a center lane for passing, keep in mind
that center lanes marked as
left turn lanes cannot be used for passing as the traffic signs and
pavement markings take
precedence. Section (b)(1) really is an artifact from days long ago
where
so-called "suicide lanes" were used on rural roads to allow passing in
either direction; fortunately, those lanes are pretty much all gone now
and
have
been replaced by dedicated passing lanes for one direction or the
other. Section (b)(3) would apply in that case or also in the case of
reversible lanes.
Regarding
center
two-way
left turn lanes (TWLTL), if the law doesn't specify how it is to be
used, then where is that defined? For starters, the Texas DPS driver's
handbook states, "the
only time a vehicle should enter the center (turn) lane is at a point
where the vehicle will have time to slow down or stop in order tomake a
safe left turn maneuver. The center turn lane should never be used for
passing or as a through traffic lane. "
That explanation is based on the Texas Manual on Uniform
Traffic
Control Devices (TMUTCD), which as mentioned elsewhere on this page has
statutory authority for the definition of signs and markings. The
TMUTCD states that a lane marked with the sign to the left and the
standard TWLTL markings (a solid yellow line with a broken yellow line
to the inside) "is
reserved for the exclusive use of left-turning vehicles in either direction and is not
used for passing, overtaking, or through travel."
So with that said, there are many questions that
arise that are not directly answered by the statute or TMUTCD. Probably the top
one is, how far
before
turning can you legally enter this lane? Again, there is no
defined statutory limit. Furthermore, each situation is different and
can vary
depending on
the speed of the vehicle, weather and traffic conditions, the
presence of an oncoming vehicle in the lane, etc. Drivers must use
their best judgment and not enter the lane too early or they may be
perceived as using it as a through or passing lane. Police officers
also have to use their judgment in enforcement and this difference in
what may be considered "too far" often results in a citation. The
general guidance is to not enter the lane until just before
you need to slow down to either stop or complete your turn. This will
vary depending on your speed and the presence of other vehicles int the
TWLTL.
Another
common question is whether you may use a TWLTL that feeds into to a
regular left turn lane at an intersection
in order to
pass traffic stopped in the through lanes if you want to turn at the
intersection. Again, the law does not address this maneuver. If you use
it to pass the stopped traffic for a relatively short distance, then
you're not likely to
get cited. But if you're passing a long line of
vehicles, passing
no vehicles, or passing vehicles that aren't stopped, then you
could get
cited, especially if you're whizzing by at a high rate of speed or your
action interferes with someone wanting to make an opposing left turn.
The upshot: I would avoid doing it for more than a couple hundred feet
or so.
Finally, one
other common question is whether you can use the TWLTL to wait or merge
when turning onto the main road from a side street or driveway. Once
again, the law and TMUTCD gives us no guidance on this. However, the
Federal Highway Administration's
"Read
Your Road"
guide, which humorously calls the TWLTL a "special place", states
that, when turning from a side street or driveway onto the main road,
you may use this lane as "a
safe mid-point to wait for a gap in
traffic approaching from the right before completing your turn."
However, it is
important to note that since Texas law makes no provision for
this action (nor does it specifically prohibit it for that matter.)
However, since the signage and markings indicate it is a left turn lane
from
the main road, any other use would not conform to that, and I have
had reports
that drivers have been cited for
doing this and the court has upheld their citation. Therefore, I would
recommend avoiding this maneuver unless absolutely necessary,
and
if you do, do
not under any circumstances use the center turn lane as an
acceleration
lane! Instead, wait until there is an opening in the
traffic and then move immediately from the center lane into the through
lane.
One
final note: Some municipalities have ordinances that more specifically
regulate the use of TWLTLs. For instance, the City of Cleburne
specifically states a TWLTL can only be used by drivers when preparing
to turn from said lane, and you're not allowed to drive in a TWLTL for
more than 200 feet.
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Turning left across a median |
|
Boy,
this seems to be a hot topic of debate, especially in the Houston area:
what is the proper way to turn left
across a
median? Specifically, do you keep to the near side when turning or
cross over
to the far
side before turning? The answer: it depends, of course! In
this case, it depends on the width of the
median.
In Texas, if the median is 30 feet or more wide
(nominally),
then the junctions on each side of the median are legally
considered to be separate
intersections (§541.303; see statute below).
This then means that a crossover through the median is considered
to be a very short intersecting street of its own, but you still have
to treat it as if it were a regular street; that is, you
must keep to the right as you cross
over, just like would do turning onto a regular street. These are
considered to be "wide" medians.

How to turn left
when median is 30 feet wide or wider ("wide median")
If the
median is less than 30 feet wide, then the whole thing is considered
one big intersection, so you would make a "regular" left
turn just as you would if there was no median; that is, pass opposing
left-turning traffic on your passenger side. These are considered to be
"narrow" medians.

How to turn left
when a median is less than 30 feet wide ("narrow median")
So how do you tell how wide a median is? Obviously, nobody expects you
to get out and measure it. So to help, there are clues:
- If a median is 30 feet wide or more, there will
usually be
yield or stop signs in the median, a set of double-yellow lines, and
stop or yield lines; these are your
cue to treat it as a wide
median (top example above).
- If there are no stop or yield signs
or lane markings in the median, then that is generally your
cue to treat
it like a narrow
median (bottom example above.) In these cases, there is
often (but
not always) a "keep right" sign on the median nose. Also, signalized
intersections should usually be treated as a narrow median regardless
of width.
How to handle
ambiguous cases
Regrettably,
there are quite a few locations where medians wider than 30 feet are
not signed as shown above-- this invariably causes confusion and
conflict among drivers who may interpret the intersection differently.
In those cases, you'll have to do a quick assessment to determine the
best way to turn: if the crossover space appears wide enough for a
standard passenger vehicle to wait perpendicular to the main road (or
nearly so) and not interfere with passing traffic, then the median is
probably wide enough to be considered a wide median and you
should
turn according to the top example above. If not, then treat it as a
narrow median. If other vehicles are already in the median when you
approach, that can help you evaluate its width; if not, you'll have to
use your best judgment.
If other drivers are already in the
median and are "doing it wrong", they will likely make it difficult or
impossible for you to "do it right"; in that case, it might be safer to
wait for them to complete their turn before you move into the median,
after which other drivers will hopefully follow your lead.
There are also a few places where medians are signed as if they were
wider than 30 feet when, in fact, they're not. In
those cases, you should still follow the signs and markings and treat
it as a "wide median".
By the way, the same rules above apply if you're making a U-turn.
Why the difference?
The
reason for the two methods is simple-- sightlines. With a narrow
median, you can generally see around an opposing left-turning vehicle
sufficiently to make a safe turn. But if drivers use the narrow median
turning method at a wide median, the other vehicle will block your view
(and you, theirs), making for a dangerous situation.
Legal
basis
Since this topic often elicits fisticuffs arguments on social media,
here is some
supporting documentation to back me up. First of all, here's
the
statute that defines the 30-foot rule:
§541.303 - INTERSECTION
[...]
(c) Each junction of each roadway of a highway that
includes two roadways at least 30 feet apart with the roadway of an
intersecting highway, including each roadway of an intersecting highway
that includes two roadways at least 30 feet apart, is a separate
intersection.
|
This is a good example of a confusingly-worded statute, so
here it is paraphrased: On
a divided highway where the roadways are 30 feet apart, each junction
on each side where it intersects another roadway are considered
separate intersections. If two divided highways cross each other and
both of them have roadways 30 feet apart, then all the places where
they cross are separate intersections.
If
you need an "official" interpretation that
confirms what I've
stated above (what, you don't you believe me?),
see the following TxDOT manual:
http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/sfb/divided_highway_intersections_and_crossovers.htm
|
Crossing over medians or
private
property |
|
§545.063 - DRIVING ON DIVIDED HIGHWAY
- (a) On a highway having two or more roadways
separated by a space, physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing
section constructed to impede vehicular traffic, an operator shall
drive on the right roadway unless directed or permitted to use another
roadway by an official traffic-control device or police officer.
- (b) An operator may not drive over, across, or in a
dividing space, physical barrier, or section constructed to impede
vehicular traffic except:
- (1) through an opening in the physical barrier or
dividing section or space; or
- (2) at a crossover or intersection established by a
public authority.
§545.064 - RESTRICTED ACCESS
An operator may not drive on or from a
limited-access or controlled-access roadway except at an entrance or
exit that is established by a public authority.
§545.423 - CROSSING PROPERTY
- (a) An operator may not cross a sidewalk or drive
through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance
without stopping the vehicle.
-
(b)
An operator may not cross or drive in or on a sidewalk, driveway,
parking lot, or business or residential entrance at an intersection to
turn right or left from one highway to another highway.
|
It is illegal to
drive across any median. This includes the median between the freeway
and the frontage road--
even when there's a traffic jam on the freeway. If you want
to get onto the frontage road, get off at the next exit. Crossing
medians is rife with
hazards to you, your car, and other drivers, and many times you won't
gain much if any advantage doing so anyway. Also be sure to see the
section
about "flush median islands"
in the lane markings section
above.
Similar to driving across the median, it is also illegal to cross
private property for the purpose of turning left or right from one road
to another. In other words, it's illegal to cut-through that
gas station or shopping center on the corner so you don't have to stop
at the stop sign or
red light or to avoid the line of cars waiting at the intersection.
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Yielding on frontage roads |
|
§545.154 - VEHICLE ENTERING OR LEAVING
LIMITED-ACCESS OR CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAY
An operator on an access or feeder road of a
limited-access or controlled-access highway shall yield the
right-of-way to a vehicle entering or about to enter the access or
feeder road from the highway or leaving or about to leave the access or
feeder road to enter the highway.
|
This law is pretty straightforward as written: if
you're on the frontage
road (aka access road, feeder road, service road, or gateway) of a
freeway or expressway, then you must yield to traffic exiting the
freeway or expressway and coming onto the frontage road. But
there are some nuances that will be discussed below.
Note that yielding may or may not mean stopping (see
the next major topic below.)
On all frontage
roads, you must yield to traffic exiting the freeway as they are
entering the frontage road. In areas
with two-way frontage roads, you must also yield to (oncoming) traffic
that is entering or about to turn onto an entrance ramp. In those
areas, drivers who are not getting on the freeway, but who would have
to veer left across oncoming traffic if they were, will often use their
right turn signal as a
friendly
gesture so that
oncoming traffic will know they don't have to slow down
or stop for them (see
diagram below.) If you see this, though, be extra careful
as the
person may have left their turn signal on from a previous turn and
actually wants to enter the freeway. Also keep an eye out for traffic
behind them who may want to enter the freeway.

So a question that
may come to mind is, how far does the yield requirement extend? On a
two-way frontage road, the location of the intersection(s) is generally
quite obvious, and so the yield applies there. On a one-way frontage
road, however, the angle of the ramp makes it a little more difficult
to
delineate when traffic is no longer "entering" the frontage road. One
way of looking at it is that the yield requirement
covers the intersection of the two roadways, which is defined
in §541.202
as "the place where vehicles could collide if traveling on roadways of
intersecting highways that join at any angle other than an approximate
right angle." The diagram below illustrates this. But perhaps an easier
interpretation is that once
a driver
exiting the freeway turns into a lane on the frontage road, they then
become established in that lane and are thus no longer entering the
frontage road, so the requirement to yield to them
ends at that point. Moving from that lane then becomes an ordinary lane
change and is
subject to the laws that govern lane changes.
Another
question is, can traffic exiting the freeway shoot across the frontage
road and immediately turn into a driveway? As long as there isn't a
double white line (more on that below), then yes, it is technically
legal, although strongly discouraged due to the myriad of hazards it
causes.

Potential collision points at
intersection of one-way frontage road and exit ramp
The
double white line exception
This law covers all
entrance and exit ramps, even if there are no yield signs. However,
there
is an unwritten
exception: When traffic exiting the freeway has its own
added lane that is separated from the other frontage road lanes with a
double white line,
then no
yield is required. This is because
the double white line forces
exiting vehicles into their own lane on
the
frontage
road and to travel in that lane beyond the intersection of the ramp and
frontage road. As discussed above, this means when they reach
the
point at which they can
legally move into the other frontage road lanes, it's
just an ordinary lane
change at that point and is regulated accordingly (see diagram below.)
This configuration was developed to alleviate the
congestion on
many urban frontage roads that occurred as a result of frontage road
traffic having to yield to a nearly continuous stream of exiting
vehicles. Eliminating the
need for traffic on the frontage road to yield improves traffic
flow. This configuration also improves safety because it eliminates the
hazards
caused by injecting exiting traffic directly into or across the
frontage road traffic and helps exiting drivers to adjust to frontage
road conditions before moving over. As a result, this configuration is
becoming more
widespread.
Some
people write me to ask for the statute where this exception is
granted-- well, as I mentioned above, this is an unwritten exception.
Instead, the "exception" in this case is
the outcome of the combination of the added lane, double white
lines,
and the resultant
traffic flow. The double white line means that exiting traffic cannot
legally conflict with traffic already on the frontage road
at the point where the ramp and frontage road intersect. Instead, the
double white lines shunt that exiting traffic past the point where they
would conflict with traffic already on the frontage road (see diagram above.) As a
result,
there is no intersecting traffic that would require right-of-way
control
like there is at locations that don't use this
configuration.

No
yield required on frontage road when exiting traffic has its own lane
separated by a double-white line
It's worth noting, however, that if you're on the
frontage road and cross the double
white lines into the exit lane and interfere with traffic
exiting the freeway, you could be cited for violating §545.154
in
addition to the violation for crossing the double white lines. And if
you're exiting and cross the double white lines, that violation would
make you at fault for any resulting collision.
Note
that there must be a double
white line
for the exception above to apply. If the exiting traffic has its own
lane, but that lane is separated from the others by a single solid
white line or a broken white line, then the yield law still applies. This is because in that
situation, the exiting traffic is not required to enter the added lane
and could immediately cross into any of the other frontage road lanes (see diagram below.)
These
potential conflicts have resulted in this configuration being
deprecated by TxDOT. (See the lane markings section for clarification on why someone can cross a single solid white line.)
Many locations with a double white line also have signs like the one
shown here. However, these signs are considered reminders and are
not required as the double white lines alone convey the "do not cross"
meaning.
Finally,
you may happen upon a location with a yield sign and double white
lines. In these situations, the yield sign is usually an artifact
from a previous configuration before the double white line was added
and, due to an oversight, the yield sign was not removed.
Official
support
If you desire an "official" confirmation of this interpretation, see
the "Frontage
Road-Ramp Intersection Control" section of
TxDOT's Sign Guidelines
and Applications Manual.

Yield
required on frontage road when exiting traffic has its own lane NOT
separated by a double-white line
|
Yield vs. stop |
|
§544.010 - STOP SIGNS AND YIELD SIGNS
- (a) Unless directed to proceed by a police officer
or traffic-control signal, the operator of a vehicle or streetcar
approaching an intersection with a stop sign shall stop as provided by
Subsection (c).
- (b) If safety requires, the operator of a vehicle
approaching a yield sign shall stop as provided by Subsection (c).
- (c) An operator required to stop by this section
shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the
intersection. In the absence of a crosswalk, the operator shall stop at
a clearly marked stop line. In the absence of a stop line, the operator
shall stop at the place nearest the intersecting roadway where the
operator has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway.
§545.153 - VEHICLE ENTERING STOP OR YIELD
INTERSECTION
- (a) Preferential right-of-way at an intersection
may be indicated by a stop sign or yield sign as authorized in Section
544.003.
- (b) Unless directed to proceed by a police officer
or official traffic-control device, an operator approaching an
intersection on a roadway controlled by a stop sign, after stopping as
required by Section 544.010, shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle
that has entered the intersection from another highway or that is
approaching so closely as to be an immediate hazard to the operator's
movement in or across the intersection.
- (c) An operator approaching an intersection on a
roadway controlled by a yield sign shall:
- (1) slow to a speed that is reasonable under the
existing conditions; and
- (2) yield the right-of-way to a vehicle in the
intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to be an
immediate hazard to the operator's movement in or across the
intersection.
- (d) If an operator is required by Subsection (c) to
yield and is involved in a collision with a vehicle in an intersection
after the operator drove past a yield sign without stopping, the
collision is prima facie evidence that the operator failed to yield the
right-of-way.
|
There's a reason for having two different
signs. "Stop" means that you must come to a complete stop,
period. "Yield", however, doesn't always mean that you have
to stop. Instead, a yield sign means that you must give the
right-of-way
to other traffic by slowing or stopping as necessary. You can
satisfy the requirement to yield by slowing down enough to let
the other guy get through the intersection
(and without any angst.) If you can clearly see nobody
is coming, then you can
just proceed without slowing excessively or stopping. So, if you're
approaching a yield sign, start looking early and if the way is clear,
just keep going.
That said, the opposite is also true: if it is
necessary to provide a clear path for the other driver, you are indeed
required to stop at a yield sign.
Footnote
Unfortunately, in many areas, it often seems that yield signs
are placed where there should be stop signs and vice-versa. Europe
overwhelmingly prefers yield signs; the US is ridiculously
riddled with unnecessary stop signs.

|
Four-way stops |
|
A
lot of people might be surprised, but there is no specific Texas state
law regarding who goes first at a
four-way or all-way stop. The only applicable law states that
drivers must stop and may enter the intersection only when it is safe
to do so (§545.151). So that leaves the right-of-way
assignment up to the drivers. To that end, there is a widely
accepted convention that most drivers use to remove the
guesswork. Basically, it's first-come,
first-served. Implementing it is easy: when you stop at an
all-way stop, look around and see who's already stopped. When
they've all gone, it's your turn! If two or more people get
there at the same time, then the protocol is that the person on the
right should go first, and it should follow clockwise from there.
Be aware, however, that some municipalities as well as other
states do have laws that codify the order above.
Also note that there are times when a driver doesn't necessarily have
to wait for their turn. For instance, if you're the last to arrive at
an intersection with cars already stopped on the other three approaches
and you want to turn right, you could go immediately if the driver on
your right starts to turn left or if the driver across from you goes
straight since those movements don't conflict with yours and provide
"cover" for you while you're turning.
|
Don't back-up on the freeway |
|
§545.415 - BACKING A VEHICLE
(b) An operator may not back the vehicle on a
shoulder or roadway of a limited-access or controlled-access highway.
|
Never, ever back-up on the freeway, even on the
shoulder! Besides being illegal, this is extremely dangerous!
Traffic is
coming toward you at high-speed, and if you're backing-up, you're
essentially going the wrong way and risk the equivalent of a head-on
collision. If you miss your exit, just drive to the next exit, turn
around, and go back. In most cases, you'll only lose a couple
of minutes. Next time, make sure you know where you're going
and pay attention to the signs.
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Move minor accidents out of traffic |
|
§550.022 - ACCIDENT INVOLVING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE
- (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the
operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage
to a vehicle that is driven or attended by a person shall:
- (1) immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of
the accident or as close as possible to the scene of the accident
without obstructing traffic more than is necessary;
[...]
- (b) If an accident occurs on a main lane, ramp,
shoulder, median, or adjacent area of a freeway in a metropolitan area
and each vehicle involved can be normally and safely driven, each
operator shall move the operator's vehicle as soon as possible to a
designated accident investigation site, if available, a location on the
frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable
location to complete the requirements of Section 550.023 and minimize
interference with freeway traffic.
- [...]
- (d) In this section, a vehicle can be normally and
safely driven only if the vehicle:
- (1) does not require towing; and
- (2) can be operated under its own power and in its
usual manner, without additional damage or hazard to the vehicle, other
traffic, or the roadway.
|
Have you ever been caught in a traffic jam only to
find that it was caused by a minor fender-bender blocking a
lane and everyone is standing around waiting for the police? Maybe
you've thought to yourself, "there oughta be a
law..."
Well, there is. The law requires that
anyone involved in an accident not obstruct traffic any more than is
necessary. The law even specifically requires that, if an
accident occurs on a freeway or freeway ramp in a metropolitan area and
all involved vehicles can be safely driven, the motorists involved must
move their vehicles off of the freeway immediately. This is
to help prevent a traffic hazard and resulting congestion which,
besides unnecessarily delaying others, also increases the likelihood of
other accidents. Many people think that their insurance won't
cover them if they move their cars from the scene before the police
arrive, but this is absolutely false. The police and
insurance adjusters can usually determine what happened based on the
stories of
those involved and the damage to the vehicles. Besides, in
the case of most fender-benders, you legally don't even need to have
the police come to the scene. But if you're worried, then
quickly snap some photos of the scene and vehicles with your cell
phone camera before you move out of the way.
|
Driving on the shoulder |
|
§545.058 - DRIVING ON IMPROVED SHOULDER
- (a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder
to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that
operation is necessary and may be done safely, but only:
- (1) to stop, stand, or park;
- (2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled
lane of traffic;
(3) to decelerate before making a right turn;
(4) to pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped on the main
traveled portion of the highway, disabled, or preparing to make a left
turn;
(5) to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;
(6) as permitted or required by an official traffic control device; or
(7) to avoid a collision
|
A common question I get, especially for newcomers
to Texas, is whether it is legal to drive on the shoulder of a two-lane
highway to allow other cars to pass as they have seen people
doing. The answer is yes, it is, as declared in (a)(5)
above. You'll find that many long-time Texans
will automatically move onto the shoulder when a faster car comes up
behind them on a two-lane road. It's just a common courtesy
and helps the other person to pass them safely. However,
there are some requirements to do this-- the shoulder must be wide
enough and free of debris or stalled or parked vehicles (it is
generally illegal to park on highways outside of business or
residential districts). If you do move onto the shoulder to
allow someone to pass, reduce your speed a bit, keep a sharp eye out
for any obstructions ahead, and move back into the main through lane as
soon as it is safe to do so.
You are also allowed to briefly drive on the
shoulder to pass a vehicle that is slowing or has stopped in the main
lane to turn left or has stalled. Additionally, you can also
drive on the shoulder to slow down to turn right, to speed up after
turning onto the highway or after having stopped on the shoulder, or to
avoid a collision (duh.)
You are not allowed to drive on
the shoulder to overtake another moving vehicle (except as
provided
above). In other words, if the vehicle you are
following
will not move onto the shoulder to allow you to pass, then you must
pass them on the left when it's legal and safe to do so.
Using
the shoulder to turn right in heavy traffic
One other
frequent question is about using the
shoulder to pass a long line of stopped traffic if you want to turn
right at a driveway or the next intersection. Section (a)(4)
above, on its face, does seem to allow for this. The main sticking
point is the phrase "if that operation is
necessary". The statute doesn't define what "necessary" is. However,
there is case law that addresses this specifically. In Lothrop v.
The State of Texas
(2012), the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (which is the supreme court
in Texas for criminal cases) ruled that "necessary" had to be taken in
context of the seven permissible reasons to drive on the shoulder. In
other words, if you have to drive on the shoulder to pass a vehicle
stopped in the main lane (as opposed to passing them on the left, for
example), then that qualifies as "necessary".
The
other stipulation is that the maneuver be done "safely". Again, the law
does not define this specifically, so it's open to interpretation.
Typically, if there is no collision, then that could be considered
prima facie evidence that it was done safely. A more affirmative
defense would be that the driver ensured the shoulder was clear of
obstructions and that they drove slowly. (My recommendation would be 20
mph-- if it's considered safe for a school zone, it's certainly safe
enough for passing stopped vehicles.)
Many officers I've
spoken with
tell me that because of the uncertainty of this law, they usually won't
cite for
this or they will only cite someone who does this egregiously; for
example, someone who is racing down the shoulder (which seems
to
violate the "be done safely" stipulation as discussed above), someone
who gets on the shoulder well before the back of the
line (because you're not actually passing any stopped vehicles at that
point), or
someone who continues on
the shoulder through an intersection. (Those all seem like good reasons
to me to get a ticket.) But some officers and departments will always
cite for this and leave it to a judge to decide.
In short, while
statutory and case law seems to allow this, it still seems to be a bit
of a
gray area in some jurisdictions, so YMMV and you should do this at your
own risk.
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U-turns
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§545.102 - TURNING ON CURVE OR CREST OF GRADE
An operator may not turn the
vehicle to move in the opposite direction when approaching a curve or
the crest of a grade if the vehicle is not visible to the operator of
another vehicle approaching from either direction within 500 feet
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There is only one state law specifically
regarding U-turns: §545.102, which prohibits a U-turn if you are not
visible within 500 feet of approaching traffic. Otherwise,
U-turns are allowed
anywhere as long as there is not a sign or local ordinance prohibiting
it. However, many municipalities have ordinances
limiting U-turns in specific areas, such as in business districts or at
signalized intersections, and these restrictions may not be
not
signed. Check with your local police or traffic engineering
department to see if there are any such ordinances in your
city.
If you want
to make a U-turn at a traffic
light, you
cannot do so unless you have a green signal or flashing yellow arrow
(note that the 500 foot rule above still technically applies.) Whenever
you
make a U-turn, you must, of course, yield to oncoming
traffic just as if you were making a left turn. If you make a
U-turn with a green signal, anyone wanting to
make a right-on-red to your left is usually required to yield to you,
but keep in mind that
they may not realize you're making a U-turn until they've started
making their turn, so be prepared to yield to them. In some cases, you
are required to yield to those right turners; those cases are marked
with a sign like the one shown to the right.
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Don't stop on entrance ramps |
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Unless traffic on the freeway is completely stopped or you can't merge
and there is no
place else for you to go, do not ever stop on a freeway
entrance
ramp! This is an extremely serious traffic
hazard. Drivers behind you are speeding-up to get up to
freeway speed and are looking back up the freeway for a gap to merge
into. They are not expecting you to stop! If you
can't squeeze into traffic by the time you get
to the end of the ramp, make sure your left turn signal is on and
carefully continue on the shoulder (if it's clear) until you can safely
merge
into the traffic
stream.
Be helpful to traffic entering
the freeway
If you're in the right lane of a freeway and see traffic preparing to
merge, move over or make room for them to merge into. Although the law
requires traffic entering the freeway to yield (basic right-of-way law,
§545.151), good drivers make the effort to help-out other motorists.
Merging from the shoulder
If you
stop on the shoulder to change a flat
tire or deal with some other emergency and you're ready to get back on
the freeway, get up to speed on the shoulder, then signal left and
merge into traffic. Do not pull from a standing
stop directly onto the freeway's main lanes. This
very action killed a mother and van full of children west of Ft. Worth
back in the mid '90s.
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Drive right, pass left |
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§545.051 - DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY
- [...]
(b) An operator of a vehicle on a roadway moving
more slowly than the normal speed of other vehicles at the time and
place under the existing conditions shall drive in the right-hand lane
available for vehicles, or as close as practicable to the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway, unless the operator is:
- (1) passing another vehicle; or
- (2) preparing for a left turn at an intersection or
into a private road or driveway.
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Before I explain this one, let me ask you this:
where is the fastest water in a river? In the middle, of
course. Why? Because this is the place with the
least friction. This is the deepest part of the river and
there are no ragged edges or shallow bottom to slow the water. A
highway
conceptually works
the same way (think of it as a two-way river.) The right lane
has the most "friction": entering and exiting traffic, stalled
vehicles on the shoulder, etc. The left lane has virtually no
friction. That is why it is reserved for faster-moving
traffic.
Imagine this scenario: you're in the left lane on
the freeway going faster than other traffic and you come up behind
someone going a little slower than you. Instead of waiting a
few seconds for them to move over, you whip around them on the
right. At the same time, someone going much slower than you
is trying to get on the freeway at the same location. Now,
both of you are creating a big hazard for each other and someone is
going to have to give. This is why (a) you shouldn't pass on
the right; and (b) you should move to the right if you're traveling
slower than other traffic.
The second part applies no matter
how fast you are going. Notice that the law only says that
traffic moving "more slowly" than other vehicles; there is no exception
given for vehicles traveling the posted speed limit. If
you're going the speed limit in the left lane and someone behind you
wants to go faster, move over! You don't have any right to
enforce the law (that's called vigilantism), and you're actually
violating the
law by not moving over. You never know-- that person may have
a bona fide emergency (okay, probably not, but you never know.)
On the other hand, if you're the one
behind the slower driver, have a little patience and give them a few
seconds to realize you're there and to move over before you zip around
them. I can't
count the number of times I've seen someone in the left lane who wanted
to move over but got trapped there because everyone immediately passed
them on the right. Plus, the weaving of drivers who
are constantly passing other vehicles causes
hazards and the
turbulence caused by those frequent lane changes is a frequent cause of
so-called "phantom" traffic jams.

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Right-of-way when changing lanes |
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§545.061 - DRIVING ON MULTIPLE-LANE ROADWAY
On a roadway divided into three or more lanes and
providing for one-way movement of traffic, an operator entering a lane
of traffic from a lane to the right shall yield the right-of-way to a
vehicle entering the same lane of traffic from a lane to the left.
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This is probably
one of the least-known
laws. When
someone from the left lane and someone from the right lane both try to
move into the same space in the center lane at the same time, who
should yield the
the right-of-way? In Texas, the law is that the person
changing lanes from right to left must yield to someone trying to enter
the same lane from the left. The reason why the left lane driver has
priority is because the they may be moving over to allow another
vehicle to pass, because they're getting ready to exit, or because they
have an emergency and need to move to the shoulder.
One
lane at a time
While
there is no law specifically prohibiting multiple lane changes,
§545.060 requires motorists to "drive as nearly as practical entirely
within a single lane". Therefore, if
you move across multiple lanes, you could be found to be in violation
of this law, not to mention that doing so is fraught with danger.
Therefore, you should only change one lane
at a time. If you need to get across several lanes, move over
one lane, establish yourself in that lane for a few seconds, then move
over to the next lane. And don't forget your turn signal each
time as required by §545.104!
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Advisory speeds |
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What
is
the speed limit on the curve marked by the sign at the left? Most
people would say 25 mph, but the answer is that we don't have
enough information to know what the speed limit is here. The
"25 mph" sign here is a speed advisory sign, not a
speed limit sign. Speed advisory signs
indicate the recommended speed for a particular hazard, but they are
not a legal speed limit. Enforceable speed limits are marked
by the familiar black and white SPEED LIMIT signs. So, the
speed limit for this curve would be whatever the last black and white
speed limit sign indicated (or the default speed limit for that type of
roadway in the absence of a speed limit sign.) Despite
that, it is a good idea to travel at
or near the speed indicated on these signs-- you could still be cited
for unsafe speed if you're traveling appreciably faster than what is
posted, especially if you crash.
Advisory
signs in
work zones
Thumbing its nose at national signage standards, Texas has an unusual
law (§472.022) that
actually makes advisory
speeds and warning signs in construction zones enforceable.
So if you're in a work zone, obey any advisory or warning signs as if
they were regulatory signs. This, by the way, is why the seemingly
superfluous "OBEY
WARNING SIGNS - STATE LAW" signs are posted at the beginning of work
zones.
Additional information
A study by the Federal Highway Administration back in the '90s
determined that the formula used to calculate the advisory speeds on
curves, which was developed back in the 1930s, was significantly
outdated and was producing advisory speeds that were 10-15 mph below
what modern vehicles can safely and comfortably handle. New
methods and procedures for improving the setting of advisory speeds
have
been developed and many
states are now updating advisory speed signs. If
you are used to ignoring advisory speeds because they seemed too low,
you'll need to start paying more attention to them.
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Passing a funeral |
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Across
most of the state, especially in rural areas, it is the convention for
drivers, out of respect for the deceased, to pull-over and stop while a
funeral passes by. I suspect that as a result, many folks
think that it is actually the law to do so. In fact, it is
not. Also, while many states have laws that require drivers to
yield to a funeral procession, Texas has no such law. However, funeral
processions are usually escorted by peace officers, and obviously if
they indicate for you to yield, then you must do so. Otherwise, if
you're driving down the road and a funeral procession
approaches, you are not obligated by the law to pull over. If
you wish to do so, be sure to pull completely off the road so if others
want to continue on, they can do so safely.
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Other
sites of interest
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