Texas Traffic Light Laws

Texas roads are only as safe as the drivers on them. If drivers fail to exercise good driving habits, it can lead to an increase in tickets, accidents, and injuries. Unfortunately, there is one poor driving habit that even otherwise good drivers commit: running red lights. In the interest of saving a few seconds, many drivers ignore Texas traffic light laws.

Dangers of Running Red Lights

Besides being illegal, running red lights is incredibly dangerous, as there is a significantly increased risk of a collision. Pedestrians may also follow a light indicating it is safe for them to walk. In fact, a crash caused by a driver who runs a red light is more likely to involve a serious injury or death. Currently, more people suffer injuries due to red light running than any other type of crash. However, authorities have clever ways to ensure that red light laws are obeyed.

Red Light Cameras in Texas

Texas drivers should know that there are many ways to catch people who run red lights. For example, an increasing number of roads have red light cameras which automatically catch people in the act. These work by sensing exactly where your car is when the light turns red. If you run the red light, a camera snaps a picture of the driver, the car, and the license plate number. A notification of the traffic violation is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. If the person who committed the violation is not the registered owner, they may transfer liability to the person who was driving the car at the time.

Texas uses red light cameras because there is a lot of evidence to suggest that they really work. In New York City, red light violations decreased 73 percent between 1994 and 2005 after red light cameras were introduced. In Baltimore, MD, red light accidents decreased 30 percent just a year after red light cameras were installed. Across the nation, the statistics are clear: when red light cameras are in place, people are more careful about stopping at lights and the number of serious accidents decreases.