Texas motorists often fail to obey critical traffic laws, such as not tailgating or only passing on the left.
Texas traffic laws are in place to ensure everyone’s safety. Drivers and passengers both benefit from everyone following the rules of the road. Despite this, many drivers continue to ignore essential parts of the traffic code.
In this article, you’ll find seven of the most commonly overlooked traffic laws. Keep reading to find out what they are and how to ensure you obey the rules.
Read these resources for more information:
1. Texas Slower Traffic Keep Right Law: The “Move Over” Rule
Texas requires slower cars to keep right, whether in the right-hand lane or near the right curb. Unless you need to pass or prepare for a left turn, keep to the right if you’re driving slower than others on the road.
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 passing another vehicle or preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
2. Texas Flow of Traffic Law: The “Minimum Speed” Rule
Texas requires drivers to maintain a minimum speed on highways when one is posted. Otherwise, drivers cannot drive so slowly that they block or impede regular traffic, unless necessary for safety or to obey the law.
An operator may not drive so slowly as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.
When the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas Turnpike Authority, the commissioners court of a county, or the governing body of a municipality determines that slow speeds on a part of a highway consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the commission, authority, county commissioners court, or governing body may determine and declare a minimum speed limit on the highway.
If appropriate signs are erected giving notice of a minimum speed limit adopted under this section, an operator may not drive a vehicle more slowly than that limit except as necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.
3. Texas Driving in Left Lane Law: The “Passing on the Left” Rule
To comply with the Texas traffic code, you must pass other vehicles on the left. Make sure you have completely cleared the other car before moving back to the right. The motorist being passed must give way and cannot speed up until they have been overtaken.
When passing requires you to cross over the center line, you must ensure the lanes are clear of oncoming traffic. Your pass must be completed before you come within 200 feet of any vehicles headed in the opposite direction. Additionally, you cannot cross the center line when approaching within 100 feet of a hill, curve, intersection, railroad crossing, or bridge.
An operator passing another vehicle shall pass to the left of the other vehicle at a safe distance and may not move back to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the passed vehicle.
An operator being passed by another vehicle shall, on audible signal, move or remain to the right in favor of the passing vehicle and may not accelerate until completely passed by the passing vehicle.
An operator may not drive on the left side of the center of the roadway in passing another vehicle unless the left side is clearly visible and free of approaching traffic for a distance sufficient to permit passing without interfering with the operation of the passed vehicle or a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.
An operator passing another vehicle shall return to an authorized lane of travel before coming within 200 feet of an approaching vehicle, if a lane authorized for vehicles approaching from the opposite direction is used in passing, or otherwise as soon as practicable.
An operator may not drive to the left side of the roadway if the operator is:
- approaching within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad grade crossing in a municipality;
- 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;
- approaching within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel; or
- awaiting access to a ferry operated by the Texas Transportation Commission.
4. Texas Rear-End Collision Law: The “Following Too Closely” Rule
To avoid illegal tailgating, Texas requires you to leave enough space to stop without hitting the car in front of you. The required distance depends on your speed, as well as road and traffic conditions.
An operator shall, if following another vehicle, maintain an assured clear distance between the two vehicles so that, considering the speed of the vehicles, traffic, and the conditions of the highway, the operator can safely stop without colliding with the preceding vehicle or veering into another vehicle, object, or person on or near the highway.
5. Texas Mobile Phone Driving Law: The “Hands-Free Driving” Rule
In Texas, you cannot type or read a text message or email while driving unless your car is stopped. If you’re driving in a school zone, you can only use your phone in hands-free mode. And if you are under 18, you cannot use your cell phone at all while driving.
All these rules have exceptions for reporting an emergency.
A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle while using a wireless communication device, except in case of emergency.
An operator may not use a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle within a school crossing zone unless the vehicle is stopped; r the wireless communication device is used with a hands-free device.
It is an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense under this section that the wireless communication device was used to make an emergency call to an emergency response service, including a rescue, emergency medical, or hazardous material response service; a hospital; a fire department; a health clinic; a medical doctor’s office; an individual to administer first aid treatment; or a police department.
An operator commits an offense if the operator uses a portable wireless communication device to read, write, or send an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped.
It is an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense under this section that the operator used a portable wireless communication device in conjunction with a hands-free device; to report illegal activity or summon emergency help; or to read an electronic message that the person reasonably believed concerned an emergency.
6. Texas Four-Way Intersection Law: The “4-Way Stop” Rule
When two drivers arrive at an intersection at the same time, Texas law grants the right of way to the driver to the right. The driver to the left must allow the other motorist to proceed first.
An operator approaching an intersection of a street or roadway that is not controlled by an official traffic-control device shall stop, yield, and grant immediate use of the intersection to a vehicle that has entered the intersection from the operator’s right or is approaching the intersection from the operator’s right in a proximity that is a hazard.
7. Texas Left Turn Intersection Law: The “Right of Way” Rule
Before you make a left turn, the Texas traffic code requires you to allow drivers approaching from the opposite direction to clear. Once all the vehicles that are close enough to create a hazard have gone by, you can proceed with the turn.
To turn left at an intersection or into an alley or private road or driveway, an operator shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle that is approaching from the opposite direction and that is in the intersection or in such proximity to the intersection as to be an immediate hazard.
Obeying the rules of the road can help you prevent accidents and ensure you don’t receive a ticket. Being a safer driver starts with understanding and following the traffic code. So, the next time you hit the road in Texas, don’t forget to observe these seven laws.