Why Are Right-of-Way Laws so Hard for Texas Drivers to Follow?

On the surface, right-of-way laws seem semi-easy to follow. If you approach a stop sign before other cars at an intersection, then you get to go first. Well, some scenarios run deeper than this and are quite a bit more complicated.

So, let's go over some commonly broken right-of-way laws in Texas, and what you can do to improve your road presence.

Texas Right-of-Way Laws are Always Right!

Driving is a privilege that Texans are given when they reach 15 or 16-years-old. It only takes one driver to put every life on the road at risk, including themselves, so it's important to remember the lesser-known laws when it comes to right-of-way.

Thanks to the Arnold & Itkin law firm, we have the basics outlined:

• Drivers merging onto a paved road from an unpaved road must always yield to traffic on the paved road
• Drivers turning right must always yield for pedestrians and traffic moving the same direction
• Intersections without any signs or lights allow all traffic on the right to have the right-of-way (No matter where you approach the intersection, you must yield to the car on your right)
• Drivers approaching main roads from smaller roads must always yield to traffic first
• If any emergency vehicle or school bus has their lights on, all traffic must yield

Another lesser-known law is that, when school buses are stopped and have their lights on, both sides of the road must stop unless there is a raised median/physical barrier separating the roads.

Texas Pedestrian Right-of-Way

Get this, even if a pedestrian is jaywalking, they still require you by law to yield as they cross the road. Also, just because you have a green light doesn't mean you don't need to keep an eye out for pedestrians.

After all, right-of-way laws almost always favor pedestrians since--spoiler alert--squishy flesh and bone is weaker than thousands of pounds of metal.