Texas Traffic Laws Uncovered: Is Left on Red Ever Allowed?

When it comes to driving around Texas there are some things that can leave you questioning what do you do in this situation. Yes, we probably have been driving for years, maybe even decades but things can come up and it leaves you just scratching your head.

This can be a totally Texas thing but what do you do when you find cattle on the road? Do you think that won't happen? You know it does. You yield to the cattle, right? I mean that and make sure some photos are taken because nobody is going to believe this.

Then new things get introduced in the area, like roundabouts, and you have something totally new to navigate. It's a circle, it flows like a circle but it can be confusing in a busy area. Who goes when? What do you do now?

Then you get to an area of town where there are nothing but one-way streets. There is no way you don't find yourself confused on how to get to your location when you have to deal with this.

Even if it's an area you know very well it can get turned upside down when there are one-way streets thrown in.  Then it gets confusing when you hit a red light. You have to stop.

You know you can turn right on red. Or at least most people do. Nothing is more infuriating than being behind someone who just won't pull that trigger. They will just sit and waste time waiting for the light to turn green. When everyone sees there is no traffic coming. What are you doing? Go already.

Is There Ever A Time That You Can Turn Left on Red?

Yes, believe it or not, that is where those blessed one-way streets come into play. If you are on a one-way street and you are trying to turn left on another one-way street, you can legally do so in this situation. I know it seems strange. I even look around to make sure everyone sees what I am doing.

According to Texas Transportation Code Section 544.007

In Texas, a left turn on red is permitted only when both intersecting streets are one-way and the left turn is otherwise permissible, requiring a stop and yielding to pedestrians and other traffic. 

It seems strange but it is perfectly legal. So stop. Look. Make that turn. You may even feel a little more powerful doing so.