# How to Yield Properly in Houston | Attorney Brian White A good driver always knows when to yield. Yielding to other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians is critical to preventing accidents and keeping others safe on the roadway. There are general traffic laws for who should yield the right-of-way and when. Preventable [car accidents](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/) happen when drivers break these laws. In 2015, 3,453 crashes around the country occurred due to someone failing to yield the right-of-way. Don’t become part of the problem. Protect others from harm and yourself from liability by learning how to yield properly in [Houston](https://www.houstontx.gov/). ## Yielding at Intersections Yielding the right-of-way refers to stopping and allowing another vehicle or person to proceed before you. Roads in Texas may have yield signs or signals in place to protect traffic operating together at intersections and other junctures. The law does not grant the right-of-way – it simply states when someone must yield it to another. Failure to yield the right-of-way can cause accidents and lead to legal trouble. [Intersection accidents](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/the-most-dangerous-intersections-in-houston/) are some of the most common in Houston. Every year, people get into fender benders and worse collisions at downtown intersections. The most dangerous Houston intersections include Greens Rd. and John F. Kennedy Blvd., Gessner and Sam Houston Parkway, and Crosby Freeway and Sam Houston Parkway. Most four-way stops and intersections around the country work the same way. At controlled intersections with stop signs and traffic signals, always obey the signal given. Wait for the green arrow to turn. If there is only a green light, wait until it’s safe to cross oncoming traffic to turn. If you approach an intersection with no traffic signals or only stop signs, the vehicle that was the first to the intersection drives first. If you and another car arrive at the intersection simultaneously, always yield the right-of-way to the vehicle to your right. If you’re at an intersection with multiple-lane roads, all drivers on the smaller road yield to vehicles on the multi-lane road. At a T-intersection with a dead-end road, the driver on the dead-end road must yield to traffic on the other street. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## Yielding to Pedestrians and Bicyclists [Bicycle laws in Houston](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/DocViewer.aspx?K2DocKey=odbc%3a%2f%2fTCAS%2fASUPUBLIC.dbo.vwTCAS%2fTN%2fS%2fTN.551%40TCAS2&QueryText=Bicycle&HighlightType=1) prohibit cyclists from riding on the sidewalks downtown. Bicyclists must obey the same roadway rules and traffic signals as motor vehicle drivers, and motorists must treat bicyclists like other drivers. At intersections, a driver must yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist if the bicyclist approached the intersection first. Otherwise, the bicyclist must yield to the vehicle that was there first. As a driver, never assume bicyclists will obey the rules of yielding. Often, cyclists don’t understand the law or purposefully fail to give drivers the right-of-way. Play it safe by assuming a bicyclist won’t yield you the right-of-way. If a bicyclist is riding on the sidewalk and utilizing a crosswalk, yield the right-of-way every time. The exception is if a traffic signal controls the crosswalk, and the bicyclist does not have the cross signal. Again, assume the biker will cross the street even when he or she does not have the right-of-way. Proceed across intersections carefully. You must always give the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks or those safely crossing at marked intersections. People with seeing-eye guide dogs and those using white canes also always get the right-of-way in Houston. When in doubt, slow down and yield the way to vulnerable roadway users. ## Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help Our offices Houston — Greenway/Upper Kirby 3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, TX 77098 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 364-1466](tel:+17133641466) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%203120%20Southwest%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20350%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077098) Houston — East Freeway 11811 East Freeway, Suite 630-06 Houston, TX 77029 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 609-1893](tel:+17136091893) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011811%20East%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20630-06%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077029) Houston — South Loop 2600 South Loop West, Suite 293 Houston, TX 77054 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 281-4904](tel:+17132814904) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%202600%20South%20Loop%20West%2C%20Suite%20293%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077054) Houston — Katy Freeway 11511 Katy Fwy, Suite 515 Houston, TX 77079 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 909-7537](tel:+17139097537) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011511%20Katy%20Fwy%2C%20Suite%20515%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077079) Houston — Clear Lake 1300 Bay Area Blvd, Suite B268 Houston, TX 77058 By appointment only Call [(936) 508-2854](tel:+19365082854) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201300%20Bay%20Area%20Blvd%2C%20Suite%20B268%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077058) The Woodlands 1776 Woodstead Ct, Ste. 203 The Woodlands, TX 77380 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201776%20Woodstead%20Ct%2C%20Ste.%20203%2C%20The%20Woodlands%2C%20TX%2077380) Champion Forest (Cypress) 4606 FM 1960 Rd W, Ste. 444 Houston, TX 77069 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%204606%20FM%201960%20Rd%20W%2C%20Ste.%20444%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077069) --- ### About the Author Brian White ![About the Author Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/brian-white-houston-personal-injury-lawyer-300x300.jpg) [Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/our-attorneys/brian-white/) earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston and is licensed to practice in Texas. He is a [Board-Certified](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/resources/brian-white-is-board-certified-in-personal-injury-trial-law/) Personal Injury Trial Lawyer. Dedicated to giving back, he actively supports local charities and [community initiatives](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/community-involvement/). [Client testimonials](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/testimonials/) highlight Brian’s compassion, open communication, and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for those he represents. [Avvo](https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/77098-tx-brian-white-74113.html) / [Justia](https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/brian-elliott-white-201630) / [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/attorney-brian-white-378410166) Call or Text [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) or Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Car Accidents Blog Posts: [![Worst Traffic Times in Houston, TX](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Worst-Traffic-Times-in-Houston-TX-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/worst-traffic-times-in-houston-tx/) [Worst Traffic Times in Houston, TX](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/worst-traffic-times-in-houston-tx/) Car accidents can happen at any time of the day or night but are more likely to occur during bad traffic [![The Effects of Airbag Deployment in Your Houston Car Accident Claim](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/The-Effects-of-Airbag-Deployment-in-Your-Houston-Car-Accident-Claim--300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/the-effects-of-airbag-deployment-in-your-houston-car-accident-claim/) [The Effects of Airbag Deployment in Your Houston Car Accident Claim](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/the-effects-of-airbag-deployment-in-your-houston-car-accident-claim/) Airbags are a life-saving device and now come standard in all new vehicles. If you’ve been involved in a car [![Driving Without a License Versus Driving Without a License on Person](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/driving-without-a-license-versus-driving-without-a-license-on-person/) [Driving Without a License Versus Driving Without a License on Person](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/driving-without-a-license-versus-driving-without-a-license-on-person/) If you’ve been confused about the legal difference between driving without a license and driving without a license [![A Step By Step Guide: What To Do After a Houston, TX Car Accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/A-Step-By-Step-Guide-What-To-Do-After-a-Houston-TX-Car-Accident-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/a-step-by-step-guide-what-to-do-after-a-car-accident/) [A Step-by-Step Guide: What to Do After a Car Accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/a-step-by-step-guide-what-to-do-after-a-car-accident/) Traffic accidents occur every day in Texas. In 2019, a person was injured every two minutes and three seconds in car --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/how-to-yield-properly-in-houston/