# Is It Legal to Run a Yellow Light in Texas? | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. Texas Laws On Red and Yellow Lights 2. Running Yellow Lights Can Cause Crashes 3. Negligence and Yellow Light Running 4. Learn More About the Legal Risks of Running Yellow Lights 5. Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim ![Is It Legal To Run A Yellow Light In Texas?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Is-It-Legal-To-Run-A-Yellow-Light-In-Texas-300x200.jpg) In 2022, disregarding traffic signs and signals [caused](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.544.htm#544.007) numerous traffic crashes in [Houston](https://www.houstontx.gov/), [Texas](https://www.texas.gov/). However, running traffic signs and signals may lead to fewer [collisions](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/) than [distracted driving](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/distracted-driving/) and [speeding](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/speeding/) do.  Nevertheless, these accidents injure or kill thousands of Texas [motorists](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/motorcycle-accident-lawyer/), [pedestrians](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/pedestrian-accident-lawyer/), and [cyclists](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/bicycle-accident-lawyer/) every year. Understanding what drivers must do at a yellow light tells you whether anyone is [liable](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/whats-liability/) for the losses resulting from these crashes. ## Texas Laws On Red and Yellow Lights Texas traffic laws treat red and yellow lights differently. Specifically, when a driver approaches a solid red light, they must stop at a stop line or a crosswalk if no such line exists. If neither a crosswalk nor a stop line is present, the driver must come to a stop before entering the [intersection](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/intersection/). A driver facing a solid [yellow light](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/red-and-yellow-light/) has very different requirements. Texas law does not require them to stop. Instead, a yellow light [only indicates](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.544.htm#544.007) that the movement allowed by a green light is being terminated and that a red signal is imminent. By itself, proceeding through a yellow light would not justify a traffic ticket. In other words, running a yellow light is legal in Texas because you are not required to stop. However, a police officer could issue a ticket if certain contributing factors accompanied the yellow light.  Some factors include: - Speeding to make the yellow light - Entering the intersection so late that the light turns red - Inadvertently running a yellow light due to [distractions](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/distracted-driving/) These circumstances might provide grounds for a traffic ticket. An officer could even arrest you for reckless driving. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## Running Yellow Lights Can Cause Crashes There can be worse consequences for [running a red light](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-are-the-dangers-of-running-a-red-light-in-houston-texas/) than being issued a traffic ticket. For instance, a driver who runs a yellow light can cause a [car accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/), particularly if the light turns red before the driver clears the intersection. Similarly, running a yellow light during a [left turn](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/left-turn/) can result in a collision with an oncoming vehicle or even a pedestrian or cyclist crossing the road. Drivers bear liability for crashes that result from negligence. Negligence means the driver failed to exercise reasonable care and injured another road user as a result. Reasonable care is an objective standard. To show negligence, you do not need to prove the driver knew they acted negligently. Instead, you only need to show that the driver should have known better. ## Negligence and Yellow Light Running Even though running a yellow light does not violate any traffic laws, it can still constitute [negligence](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-is-negligence/). The circumstances will determine whether a driver’s actions were reasonable. If, for example, the light was green when the driver entered the intersection and turned yellow before they exited, the driver might have acted reasonably. In contrast, suppose that the light turned yellow before the driver entered the intersection. If they had time to stop, their choice to enter the intersection could have been an act of negligence. In turn, they might bear the liability for any resulting crash. The argument in favor of negligence becomes even stronger if the driver combined their running of the yellow light with another dangerous driving behavior, such as: - [Tailgating](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/how-tailgating-causes-accidents-and-how-to-stop-it/) - Speeding - Failing to yield to pedestrians In this case, your lawyer would argue that a reasonable driver would know not to combine these dangerous behaviors with running a yellow light. As a result, that driver’s decision to do so could be considered negligent because it exposed other road users to an unreasonable risk. [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## Learn More About the Legal Risks of Running Yellow Lights Although drivers do not usually get a ticket for running a yellow light in Texas, doing so can cause crashes. Disobeying a yellow light might support a negligence [claim](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/claim-vs-lawsuit/) against them, making them liable for any resulting injuries or deaths. Speak with a lawyer to learn more about the legal risks of running yellow lights. Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Now ## Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim 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 ![About the Author](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/About-the-Author-241x300.png) [Attorney Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/our-attorneys/brian-white/) is the founding partner of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers in [Houston](https://www.houstontx.gov/), [TX](https://www.texas.gov/). A graduate of [Texas A&M University](https://www.tamu.edu/index.html) and [South Texas College of Law](https://www.stcl.edu/), he is [Board Certified](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/resources/brian-white-is-board-certified-in-personal-injury-trial-law/) in Personal Injury Trial Law — a distinction held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys, with years of experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases, including [car accidents](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/), [truck accidents](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/truck-accident-lawyer/), [maritime injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/maritime-injury-lawyer/), [wrongful death](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/wrongful-death-lawyer/), and [more](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/practice-areas/). He is dedicated to thorough preparation, strong advocacy, and helping [accident victims](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/can-car-accident-victims-suffer-ptsd/) secure the compensation they deserve. 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In a [![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 [![How To File a Car Accident Claim With Allstate in Houston](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/How-To-File-a-Car-Accident-Claim-With-Allstate-in-Houston-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/how-to-file-a-car-accident-claim-with-allstate-in-houston/) [How to File a Car Accident Claim With Allstate in Houston](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/how-to-file-a-car-accident-claim-with-allstate-in-houston/) A car accident can upend your life faster than you can even ask yourself what happened. In an injury accident, it’s [![Back Pain After a Car Accident — What’s Causing It?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Back-Pain-After-a-Car-Accident-—-Whats-Causing-It-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-pain-after-a-car-accident-whats-causing-it/) [Back Pain After a Car Accident — What’s Causing It?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-pain-after-a-car-accident-whats-causing-it/) A car accident can traumatize your body. It may cause pain in your chest from the seat belt or pain in your arms from --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/is-it-legal-to-run-a-yellow-light-in-texas/