Intersection Safety: Turning, Yielding and Avoiding Crashes in Texas

NSC Defensive Driving Course, Session 5, Lesson 5-1 | Texas Edition

Every trip you take includes dozens of intersections, and each one asks you to share the same patch of pavement with drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who all have somewhere to be. Good intersection safety in Texas comes down to three things: knowing who must yield, controlling your speed on approach, and never assuming other road users will do the right thing.

Why Intersections Are the Most Dangerous Points on the Road

Roads that run straight are simple: everyone moves in the same direction at similar speeds. Intersections break that pattern. Paths cross, vehicles turn, pedestrians step off the curb, and drivers have to judge speed and distance while looking in several directions at once. National crash data consistently show that roughly 40 percent of crashes happen at or near intersections, and the most serious ones are often angle ("T-bone") collisions, where the side of a vehicle has very little protection.

Most intersection crashes are not mechanical failures. They happen because a driver failed to see another vehicle, misjudged its speed, ran a signal, or assumed the other person would yield. That is why defensive driving focuses on seeing early, slowing down and leaving yourself an escape route.

Texas Right-of-Way Rules at Intersections

The Texas Transportation Code sets out the basic right-of-way rules in Chapter 545, Subchapter C (starting with Sec. 545.151). The key points:

• Vehicle already in the intersection: When two vehicles approach an intersection from different roads at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right if there are no signs or signals.
• Left turns: A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic that is close enough to be a hazard. This is the single most common cause of serious intersection crashes.
• Stop and yield signs: After stopping, the driver must yield to vehicles in the intersection or approaching so closely that they are an immediate hazard.
• Entering from a driveway, alley or private road: Yield to all traffic and pedestrians on the road you are entering.
• Emergency vehicles: Yield to emergency vehicles using lights and sirens, pull to the right and stop. See also our article on the Move Over / Slow Down law.

A key phrase to remember: the law tells you who must yield, but it never gives anyone the right to take the right-of-way. If another driver does not yield, you are still responsible for avoiding the crash. For more on yielding in school areas, see our guide to school zone laws.

The Six Deadly Turning Mistakes

Turns create most of the conflicts at intersections. Watch for these common errors in yourself and others:

1. Turning left across oncoming traffic without enough gap. Oncoming vehicles are harder to judge than you think, especially motorcycles and vehicles at higher speeds.
2. Turning too fast. High speed pushes the vehicle wide, into another lane or across a crosswalk.
3. Turning into the wrong lane. Left turns should end in the lane closest to the center; right turns should end in the rightmost lane.
4. Failing to signal. Signal at least 100 feet before the turn (Texas requires signaling in advance of turning).
5. Not checking the crosswalk. Pedestrians and cyclists may arrive just as you start your turn. Look in the direction of your turn as you move.
6. Right turn on red without a full stop. Texas allows a right turn on red after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it, but you must yield to pedestrians and cross traffic.

Traffic Signals and Signs: What Each One Requires

If the traffic signals are out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop. Do not assume the other driver will follow the same rule; make eye contact when possible.

Uncontrolled Intersections: Who Goes First

An intersection with no sign or signal is common on residential streets and rural roads. Slow down as you approach, look both ways, and apply these rules:

• The vehicle that arrives first goes first.
• If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the one on the left yields to the one on the right.
• A vehicle turning left yields to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning right.
• Always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked.

At four-way stops, the same first-come-first-served approach applies. When in doubt, wait and let the other driver go.

Roundabouts in Texas: How to Navigate Them Safely

Roundabouts are increasingly common in Texas cities and suburbs. They reduce serious crashes because vehicles travel slowly and conflicts are limited, but they are only safe when drivers follow the rules:

1. Slow down as you approach and watch for pedestrian crossings before the entry.
2. Yield to traffic already in the circle, which comes from your left.
3. Enter when there is a safe gap; do not stop in the circle.
4. Stay in your lane and keep to the right of the central island, traveling counterclockwise.
5. Signal your exit and watch for pedestrians at the exit crosswalk.
6. Yield to emergency vehicles by exiting the roundabout before stopping.

In multi-lane roundabouts, choose your lane before you enter: the right lane for right turns or straight, the left lane for left turns or U-turns.

Pedestrians and Cyclists at Intersections

Texas law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, and pedestrians have the right-of-way in many situations at intersections. Cyclists are also legal roadway users. At every intersection, scan the crosswalks and bike lanes before you turn, slow down for "walk" and "don't walk" signals, and be aware that a vehicle stopped in the next lane may be blocking your view of someone crossing.

Do not stop in a crosswalk. If traffic is backed up, stay behind the stop line so pedestrians can cross without walking into another lane.

Defensive Driving Tips for Every Intersection

• Cover the brake as you approach, so you are ready to stop quickly.
• Look left, right, then left again before entering. Keep scanning until you are clear.
• Do not trust a green light blindly. Check cross traffic for red-light runners, especially on wide Texas arterials where drivers speed up on stale yellow lights.
• Count the "stale green." If a green light has been green a long time, expect it to change.
• Leave space when stopped. Keep enough distance from the vehicle ahead so you can steer around it if needed. See our guide to hazard recognition.
• Stop for the light even if the car behind you is close. A rear-end bump is better than an angle collision.
• Wait for oncoming traffic to clear before making a left turn. Do not follow another driver's signal that it is safe.
• Keep your head up and phone away. Distraction is a leading factor in intersection crashes.

A Simple Intersection Routine

Build the same routine into every approach until it becomes automatic: scan ahead for the signal and any change in traffic, slow down before you reach the intersection instead of braking late, check left, right and left again, commit only when your path is clear, and keep scanning until you have fully cleared the cross street. Drivers who follow this routine give themselves time to react when someone else makes a mistake, which is the heart of defensive driving.

When you pass or change lanes near intersections, plan your moves early. Our article on passing and overtaking laws and lane management will help you plan lane choice before you arrive.

This article is for general education only and is not legal advice. Texas statutes and fines change; check the current Texas Transportation Code and your local court for rules that apply to you.