Federal regulators and some state officials think so. As a result, Texas drivers may see a new traffic light feature in the near future.   In response to research indicating that a solid green light sometimes gives drivers the wrong impression that they have the right of way when making a left hand turn, Federal regulators are requesting that states and cities replace the solid green light that indicates a permissible, but unprotected left hand turn, with a blinking yellow arrow.  The City of Arlington will begin testing these new lights following the Super Bowl. The hope is that the new lights will reduce the number of car wrecks caused by drivers that fail to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic when making a left hand turn at an intersection.   A video of how the new light will work can be viewed below, and you can read more on the proposed changes here.

While I have not reviewed the research and really cannot render an opinion as to whether a blinking yellow arrow is really much safer than a solid green light, I do know that a large number of car wrecks result from drivers failing to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic while attempting a left hand turn. From my experience litigating these cases, driver inattention and impatience play a large part in these accidents, and I’m not really sure the color of the turn signal will eliminate these causes. However, considering the large number of deaths and injuries on our roadways, all efforts to make our streets safer should be considered and objectively evaluated.

A 53-year-old man, wearing a hooded jacket, was fatally struck when he stepped off a DART bus directly in the path of another DART bus exiting a Downtown transfer center. He was pronounced dead at Parkland Hospital. The bus driver hit the brakes but was unable to avoid the man.  No one else was injured.  Read more about this fatal accident here.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car wreck due to the negligence of another driver, call the attorneys at WTL for a free consultation.  Call today at 214-484-1930.

A Colorado State Senator was involved in a fatal accident in the Texas Panhandle.  Investigators currently believe that the State Senator crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic causing the head on collision.  The head on collision resulted in the death of the woman driving the other car, who also happened to be pregnant.  Also of interest to the investigating officers is the allegation that none of the minor passengers in the State Senators car were properly restrained with seat belts.  It is alleged that a three year old toddler was ejected from the Senator's car, only for the Senator to place the toddler back in the car seat after the accident.  Read more about this accident here.

A person is in critical condition after her car struck a semitruck in a small town in Southern Louisiana.  The driver of the car failed to stay in her lane of traffic, drifting into oncoming traffic at a curve.  The truck driver was determined not to be under the influence of alcohol. It is uncertain if the driver of the automobile was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The accident is still be investigated.  Read more about the trucking accident here.