What is the penalty for wrong-way driving in Texas? Here’s what to know
Wrong-way drivers are omnipresent in Texas and the risks associated with them are high.
A drunken driver on Monday drove the wrong way up a Fort Worth interstate exit ramp and struck and killed a police officer. Sgt. Billy Randolph was a 29-year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department.
In 2021, the American Automobile Association’s Texas office released a study that stated that the average number of wrong-way crash fatalities is 77 a year.
Here’s what to know about wrong-way driving in Texas:
What’s the penalty for wrong-way driving in Texas?
Texans who drive on the wrong side of the road could face fines of up to $200.
Under Texas Transportation Code section 545.051, a driver should stay on the right side of the roadway unless:
- The driver is passing another vehicle.
- An obstruction necessitates moving the vehicle left of the center of the roadway.
- The driver is on a roadway divided into three lanes of traffic.
- The driver is on a roadway restricted to one-way traffic.
How is Texas mitigating wrong-way driving?
The Texas Department of Transportation has been testing out wrong-way driving countermeasures for nearly a decade.
Here’s a few countermeasures the department has installed on corridors with some of the most wrong-way drivers:
- Reflective pavement arrows.
- LED wrong-way flashing signs.
- New signs with reflective tape that are lower to the ground.
- Radar detection models.
- High-definition traffic cameras.
- Thermal sensors utilizing artificial intelligence to reduce false alarms.
In Fort Worth alone, TxDOT said more than 90% of wrong-way drivers self-corrected their actions before getting on highways due to the countermeasures.
Why do people drive the wrong way?
Alcohol is the main culprit behind wrong-way driving.
TxDOT said wrong-way drivers are typically drunk drivers who are past the legal limit for intoxication. Even a single drink can impair someone’s ability to drive.
Alcohol slows reaction time while also making it harder to gauge speed and distance. Driving after drinking is never worth it, TxDOT said.
