The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will intensify patrols this July 4th holiday to prevent tragedies on the state’s highways.
“Please be mindful of our state’s traffic laws, be courteous to other drivers on the roads, and make safety your first priority so everyone can have a great vacation,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw.
Operation CARE (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) will take place July 3-4 and focuses on reducing crashes and violations of the state’s Move Over, Slow Down law, which requires all Drivers slow down when police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) vehicles and tow trucks are stopped on the side of the road with their hazard lights activated.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TEXAS ROAD LAWS:
- Don’t drink and drive. Make alternate plans if you are consuming alcohol.
- “Move Over or Slow Down” for police, fire, EMS, TxDOT and tow truck vehicles stopped on the side of the road with their hazard lights activated.
- Buckle up everyone in the vehicle.
- Slow down, especially in bad weather, heavy traffic, unfamiliar areas, or construction zones.
- Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices. Texas law prohibits the use of a portable wireless device to read, write, or send an electronic message unless the vehicle is stopped. If you’re using a navigation device or app, have a passenger operate it so you can keep your eyes on the road.
- On multi-lane roads, use the left lane for passing only. This avoids impeding traffic and Texas law requires slower traffic to keep to the right and use the left lane only for passing (when posted).
- If you are in a non-injured crash and your vehicle can move, clear traffic lanes to minimize traffic impact. Leaving vehicles in a traffic lane increases traffic congestion and leaves those involved at greater risk of harm or a secondary accident. On some roads, if you don’t move your vehicle when it’s safe to do so, it’s illegal.
- Keep the Texas roadside assistance number stored on your phone. Dial 1-800-525-5555 for any kind of assistance. The number can also be found on the back of a Texas driver’s license.
