Texas Accident & Injury News
Safe passing techniques can mean the difference between life and death.
Head-on Collision Near Dallas Leaves 6 People Dead, Including 2 Children
According to a USA Today news release, a major collision in the Dallas area left 6 people dead and three people seriously injured on Tuesday.
The DPS reported the incident occurred on Tuesday, December 26th, on U.S. 67. A teen driver with a teen passenger was heading southbound in a Chevy Silverado when he moved into the northbound lane in a no-passing zone. He then collided head-on with a Honda Odyssey, which had 7 occupants. 6 of the 7 people inside the van were killed, and the two truck occupants were hospitalized in critical condition. Only two people in the van were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision. A nine-year-old girl and a ten-year-old boy were among the crash victims.
Did You Know?
The number of Texan deaths due to not wearing their seatbelt rose 16% from 2019 to 2020.
Safe Passing Habits for Texan Drivers
The amount of people sharing the roads in Texas increases dramatically over the holidays as people travel from all over the country to visit family and friends. Sharing the road with more people than normal requires drivers that:
- Clearly Communicate,
- Follow the Rules of the Road,
- and Maintain a Level Head.
It’s easy to forget little rules and become frustrated when traveling by car during the holiday season. Let’s look at a quick refresher on safe passing rules to follow so that you and your passengers can reach your destination safely this year.
Helpful Steps for Safe Passing
There’s always that one vehicle driving 20 mph under the speed limit when you’re trying to get somewhere by a reasonable hour. When you’re in a passing zone, it’s perfectly acceptable to pass them — if you do it safely.
- Evaluate — Do you have enough time to pass? You’ll have to overtake the vehicle in front of you, so you’ll need to accelerate at least 10 mph faster than their speed quickly. Make sure you have plenty of time and that no vehicles are approaching in the oncoming lane before you try to pass.
- Check and Signal — Check your blind spot for motorcycles and smaller vehicles, and use your signal to indicate your intentions to other drivers.
- Double-check and Begin to Pass — Make sure there are still no vehicles approaching and move over if it’s safe. Pass the driver as quickly as possible and move back over as soon as you can, signaling your intentions.
It is also important to note that a driver may not accelerate to prevent a vehicle from moving back into the right lane.
Where You Can’t Pass in Texas
Even when there is no sign indicating a no-passing zone, passing is illegal where:
- There is a solid yellow line.
- There is a hill or obstruction blocking your view of oncoming traffic.
- If a school bus is stopped where you are trying to pass.
- A railroad crossing or intersection is within 100 ft of your vehicle.
As a general rule, avoid passing in poor weather when visibility is low.
Hit by an Oncoming Vehicle in Texas? Call Carabin Shaw Auto Accident Attorneys.
You can do everything right and still be seriously hurt in an auto accident. If you were injured in a head-on collision in Texas, you’ve come to the right place.
Carabin Shaw has been serving those injured in auto accidents across Texas for 30 years, and we put our clients first. Call the team that cares today at 800-862-1260 and get your case evaluated for free. We look forward to serving you.