Dark Traffic Signals After Beryl: The Texas Rule

Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, early on July 8, 2024, then moved north over the western side of the Houston metropolitan area, according to the National Hurricane Center's report on the storm. The NHC report notes numerous rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches in the Houston area and, citing media reports, that almost 3 million people lost power because of the storm, 2.7 million of them in southeastern Texas.

When power fails, traffic signals go dark, and intersections that normally run on red and green lights suddenly have none. Every storm season, and after any major outage, Houston drivers face the same question: who goes first?

Texas law answers it. Transportation Code section 544.007(i) requires the operator of a vehicle facing a traffic-control signal that does not display an indication in any of its signal heads to stop as if the intersection had a stop sign, other than at a freeway entrance ramp signal or a pedestrian hybrid beacon. In practice, a dark signal works like an all-way stop: every driver stops, and the right-of-way rules for stop signs decide who proceeds.

Why it matters after a crash: a driver who rolls through a dark intersection at speed, as if the green light were still on, has broken that rule. A violation of the statute can be evidence of negligence in an injury claim. Insurers sometimes argue that both drivers were equally careless at a dark signal, so witness statements, damage patterns, dashcam or doorbell video, and the crash report matter. Fault is divided under proportionate responsibility, and your recovery is barred only if your share is more than 50 percent.

Storms bring other hazards too: flooded roads, debris, downed lines, and signals that flash red instead of going dark. A flashing red signal also requires a full stop, and the rules for stop signs apply after stopping. If a road defect or debris caused the crash, a claim may involve a government entity under the Texas Tort Claims Act, with short notice deadlines.

After a storm-related crash, take photos of the intersection and the signals, note the time, and get the crash report number. Officers are stretched thin after a hurricane, so a report may take longer or contain errors that need to be corrected. Get medical care even if you feel fine; adrenaline after a storm can mask injuries.

Insurance after a storm crash works the same way as any other crash, with a few wrinkles. Personal Injury Protection on your own policy pays medical bills and lost income regardless of fault, unless you rejected it in writing. If the other driver has no insurance or too little, your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can step in.

Houston's crash numbers show why every intersection rule matters. TxDOT's 2025 crash facts count 955 people killed statewide in crashes at or related to an intersection, and Harris County recorded 503 traffic deaths that year, more than any other Texas county. Intersections are where a dark signal turns into a right-of-way dispute.

Owsley Law Firm represents people hurt in Houston crashes, including during and after storms, from two Houston offices. The team answers calls 24/7, and there is no fee unless we win.