WEATHER ALERT
Dangers of driving on Houston roads during severe thunderstorms
Read full article: Dangers of driving on Houston roads during severe thunderstormsAfter more than a month of dry weather, we finally have some rainfall in Southeast Texas! We have a lot of moisture in our atmosphere (thanks, SE winds) so when it rains, it POURS!
Dangers of driving in the rain as scattered storms return after mostly dry October
Read full article: Dangers of driving in the rain as scattered storms return after mostly dry OctoberAfter more than a month of dry weather, we finally have some rainfall in Southeast Texas! We have a lot of moisture in our atmosphere (thanks, SE winds) so when it rains, it POURS!
Houston group against I-45 North expansion project says thousands of homes, hundreds of business will be destroyed
Read full article: Houston group against I-45 North expansion project says thousands of homes, hundreds of business will be destroyedThe $13 billion I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project has sparked significant debate in Houston, as community groups like Stop TxDOT I-45 raise alarms about the potential loss of 1,235 homes and 331 businesses.
The dangers of driving in the rain - as more stormy weather heads to Houston
Read full article: The dangers of driving in the rain - as more stormy weather heads to HoustonOne multiyear study, analyzed the data of 125,012 deadly crashes over 6 years, found that 34% of those accidents happened during "active rain"
What grinds your gears when you’re driving during Houston’s strong storms?
Read full article: What grinds your gears when you’re driving during Houston’s strong storms?We have the potential for thunderstorms, downpours, hail, and damaging winds. And while models are tracking the storms to hit right before our morning rush hour - it made us think about the weather, you, and your morning commute.
Houston ranked 2nd deadliest city in US for holiday driving
Read full article: Houston ranked 2nd deadliest city in US for holiday drivingThe holidays are here, and according to a new study by the car insurance savings app Jerry, there has been an increase in traffic fatalities in Texas -- especially in Houston.
Houston family absolutely heartbroken after hit-and-run kills 38-year-old man on 610 West Loop; Suspect still at-large
Read full article: Houston family absolutely heartbroken after hit-and-run kills 38-year-old man on 610 West Loop; Suspect still at-largeThe family of a man killed in a hit-and-run desperately wants to know who was behind the wheel on that night.Everett Gilbert, 38, was the victim of that crash earlier this week on the 610 West Loop near Brookhaven.
‘You will be arrested and prosecuted’: Harris County authorities warn about street racing, parking lot meetups ahead of Spring Break
Read full article: ‘You will be arrested and prosecuted’: Harris County authorities warn about street racing, parking lot meetups ahead of Spring BreakThree of Harris County’s top law-enforcement officials will pass on a warning this Thursday to those that are planning street and parking lot “takeovers” in Harris County.
Seen at 7: Keeping You Safe on the Roadways
Read full article: Seen at 7: Keeping You Safe on the RoadwaysOver the last several years, road fatalities have reached unacceptable rates, and behind each accident is a life tragically lost and grieving family members. Joining us to discuss the crisis on our roads and some resources that can help is the executive vice president of government solutions at Verra Mobility, Jon Baldwin, and the executive director of safe, Damian Kevitt.
Dangers of blind spots in trucks, SUVs while driving
Read full article: Dangers of blind spots in trucks, SUVs while drivingNumbers show, that more and more people are buying trucks and SUVs. A recent survey says in 2021, close to 80% of the new car sales in the United States were SUVs and trucks, compared to almost 53% 10 years ago.
Keeping us safe, decreasing traffic jams: The program that all Houston-area drivers need to know about
Read full article: Keeping us safe, decreasing traffic jams: The program that all Houston-area drivers need to know aboutHave you ever been driving along, enjoying your day, and had something unexpected happen to your vehicle? Maybe you ran out of gas. Perhaps you got a flat tire, or your car overheated.
Automated cameras on some Santa Fe ISD school buses causing controversy over tickets being issued to drivers
Read full article: Automated cameras on some Santa Fe ISD school buses causing controversy over tickets being issued to driversThe systems are also evidence used to levy $300 plus fines issued to the owners of the vehicles.
Vanity with a purpose: These 11 Texas license plates aim to aid wildlife, habitat conservation
Read full article: Vanity with a purpose: These 11 Texas license plates aim to aid wildlife, habitat conservationFor $30 a year, Texas motorists with a social conscience -- or simply a desire to decorate their vehicles with adorable critters -- can do away with the state’s plain black-and-white plates.
Texas ranked 4th worst state for drunk driving, report finds
Read full article: Texas ranked 4th worst state for drunk driving, report findsAffirming what we’ve all guessed at by now, a new report ranked Texas the fourth-worst state for drunk driving. This confirmation comes courtesy of a study by Buy Auto Insurance, a third-party resource for information on auto insurance.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Gas stations sticking drivers with bad gasoline and big repair bills
Read full article: KPRC 2 Investigates: Gas stations sticking drivers with bad gasoline and big repair billsIf you fill up your car with contaminated gas it can cause major, costly problems. If you can prove the issues are a result of the bad fuel, the gas station owner who sold it to you should pay for your repairs. The KPRC 2 Investigative team is on the case of a Houston businessman who’s sticking it to his customers by dodging the bills and their calls for help.
Investigation underway after victim shot 5 times while driving on Eastex Freeway, officers say
Read full article: Investigation underway after victim shot 5 times while driving on Eastex Freeway, officers sayHouston police are investigating a shooting that happened on the Eastex Freeway near Jensen late Wednesday night.
Monitoring the traffic trends 1 year after the pandemic
Read full article: Monitoring the traffic trends 1 year after the pandemicHOUSTON – Congestion in Houston is a good indicator of things going back to normal, more people going back to work and students returning to school. Though we’re not 100% back to pre-pandemic traffic congestion, we’re certainly getting close. Here’s a look a the numbers:Traffic VolumesTraffic VolumesIt’s worth noting, even though congestion is slowly making a comeback, a recent report says: fewer Houstonians are driving into work. In 2019 nearly 85% of workers drove into the office, compared to nearly 90% in 2010.
Ask 2: What’s the proper way to cross a median?
Read full article: Ask 2: What’s the proper way to cross a median?The confusion comes when the crossover is not striped - people aren’t sure which side of the crossover they should use. If the crossover is at an intersection and the median is *less than 30 feet wide, both ends of the crossover are part of the same intersection. If the crossover is not at an intersection with another highway, the vehicle is not considered to be turning “at an intersection”. When they turn into the crossover, they are simply entering another roadway that is part of the same highway. The crossover is essentially a short roadway that traverses the median.
Ask 2: When can you drive through, if ever, at a red traffic light?
Read full article: Ask 2: When can you drive through, if ever, at a red traffic light?HOUSTON – At KPRC 2, we’re dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things HoustonQuestion: When can you drive through, if ever, at a red traffic light? Answer: I contacted Sergeant Stephen Woodard with the Texas Department of Public Safety. He told me, the only time it is legal to travel through a red light is when directed by a police officer or flagger. The only legal option, in this case, is to make a legal right turn and go around the light.
Risky driving: US traffic deaths up despite virus lockdowns
Read full article: Risky driving: US traffic deaths up despite virus lockdownsDETROIT – The number of people killed on the nation’s highways rose 4.6% in the first nine months of 2020 despite coronavirus lockdowns that curtailed driving early in the year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 28,190 people died in traffic crashes from January through September of last year, up from 26,941 in the same period of 2019. Authorities blamed the increase on risky driving behavior that developed when there were few vehicles on the road early in the pandemic. Traffic deaths rose 0.6% during the first-quarter of 2020, but they fell 1.1% in the second quarter as coronavirus lockdowns restricted movement. Early in the pandemic, drivers found open roads and drove faster.
How much does it really cost to drive your car?
Read full article: How much does it really cost to drive your car?Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes breaks down AAA’s numbers for the average annual driving costs for 2020. Bottom lineThe average annual driving cost is the highest on record since AAA began tracking expenses in 1950 at $9,561. Since 1950, AAA has published it’s annual Your Driving Costs study that breaks down the cost of owning a new car, including depreciation, finance, fuel, insurance, license/registration/taxes and maintenance/repair. Texans love their pickup trucks – but they have the highest overall driving costs-- 75.39¢/mile. These are then combined and averaged to determine the overall cost to own a new car in 2020.
Planning a holiday road trip? These are the best and worst cities to drive in, study finds
Read full article: Planning a holiday road trip? These are the best and worst cities to drive in, study findsAccording to a study conducted by Texas-based insurance comparison site The Zebra, 95% of all holiday travel is done by automobile. After surveying at least 100 people in each of 25 major cities across the U.S., The Zebra found these to be the best and worst cities to drive in during the holidays:Cities with the best driver safetyMiami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.Atlanta, Ga.Phoenix. Ariz.Las Vegas, Nev.Los Angeles, Calif.Cities with the worst driver safetyDetroit, Mich.Pittsburgh, Pa.Boston, Mass. Cities with the best driver skillsNew Orleans, La. Ariz.San Francisco, Calif.Cities with the worst driver skillsPittsburgh, Pa.Charlotte, N.C.Cleveland-Akron, OhioPhiladelphia, Pa.Atlanta, Ga.
Gulf Freeway relief just ahead for Galveston County drivers
Read full article: Gulf Freeway relief just ahead for Galveston County driversTEXAS CITY, Texas – Interstate 45 and FM 1764 in Texas City is a headache to drive through right now. Much of the highway is closed off in the area and drivers must rely on other ways to get around. Here’s a look at what exactly is being done and when drivers will finally get to drive on the main lanes of the Gulf Freeway near Texas City.
Ask 2: What do police consider to be aggressive driving?
Read full article: Ask 2: What do police consider to be aggressive driving?As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: What do police consider to be aggressive driving? Answer: Operating a vehicle in a way that endangers people or property is aggressive driving. If you get caught you can be fined up to $200 for each violation, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Don’t yell obscenities or make inappropriate hand gestures, and don’t respond to drivers who do.
Ask 2: Can I turn right on a red signal if I am on the second lane from the right that allows right turns?
Read full article: Ask 2: Can I turn right on a red signal if I am on the second lane from the right that allows right turns?As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Can I turn right on a red signal if I am on the second lane from the right that allows right turns? According to Thelma Rasmus, driving instructor for Broussard Driving School in Houston, in order to legally turn right on red, you must be on the farther right lane. It is illegal to turn right on the second lane if the traffic signal is red. Rasmus said drivers must adhere to traffic signs that prohibit turning on a red traffic light.
Ask 2: Is it illegal to cross a parking lot to avoid a traffic light?
Read full article: Ask 2: Is it illegal to cross a parking lot to avoid a traffic light?At KPRC 2, we’re dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Is it illegal to cross a parking lot to avoid a traffic light? Section 545.423 of the Texas Transportation Code stated that drivers “may not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle.”Drivers also cannot cross or drive in or on a sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, or residence at an intersection to turn from one highway to another, especially when avoiding a traffic light. Send it our way, and we will try to hunt down an answer.
DPS to increase law enforcement during Labor Day weekend
Read full article: DPS to increase law enforcement during Labor Day weekendAUSTIN, Texas Whether youre just driving around town or traveling this Labor Day, the Texas Department of Public Safety encourages all drivers to practice safe driving habits and exercise caution throughout the holiday weekend. Beginning Friday through Monday, the Texas Highway Patrol will increase its enforcement on Texas roads. DPS reminds all travelers to be responsible and practice safe driving habits this Labor Day, said DPS Director Steven McCraw. DPS enforcement efforts also resulted in 489 DWI arrests, 358 fugitive arrests and 354 felony arrests. Drivers are encouraged to follow these safety tips during the Labor Day weekend:
Houstons first chief transportation planner talks citys traffic to-do list
Read full article: Houstons first chief transportation planner talks citys traffic to-do listHOUSTON This week, Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes sat down with the City of Houston's first Chief Transportation Planner, David Fields. So he said, before I got here, the Vision Zero Committee, to figure out how do we make this stop. How do we make our city streets safer? He also shared how hes is working on rolling out a Vision Zero Action plan in September. In Houston 60% of fatal and serious injury crashes happen on just 6% of Houston streets.