What grinds your gears when youโre driving during Houstonโs 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 family absolutely heartbroken after hit-and-run kills 38-year-old man on 610 West Loop; Suspect still at-large
The 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.
โYou will be arrested and prosecutedโ: Harris County authorities warn about street racing, parking lot meetups ahead of Spring Break
Three of Harris Countyโs top law-enforcement officials will pass on a warning this Thursday to those that are planning street and parking lot โtakeoversโ in Harris County.
Seen at 7: Keeping You Safe on the Roadways
Over 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.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Gas stations sticking drivers with bad gasoline and big repair bills
If 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 whoโs sticking it to his customers by dodging the bills and their calls for help.
Monitoring the traffic trends 1 year after the pandemic
HOUSTON โ 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 weโre not 100% back to pre-pandemic traffic congestion, weโre certainly getting close. Hereโs a look a the numbers:Traffic VolumesTraffic VolumesItโs 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: Whatโs the proper way to cross a median?
The confusion comes when the crossover is not striped - people arenโt 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 โat an intersectionโ. 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?
HOUSTON โ At KPRC 2, weโre 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
DETROIT โ The number of people killed on the nationโs 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?
Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes breaks down AAAโs 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 itโs 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 โ but they have the highest overall driving costs-- 75.39ยข/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
According 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
TEXAS CITY, Texas โ 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. Hereโs 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?
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. Donโt yell obscenities or make inappropriate hand gestures, and donโt 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?
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?
At KPRC 2, weโre 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 โmay not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle.โDrivers 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
AUSTIN, 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
HOUSTON 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.