BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 2295

                                                                                                                                            By: Lucio

                                                                                                 Transportation & Homeland Security

                                                                                                                                            4/14/2009

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Photographic monitoring systems in the form of red light cameras have proven successful at reducing broadside traffic accidents at intersections; however, the incidence of rear-end collisions has risen as an unintended consequence.

 

Current law requires that intersections with photographic monitoring systems regulate the yellow light change interval in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

 

As proposed,  S.B. 2295 amends the section of the Transportation Code that addresses the minimum change interval to require the steady yellow signal to be the maximum allowable yellow change interval duration.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 707.005, Transportation Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 707.005.  MINIMUM CHANGE INTERVAL.  Requires the minimum change interval for a steady yellow signal to be the maximum allowable yellow change interval duration in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, rather than be established in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2009.