Below are all the factors and conditions that the Texas Department of Transportation identifies. Police officers are required to select from the following list. We’ve added a description next to each item.
- Animal on Road – Domestic: An accident caused by a domestic animal such as a cat, dog, or livestock that wanders onto the road and interferes with traffic.
- Animal on Road – Wild: An accident caused by a wild animal such as a deer, bear, or moose that enters the roadway and collides with a vehicle.
- Backed without Safety: An accident caused by a driver who backs up their vehicle without checking for other vehicles, pedestrians or obstacles.
- Changed Lane when Unsafe: An accident caused by a driver who changes lanes when it is unsafe to do so, such as when there is another vehicle in their blind spot or when they fail to signal.
- Disabled in Traffic Lane: An accident caused by a disabled vehicle that is stopped in a traffic lane and obstructing traffic.
- Disregard Stop and Go Signal: An accident caused by a driver who ignores or fails to stop at a stop and go signal, such as a traffic light or a railway crossing signal.
- Disregard Stop Sign or Light: An accident caused by a driver who disregards a stop sign or traffic light.
- Disregard Turn Marks at Intersection: An accident caused by a driver who ignores or fails to follow the turn markings at an intersection, such as turning from the wrong lane or making an illegal turn.
- Disregard Warning Sign at Construction: An accident caused by a driver who fails to heed warning signs or safety instructions at a construction site.
- Distraction in Vehicle: An accident caused by a driver who is distracted by an activity in the vehicle, such as texting, eating, or adjusting the radio.
- Driver Inattention: An accident caused by a driver who is not paying attention to the road and their surroundings, for example, looking at their phone or daydreaming.
- Drove Without Headlights: An accident caused by a driver who drives without turning on their headlights in low light conditions, such as at night or in fog.
- Failed to Control Speed: An accident caused by a driver who fails to control their speed, such as driving too fast or too slow for the road conditions.
- Failed to Drive in Single Lane: An accident caused by a driver who crosses over into another lane, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and collides with another vehicle or object.
- Failed to Give Half of Roadway: An accident caused by a driver who fails to give half of the roadway to another vehicle or pedestrian, such as when passing on a narrow road.
- Failed to Heed Warning Sign: An accident caused by a driver who fails to follow a warning sign or safety instruction.
- Failed to Pass to Left Safely: An accident caused by a driver who attempts to pass another vehicle on the left without giving enough room or without making sure that it is safe to do so.
- Failed to Pass to Right Safely: An accident caused by a driver who attempts to pass another vehicle on the right without giving enough room or without making sure that it is safe to do so.
- Failed to Signal or Gave Wrong Signal: An accident caused by a driver who fails to use a turn signal or gives the wrong signal, confusing other drivers.
- Failed to Stop at Proper Place: An accident caused by a driver who fails to stop at the proper place, such as at a stop sign or crosswalk.
- Failed to Stop for School Bus: An accident caused by a driver who fails to stop for a school bus that has its stop sign extended and lights flashing while children are getting on or off the bus.
- Failed to Stop for Train: An accident caused by a driver who fails to stop for a train at a railway crossing.
- Failed to Yield ROW – Emergency Vehicle: An accident caused by a driver who fails to yield to an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens on, causing an obstruction or collision.
- Failed to Yield ROW – Open Intersection: An accident caused by a driver who fails to yield to another vehicle when entering an open intersection, resulting in a collision.
- Failed to Yield ROW – Private Drive: An accident caused by a driver who fails to yield to another vehicle or pedestrian on a private drive, such as a driveway or parking lot.
- Failed to Yield ROW – Stop Sign: An accident caused by a driver who fails to yield to another vehicle or pedestrian at a stop sign, resulting in a collision.
- Failed to Yield ROW – To Pedestrian: An accident caused by a driver who fails to yield to a pedestrian, such as at a crosswalk or intersection.
- Failed to Yield ROW – Turning Left: An accident caused by a driver who fails to yield to another vehicle when turning left at an intersection, resulting in a collision.
- Failed to Yield ROW – Turn on Red: An accident caused by a driver who fails to yield to another vehicle when turning right on a red light, resulting in a collision.
- Failed to Yield ROW – Yield Sign: An accident caused by a driver who fails to yield to another vehicle or pedestrian at a yield sign, resulting in a collision.
- Fatigued or Asleep: An accident caused by a driver who is fatigued or falls asleep while driving, causing a loss of control or collision.
- Faulty Evasive Action: An accident caused by a driver who attempts to take evasive action to avoid a collision but fails to do so properly or in time.
- Fire in Vehicle: An accident caused by a fire that starts in a vehicle, resulting in a loss of control or collision.
- Fleeing or Evading Police: An accident caused by a driver who attempts to flee or evade the police, resulting in a loss of control or collision.
- Followed Too Closely: An accident caused by a driver who follows another vehicle too closely, also known as tailgating, and collides with it.
- Had Been Drinking: An accident caused by a driver who has been drinking and is under the influence of alcohol, resulting in impaired driving and a loss of control or collision.
- Handicapped Driver: An accident caused by a driver with a physical or mental disability that affects their ability to drive safely.
- Ill: An accident caused by a driver who is experiencing a medical emergency, such as a seizure or heart attack, while driving.
- Impaired Visibility: An accident caused by impaired visibility, such as fog, heavy rain or snow, that makes it difficult to see and avoid other vehicles or obstacles.
- Improper Start from Parked Position: An accident caused by a driver who starts their vehicle improperly from a parked position, such as by not engaging the parking brake or not shifting into gear.
- Load Not Secured: An accident caused by a load that is not properly secured, resulting in it falling off the vehicle and obstructing traffic or causing a collision.
- Opened Door Into Traffic Lane: An accident caused by a driver or passenger who opens a vehicle door into the traffic lane, causing an obstruction or collision.
- Oversized Vehicle or Load: An accident caused by an oversized vehicle or load that obstructs traffic or collides with other vehicles or objects.
- Overtake and Pass Insufficient Clearance: An accident caused by a driver who attempts to overtake and pass another vehicle without sufficient clearance, causing a collision.
- Parked and Failed to Set Brakes: An accident caused by a parked vehicle that rolls away because the driver failed to engage the parking brake, resulting in a collision.
- Parked in Traffic Lane: An accident caused by a parked vehicle that obstructs the traffic lane, causing other vehicles to collide with it.
- Parked without Lights: An accident caused by a parked vehicle that does not have its lights on, making it difficult for other drivers to see it and avoid a collision.
- Passed in No Passing Lane: An accident caused by a driver who passes another vehicle in a no passing zone, resulting in a collision.
- Passed on Right Shoulder: An accident caused by a driver who passes another vehicle on the right shoulder, which is not intended for passing, resulting in a collision.
- Pedestrian FTYROW to Vehicle: An accident caused by a pedestrian who fails to yield the right of way to a vehicle, resulting in a collision.
- Unsafe Speed: An accident caused by a driver who drives at an unsafe speed for the road conditions, such as driving too fast in a residential area or on a wet or icy road.
- Speeding – (Over Limit): An accident caused by a driver who exceeds the posted speed limit, resulting in a loss of control or collision.
- Taking Medication: An accident caused by a driver who is taking medication that affects their ability to drive safely, such as medication that causes drowsiness or impaired coordination.
- Turned Improperly – Cut Corner on Left: An accident caused by a driver who turns improperly, cutting the corner on the left and colliding with another vehicle or object.
- Turned Improperly – Wide Right: An accident caused by a driver who turns improperly, taking a wide turn on the right and colliding with another vehicle or object.
- Turned Improperly – Wrong Lane: An accident caused by a driver who turns into the wrong lane, resulting in a collision with another vehicle or object.
- Turned when Unsafe: An accident caused by a driver who turns when it is unsafe to do so, such as turning without checking for other vehicles or pedestrians.
- Under Influence – Alcohol: An accident caused by a driver who is under the influence of alcohol, impairing their ability to drive safely and resulting in a loss of control or collision.
- Under Influence – Drug: An accident caused by a driver who is under the influence of drugs, impairing their ability to drive safely and resulting in a loss of control or collision.
- Wrong Side – Approach or Intersection: An accident caused by a driver who approaches or enters an intersection from the wrong side of the road, resulting in a collision.
- Wrong Side – Not Passing: An accident caused by a driver who drives on the wrong side of the road when not passing another vehicle, resulting in a collision.
- Wrong Way – One Way Road: An accident caused by a driver who enters a one-way road from the wrong direction, resulting in a collision.
- Cell/Mobile Phone Use: An accident caused by a driver who uses their cell or mobile phone while driving, distracting them and resulting in a loss of control or collision.
- Road Rage: An accident caused by a driver who becomes aggressive or violent while driving, resulting in a collision or other traffic-related incident.
- Other: An accident caused by a factor not listed above, which can be explained further in a narrative.