Hurricane Beryl Destroys Traffic Lights at More Than 1,000 Intersections in Houston

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Traffic is snarling across the city after Hurricane Beryl knocked out power to thousands of traffic lights.

At some intersections, the lights are completely out. At other locations, they are flashing red. A Houston Public Works spokesman said city crews have to manually reset each of the lights. So far, they have reached only about 1,000 of the 2,500 intersections they are responsible for.

“It’s terrible,” driver Matt Yust told ABC13. “People aren’t following any traffic laws. It’s a free-for-all, for sure.”

When the lights are not working at an intersection, you are supposed to treat it as a four-way stop.

“The rules are pretty basic: First in, first out. If you’re coming at the same time as someone else, the car on the right goes first,” said Brad Coleman, owner of Safeway Driving.

But drivers say not everyone seems to be aware of the rules.

“You really have to be on your toes and watch where everyone is going and coming before you think you can even try to go, even if you know it’s your turn,” said driver Sabrina Boyett.

Just a day after Beryl, the stress of storm cleanup likely only adds to the confusion.

“It’s all going through their heads: ‘What am I going to do with the electricity?’ ‘How am I going to feed my kids?’ All these different scenarios, and then the light’s not on, they freeze and roll right over,” Coleman said.

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