CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A newly proposed bill in the West Virginia House of Delegates would require traffic lights on divided highways to include a brief pause between red and green signals in an effort to improve roadway safety.
House Bill 4835, sponsored by Delegate Pritt, was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works.
What the Bill Would Do
Under the proposal, the state road commission would be required to reprogram traffic-control lights and devices on divided highways to include a three-second pause between the moment one direction turns red and the opposing direction turns green.
The pause would create an “all-red” interval, giving vehicles already in the intersection additional time to clear before cross traffic begins moving.
Why It Matters
Supporters of the bill say the change could help reduce intersection crashes caused by red-light running, delayed braking, or drivers accelerating through yellow lights. By forcing a short buffer between traffic flows, lawmakers hope to improve safety at busy intersections.
Who Would Control the Change
The bill places responsibility for the change on the state road commission, which oversees traffic-control devices on state highways. Local governments would not be allowed to independently modify traffic signals on state-controlled roads without state approval.
What’s Next
House Bill 4835 is still in the early stages of the legislative process and must pass committee review before moving forward in the House. If approved, traffic signals across West Virginia’s divided highways would be updated to include the mandatory three-second pause
