Teen drivers are not allowed to use all wireless communication devices, including the hands-free kit, except in an emergency. Teen drivers should be aware that they risk suspension of their driving privileges if they use a mobile phone while driving. To protect vulnerable teen drivers, Texas has enacted several laws specifically for drivers under the age of 18. Knowing the rules – and following them – can help protect your teen and avoid penalties for violating these important laws. Individuals under the age of 18 who have been convicted of possessing, purchasing, consuming, or receiving cigarettes or tobacco products must participate in a tobacco awareness program approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services. If the program is not completed within 90 days, it may result in the suspension of the person`s driver`s licence (or the privilege of driving if they do not hold a licence). You can meet the testing requirements in the DL office or through a third-party provider. Learn more about testing in other languages and requirements for driving tests. Instead of granting a permit without policies other than compliance with basic traffic laws, the Governors Highway Safety Association notes that changes have been made. Young people now have to go through different stages over the course of several months before being allowed to have all the driving privileges. The NIH reports that deaths from accidents involving teenage drivers have dropped 14 percent since these programs began. Records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration add that accidents involving teenage drivers have been cut in near halves, regardless of the deaths. If you are between the ages of 16 and 17 and you transfer/present a temporary driver`s license, you will receive a temporary Texas driver`s license.
Before Texas teens can take to the streets on their own, they must obtain a bachelor`s degree in learning. Texas` teen driving laws allow new drivers to get their apprenticeship license at age 15, as long as they meet all established license requirements. Drivers who have their driver`s license are only allowed to drive with an adult with a license who is 21 years of age or older in the front seat. Drivers under the age of 18 must have held their apprenticeship license for at least six months before they can reach the next rung of the Texas multi-level license scale. The second phase restricts the driving privileges of persons under the age of 18. Persons under the age of 18 may not use a wireless communication device, including a hands-free kit, until the age of 18, except in an emergency. The Texas GDL program allows teens to gain safe driving experience before getting a full ride and includes three phases: Of course, all drivers must comply with all laws and restrictions when driving a motor vehicle on a public highway. However, teen drivers have more laws and restrictions to follow than any other age group, and for good reason. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics, the top five causes of death among teens are accidents (unintentional injuries – 48%), murder (13%), suicide (11%), cancer (6%) and heart disease (3%).
Accidents account for almost half of all adolescent deaths. As a category of accidents, road accidents account for 73% and are the leading cause of death among young people. Texas requires teens to go through two different stages of restricted driving before receiving all driving privileges at the age of 18. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Graduate Driver License (GDL) program was introduced on January 1, 2002 to give new drivers the opportunity to improve their driving skills over time in low-risk environments. While holding a learner`s licence, a teenager must complete an approved driver training course. You are allowed to drive under the supervision of an adult who is at least 21 years old. The adolescent must be at least sixteen years old and drive thirty hours at the wheel before being able to take the driving test to obtain a second phase preliminary licence. Once the teen has a phase two permit, it is limited to one passenger under the age of 21 who is not a family member. You also cannot drive a motor vehicle between midnight and 5:00 a.m., unless it is necessary for school or work. It is illegal for minors to have a detectable blood alcohol level while driving. If the teen has had a learner`s license for at least 6 months and has successfully completed the required Graduate Driver`s License (GDL) program, as well as passing the written exam, a teen in Texas is allowed to obtain a provisional license at age 16.
The State of Texas also requires all license applicants to take the Impact Texas Driving Course. The one-hour video course is designed to address the dangers of distracted driving. While your teen has learned all of these things in their driver training course, it`s important that you model safe driving behavior. Talk often about the dangers of distracted driving, the importance of wearing a seat belt at all times, and paying attention to the road, no matter what distractions occur. A restricted driver`s license (MRDL), also known as a difficult driver`s license, may be issued in certain cases where it has been established that it is necessary to drive and that the applicant is under the age of 16.