Search

by MojoPages

Share this article:
Print

Rules change for young drivers in Texas

by Associated Press

Posted on March 1, 2010 at 8:41 AM

******

AUSTIN (AP) - New rules meant to improve safety target young drivers in Texas.

The Department of Public Safety says, as of Monday, applicants between the ages of 18 and 24 must complete an approved driver education course and a driving skills test to get a license.

DPS says applicants also must submit a certificate proving that they successfully completed a driver education course approved by the Texas Education Agency.

Applicants with such proof will not be required to submit to the written highway signs and traffic laws test, but still need to pass the driving skills part.

A driving safety course or drug and alcohol driving awareness program are not acceptable as driver education courses.

The changes were approved by the 2009 Legislature.
 

Share this article:
Print

To add a comment, please register or login.

Leave your comment
1000 characters remaining

Submit

Remember Please be respectful of others when posting comments. Play nice. IP addresses are logged and can be banned.

HTML is not allowed.

j3123 said on March 1, 2010 at 11:58 AM

When my daughters got their licenses in 2004 and 2006 they were not required to take any driving skills test (in car test). They just showed proof of drivers ed, paid their money and walked out with licenses.. I thought that was pretty crazy at the time. I think the changes are a good thing.

texan said on March 1, 2010 at 12:32 PM

No wonder nobody yields anymore. They don't even know what that means!!!!

lisalynn67866644 said on March 1, 2010 at 12:35 PM

Drivers between the age of 18 and 24? that is crazy - these are young ADULTS you are talking about, who have real responsibilities. I think requiring this from teenagers applying for a license is fair. Expanding this to older drivers is rediculous and overstepping. I have a 17 year old driver who completed driver education, took a written and driving test etc. He is a good driver. Does this require that he do that all over again at 18? Is this a revenue generating idea? I just don't undersand the logic behind this kind of legislature.

futbol_czarina said on March 1, 2010 at 12:57 PM

lisalynn, The article states "applicants", so your child should be grandfathered from the new legislation.

hookem31 said on March 1, 2010 at 12:57 PM

Personally, I'd like to see changes that would bring us more in line with European standards. In Germany, for example. You can't even sniff a DL until you're 21. And only after extensive driving courses are you allowed to obtain a license. The courses I took and the requirements that kids have today do not prepare anyone for driving a vehicle.

gabriel123 said on March 1, 2010 at 1:18 PM

Excellent move. There is a reason why car accidents are the biggest killer of this age group. Hopefully this will help.

kkshap5916294702 said on March 1, 2010 at 1:26 PM

You only have to take drivers ed once. What they're saying is that before this passed if you were 19 or older you didn't have to go through drivers ed to get your drivers license. You just went and took the tests and that was it. j3123 - Which school did you take them to? Odds are the driving test was taken during one of their driving times. That's how mine was done. I don't know of any driving schools that would let you out without taking the drivers test.