Texas Driver's Education & Rules of the Road

Distracted Driving Risk

Texting makes you 23 times more likely to crash.

Learner's Permit Requirements (Under 18)

Must be accompanied by a licensed driver aged 21+ with 1 year experience.

Hardship License

For ages 15-17; allows driving with specific restrictions due to necessity.

Graduated Drivers License (GDL) Phase 2

Provisional license restricting driving with non-family under 21 between midnight and 5 AM.

License Endorsement: H

Authorizes transporting hazardous materials.

License Endorsement: N

Authorizes operating a tank vehicle.

License Endorsement: P

Authorizes transporting passengers.

License Endorsement: S

Authorizes operating a school bus.

License Endorsement: T

Authorizes towing other cars.

License Endorsement: X

Authorizes operating tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials.

License Restriction: A

Requires driving with corrective lenses.

License Restriction: B

Requires a licensed driver 21+ in the front seat.

License Restriction: C

Restricts driving to daytime only.

License Restriction: D

Restricts speed to not exceed 45 mph.

Class A License

Allows driving Class B/C vehicles; excludes motorcycles and mopeds.

Class B License

Allows driving Class C vehicles and buses carrying 24+ passengers.

Class C License

Standard vehicle license; excludes Class A, B, motorcycles, and mopeds.

Class M License

Authorizes operating a motorcycle (minimum age 16) or moped (minimum age 15).

Texas Financial Responsibility

Must show proof of insurance covering all owned vehicles when applying for a license.

Knowledge Exam Passing Score (Class A/B)

Requires a score of 70% or better to pass.

Mandatory Revocation Grounds

DUI, causing death, passing a school bus, evading arrest, invalid license, or racing.

Zero Tolerance Law

Imposes penalties on minors committing any alcohol consumption or possession.

S.A.F.E. Acronym

See and evaluate, Anticipate hazards, Find escape route, Execute evasive action.

Speed and Impact Force

Doubling your speed increases the force of impact by 4 times.

Minimum Interstate Speed

The minimum speed limit on an interstate is 40 mph.

Speed Limit: Urban Districts

30 mph

Speed Limit: Alleys & Beaches

15 mph

Speed Limit: Numbered Highways

70 mph

First Offense Street Racing

Up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Texas Safety Responsibility Law (Prerequisites)

Claim within 22 months, public highway, and at least $1,000 in damages.

DPS Form SR 106

Used only for case updates, not required to pursue an uninsured driver.

Notice of Suspension Hearing

DPS cannot suspend a license pending the outcome of a requested hearing.

Texas Roadway Fatality Rate

One person is killed on Texas roads every 2 hours and 29 minutes.

Texas Roadway Injury Rate

One person is injured on Texas roads every 2 minutes and 8 seconds.

Texas Crash Frequency

One reportable crash occurs every 61 seconds.

Highest Crash Road Type

Two-lane, two-way roads and Farm to Market roads.

Lowest Crash Road Type

Four-or-more lane divided highways and interstates.

Defensive Driving

Driving to save lives by anticipating and adjusting to dangerous situations.

Leading Causes of Crashes

Unsafe speed, failure to yield, DUI, tailgating, and disregarding stop signals.

Factors in Collisions

Vehicle equipment failure, roadway design, road environment, and driver behavior.

Human Error Collision Percentage

Human behavior causes over 90% of all traffic collisions.

Texas Good Samaritan Law

Protects individuals administering emergency aid in good faith from liability.

Aggressive Driving vs. Careless Driving

Aggressive driving carries criminal penalties; careless driving results in points and citations.

DUI Substance Scope

Can be caused by alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medications, or over-the-counter drugs.

Traffic Sign Color: Blue

Indicates motorist services.

Traffic Sign Color: Yellow-Green

Indicates pedestrian, bicycle, and school zone warnings.

Traffic Sign Color: Orange

Indicates road construction and maintenance warnings.

Traffic Sign Shape: Pennant

Placed on the left side of the road; marks a no-passing zone.

Traffic Sign Shape: Pentagon

Indicates a school crossing.

Slow-Moving Vehicle Sign

A reflective orange triangle indicating a vehicle travels 35 mph or less.

School Bus Railroad Stop Rule

School buses must stop within 15 to 50 feet of a railroad crossing.

Pavement Markings: Yellow Lines

Divide traffic moving in opposite directions (two-way roadway).

Pavement Markings: White Lines

Divide traffic moving in the same direction (one-way roadway).

Lane Control: Steady Yellow X

Indicates lane usage is changing; you must safely exit the lane.

Right-Of-Way Law

The law only states who must yield; it never grants right-of-way.

School Bus Stop Rule

Stop 15 feet away when red/amber lights flash; illegal to overtake.

Hill Parking: Downhill

Turn front tires to the right (toward the curb).

Hill Parking: Uphill

Turn front tires to the left (away from the curb).

Interstate Numbering: Odd vs. Even

Odd numbers are north-south routes; even numbers are east-west routes.

Interstate Spurs vs. Loops

Spurs start with an odd digit; loops start with an even digit.

Turn Signal Distance

Must signal continuously for at least 100 feet before turning.

Trucker Blind Spot (Front)

Truck drivers cannot see objects within 20 feet of their front bumper.

Two-Second Rule

Maintains a safe gap: 2 seconds behind and 2 seconds in front.

Emergency Vehicle Move-Over Law

Slow down 20 mph below limit, or to 5 mph if limit is 20 mph or less.

Railroad Crossing Speed Limit

15 mph when within 100 feet of a crossing.

Failure to Yield Fines

$500 to $2,000; increases to $1,000-$4,000 if bodily injury occurs.

Passive Railroad Crossing

A crossing marked by signs but lacking active traffic control devices.

Right Turn on Red

Permitted after a complete stop if the path is clear and no sign prohibits it.

Stopping Distance Equation

Stopping Distance = Perception Distance + Reaction Distance + Braking Distance.

Space Cushion

An escape route or open space kept around your vehicle to avoid collisions.

Ideal Following Distance

A minimum interval of 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead.

Three Collision Impacts

1) Vehicle hits object, 2) occupant hits interior, 3) organs hit body cavity.

Airbag Safety Distance

Maintain at least 10 inches of space between your chest and the steering wheel.

Annual Vehicle Inspection

Mandatory for all motor vehicles registered in the State of Texas.

DWI open container penalty

Class B misdemeanor, minimum 6 days jail, up to $500 fine for driver or passenger.

Legal Definition of Intoxication

Loss of normal mental/physical faculties due to substances, OR a BAC of 0.08%+.

BAC Limit for Minors

0.02% (or any detectable trace of alcohol while driving).

Tunnel Vision BAC Threshold

At 0.05% BAC, peripheral vision is reduced by approximately 30%.

Synergistic Effect

The exponentially increased potency of drugs when taken together.

Heatstroke Temperature

Begins when body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit.