Texas
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Texas
In 2010, 496 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Texas. Over the past five years, Texas crashes involving teen drivers claimed 3034 lives. Nationally, since 2000, more than 85,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Texas
The current GDL law in Texas includes the following components:
- A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 15 for learner’s permit, age 16 for the intermediate stage, and age 17 for full licensure
- A mandatory 6 month holding period for the learner’s permit stage
- A minimum of 20 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner’s permit stage, at least 10 of which must be at night
- A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving between midnight and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage (secondary enforcement)
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger younger than age 21 (secondary enforcement)
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of hand-held and hands-free cell phones during the first twelve months of the intermediate stage
- A prohibition on texting while driving for the first twelve months of the intermediate stage and for all drivers while in school crossing zones
These changes are needed to improve Texas’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Require age 16 for entry into the learner’s permit stage
- Extend all restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
For more information and to contact your state representative, please visit: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/.
To contact your Member of Congress about the STANDUP Act, S. 528 / H.R. 1515, please visit: http://www.capitolconnect.com/saferoads4teens/
