Texas Driver Handbook - Road to Success Driving School

Texas Driver Handbook

Revised September 2014

Website: dps.

Introduction

The Texas Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division, is committed to creating a faster, easier, and friendlier driver license experience and a safer Texas. One step toward achieving these important goals is to improve the Texas Driver Handbook by providing you with accurate information on traffic laws, clear images of road signs, examples of common driving situations, and general safety tips. We have also included special tips to emphasize important information you need to know. Although the Texas Driver Handbook has been revised, its primary purpose remains the same: 1) to help you qualify for a Texas driver license, and 2) to help you become a safer driver. The information contained in this handbook is not an official legal reference to Texas traffic laws. The information provided is only intended to explain applicable federal and state laws you need to understand in order to successfully operate a motor vehicle in Texas. If you would like to know the actual language of any traffic laws referenced in this handbook, please refer to the Texas Transportation Code and for any criminal laws refer to the Texas Penal Code. Once you receive your Texas driver license, keep this handbook as a reference on traffic safety and update it as needed. The Texas Legislature meets every two years and regularly makes changes to traffic laws. For the most current information on driver licensing visit our website at dps..

Contact Us

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding this handbook or if you need additional information. Phone Number: (512) 424-2600 Customer Support page: dps.driverlicense/customer_service Mailing Address: T exas Department of Public Safety Driver License Division PO Box 4087 Austin, TX 78773-0300

If you prefer, you can contact your local driver license office directly. Please refer to Appendix B in this handbook to locate a driver license office in your area. If you would like to provide feedback on the information in this handbook visit, survey.utexas.edu/txdps/.

ADA Accommodations

If you need to make special arrangements to accommodate a disability prior to visiting a driver license office, you can e-mail us using our secure website at dps.driverlicense/customer_service or call us at (512) 424-2600. Please contact us five to seven days prior to your visit to allow us time to accommodate your request. If you are in need of assistance but fail to receive reasonable accommodations, you may have grounds for a grievance. DPS Grievance Procedures can be found in the 37 Texas Administrative Code ?1.41, sos.state.tx.us/tac/index.shtml and on our website at dps.. The Texas Department of Public Safety does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.

The information contained in the Texas Driver Handbook is the property of the Texas Department of Public Safety and may not be changed, reproduced, or transmitted for distribution without written consent.

Dear Texas Resident:

The ability to operate a motor vehicle is an important privilege in a state as large as Texas with over 310,000 miles of public roadways. Whether you are a new driver or a new resident of Texas, always remember that driving a motor vehicle is one of the most dangerous things most people do. Every year, in Texas, approximately 3,000 people are killed in traffic crashes and over 80,000 are seriously injured.

Today more than ever, you need to be alert for distracted and impaired drivers operating motor vehicles. A two-second distraction can kill and permanently injure you and others.

Respectfully,

Steven C. McCraw, Director Department of Public Safety

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Your License to Drive........................................................................................ 1

Who May Drive a Motor Vehicle in Texas?.......................................................................................1 Types of Texas Driver Licenses...........................................................................................................1 Classified Driver Licenses....................................................................................................................3 Fees and Driver Licenses for Veterans...............................................................................................5 Identification (ID) Cards.....................................................................................................................5 Medical and Emergency Information...............................................................................................5 Organ Donation..................................................................................................................................6 How to Obtain a Texas Driver License...............................................................................................6 Penalties for Driving Without a License............................................................................................9 Restrictions Placed on a License........................................................................................................9 A Replacement (Duplicate) Card.....................................................................................................10 Renewing a License..........................................................................................................................10 Suspensions and Revocations.......................................................................................................... 11 Cancellations..................................................................................................................................... 13 Court-Ordered Suspensions, Revocations, and Cancellations.......................................................13 Denials............................................................................................................................................... 14 Driving While License Invalid (DWLI)..............................................................................................14 Penalties for Non-Driving Alcohol-Related Offenses by Minors...................................................14 Occupational License (Essential Need License)...............................................................................15 Driver Responsibility Program (DRP)...............................................................................................15

Chapter 2: Vehicle Inspection and Registration.............................................................. 17

Vehicle Inspection............................................................................................................................17 Required Equipment for Vehicles....................................................................................................17 Equipment You Must Not Have.......................................................................................................18 Optional Equipment for Vehicles....................................................................................................18 Registration of Vehicles...................................................................................................................18

Chapter 3: Safety Responsibility...................................................................................... 20

The Liability Insurance Law..............................................................................................................20 Evidence of Financial Responsibility................................................................................................20 Failure to Provide Evidence of Financial Responsibility.................................................................20

Chapter 4: Right-of-Way................................................................................................... 22

Right-of-Way at Intersections..........................................................................................................22 Yield Right-of-Way to Emergency Vehicles....................................................................................24 Yield Right-of-Way to School Buses................................................................................................24 Yield the Right-of-Way to Pedestrians (Persons on Foot).............................................................25

Chapter 5: Signals, Signs, and Markers........................................................................... 27

Traffic Signals....................................................................................................................................27 Traffic Signs.......................................................................................................................................27 Warning Signs...................................................................................................................................28

ii

Regulatory and Warning Signs........................................................................................................32 Guide Signs.......................................................................................................................................34 Railroad Warning Signs....................................................................................................................34 Pavement Markings..........................................................................................................................35 Barrels................................................................................................................................................37 Hearing Impaired..............................................................................................................................37 Construction and Maintenance Devices.........................................................................................37 Obey Warning Signs and Barricades...............................................................................................39 Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem.........................................................................................................39

Chapter 6: Signaling, Passing, and Turning..................................................................... 40

Signaling...........................................................................................................................................40 Passing...............................................................................................................................................40 Turning.............................................................................................................................................. 41

Chapter 7: Parking, Stopping, or Standing...................................................................... 44

Do Not Park, Stop, or Stand a Vehicle.............................................................................................44 Do Not Park or Stand a Vehicle.......................................................................................................44 Do Not Park a Vehicle......................................................................................................................44

Chapter 8: Speed and Speed Limits................................................................................. 47

Speed.................................................................................................................................................47 Speed Limits......................................................................................................................................47 Slow Down or Move Over................................................................................................................48 Street Racing.....................................................................................................................................48

Chapter 9: Some Special Driving Situations ................................................................. 49

Headlights.........................................................................................................................................49 Highway Driving...............................................................................................................................49 Controlling a Car in Special Situations............................................................................................50 Winter Driving..................................................................................................................................51 Rotary Traffic Islands (Roundabouts)..............................................................................................52 Floods................................................................................................................................................52 Share the Road with Trucks.............................................................................................................53 Share the Road with Motorcycles....................................................................................................54 Share the Road with Light Rail........................................................................................................55 Share the Road with Bicycles...........................................................................................................55

Chapter 10: Alcohol and Drugs Impact on the Driving Ability...................................... 56

The Number One Killer is Alcohol...................................................................................................56 Texas Tough Alcohol-Related Laws for Minors..............................................................................57 Texas Alcohol-Related Laws for Adults ..........................................................................................59 Know Your Legal Limit.....................................................................................................................59

Chapter 11: Motor Vehicle Crashes.................................................................................. 60

Crash Resulting in Injury to, or Death of a person.........................................................................60 Crash Resulting in Damage to a Vehicle.........................................................................................60

iii

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download