Driving laws for Texas teens may change

Texas lawmakers are considering a new law that may change the way teens receive their driver’s license and the laws that govern how they will drive once they get it.

State Representative Larry Phillips of Sherman, Texas has said that the bill he has proposed is his highest priority for the current legislative session.

What exactly would the bill change?

• The bill would require school districts to offer driver education and traffic safety courses during each school year.
• It would increase the number of “behind-the-wheel” instruction from seven hours to 34 hours, for drivers under the age of 18. Ten of those hours will involve nighttime driving, which is not a current requirement.
• The bill would double the term for when graduated driver license (GDL) restrictions apply. Instead of six months, the restrictions would be in place for 12 months.
• The current restrictions on nighttime driving do not allow new drivers to drive between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. The new law would change this time to 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• The bill would also require an on-road driving test (Until 1995 Texas required drivers to take an on-road driving test before a driver could get their license.).

So what does all this mean? Strengthening restrictions for new drivers could lead to safer roads for teens and everyone else on the road. To read the full text of the bill visit http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB00339I.pdf