New ‘Distracted Driving’ Lesson Will Become Mandatory for New Drivers

By THC Staff | August 7, 2017

 

KHOU reports that starting September 1st, new Texas drivers will need to complete a course in “distracted driving” before they’re able to obtain their license. This is old news to those who are 15 – 17 years old since they’re already required to take the short series of hour-long lessons online. But, the state is now broadening the requirement to all people 18 and up who are getting their license for the first time.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety website, the lesson is easily accessible by simply creating an online account and watching a series of videos. There’s an Impact Texas Teen Drivers course, for those 16 and 17 years of age, and a Impact Texas Young Drivers course for people ages 18 to 24 (for now, this is what adults 24+ take as well). According to the class overview, “This program is modeled after an initiative developed by the California non-profit Impact Teen Drivers. By using state-specific statistics, videos and materials this program is designed to engage young adult drivers in defining what distracted driving is, who’s affected by distracted driving, and to help emphasize the problem of reckless and distracted driving.”

A slightly modified version of the lesson will also be available for Adult Drivers (24+) in 2018.