Texas Driver Safety and Training

When teens are asked why they want their driver's licenses, they often reply, "for freedom and independence." But even getting a Texas learner's permit can be difficult, and if you don't comply with certain restrictions on your permit and license, the freedom and independence you wanted so much and worked so hard for can quickly disappear. That's why skimming the handbook and memorizing a few facts that are quickly forgotten as soon as you pass your written test is not a good use of your time. You should take a practice permit test course, and you can do so online, from the comfort of your home.

It is difficult to learn enough from the Texas Driver's Handbook to pass the written test at the driver's license office. Simply reading the handbook is not enough. It is almost impossible for anyone to anticipate every type of question that might be asked on the test. The questions on the written test are typically drawn from a database of over 500 questions. Every test is random, so talking to your friends about what their tests were like won't help you. And questions on the test are written with the assumption that you understand the entire handbook, so knowing just a few parts of the handbook well won't be sufficient for you to achieve the minimum passing score on the test, which is 70% in Texas.

A practice permit test course helps you pass the written test because it replicates the experience of taking the test at the driver's license office. Often, people are surprised when they take a free online written test because they realize how little they remember even after reading the handbook. You don't want that surprise when you're already at the driver's license office! If you fail the written exam for your Texas learner's permit, you'll have to get your parent or guardian to make the trip all over again. With an online practice course, you can take tests as many times as it takes to feel totally comfortable with the material. Some courses even offer a guarantee that you will pass your test at the driver's license office after passing the practice tests a certain number of times.

But an online practice permit test course does more than help you pass the written test to get your learner's permit. It helps you remember information that will help you keep your Texas driver's license and make you a safer driver. For example, Texas has a Graduated Driver License program that specifies a variety of restrictions for new drivers, including hours during which you may not drive alone. If you don't know those laws, you won't follow them - and not following them could mean losing your Texas learner's permit or license. And of course, if you don't know and follow the rules of the road, you could get traffic tickets or, even worse, have a crash that results in property damage, injury or death. It would be much more devastating to cause harm to someone else, perhaps one of your friends, or to lose your own life, than it would be to have your driver's license taken away.

Hopefully, you'll have your Texas driver's license for many years. It makes sense to invest time and energy into earning it so you'll have a smooth start.

Labels: dmv practice test, dmv prep course, permit course, texas drivers license

Premiums for automobile insurance encompass a variety of factors used to assess the risk of a particular driver. Since some aspects of determining the cost of your auto insurance policy are out of your hands, it's helpful to learn just how you might be able to reduce your premiums.

First, make sure you understand the concept of auto insurance - how much it costs, exactly what it covers, and what makes the premium increase or decrease. Ask your agent how much one traffic violation on your driving record will raise your rates and how you can have a traffic ticket dismissed. Even drivers who haven’t received traffic tickets may be eligible for a 10% auto insurance discount for three years when they complete a defensive driving course. To learn more, ask your auto insurance carrier about their defensive driving course discounts.

Next, be sure your vehicles are in excellent mechanical shape. When you buy a new or pre-owned vehicle, try to select a mid-range model - nothing fancy or high-powered, but nothing too old either. Older vehicles may not have safety features, which help keep you safe in a crash and also help you earn insurance discounts. Your insurance company may offer discounts for the following safety features. If not, it pays to shop around. Discounts for vehicle safety features vary widely among insurance companies.

• Air Bags: All vehicles sold in the US must have driver and passenger-side dual airbags. Air bags must be used with safety belts for maximum effectiveness.


• Head Injury Protection: This feature, which lessons the blow if your head hits the interior roof of your vehicle, has become standard in recent years. Older models may not have this safety feature.


• Advanced Headrests: These systems allow the back of the seat and headrest to move down and back if the vehicle is hit from the rear, reducing the forward motion and thus decreasing the severity of head and neck injuries.


• Automatic Daytime Running Lights: This feature means that your vehicle’s headlights are always on, even during daylight, which gives your vehicle greater visibility.


• Anti-lock Brake System: This feature eliminates the need to "pump the brakes" when you have to stop quickly, preventing the wheels from locking up and the vehicle from skidding. ABS pumps the brakes for the driver; the driver keeps constant pressure on the brake pedal and concentrates on steering. This helps the driver regain control of the vehicle quickly in bad weather conditions or to act quickly to prevent a crash.


• Traction Control: While ABS helps drivers maintain control while braking, traction control helps them do so while accelerating. This feature stops the spinning of a wheel due to wet roads, loose gravel, or fast acceleration by braking it, reducing the fuel or cutting spark plug ignitions, depending on the type of system, which improves traction.


• Electronic Stability System: This feature coordinates the ABS, Traction Control, and the "yaw" of your vehicle (how much the vehicle rocks side to side). The system reduces tire spinning, skidding, and tractionless cornering, keeping the vehicle's tires in maximum contact with the road.

Third, if you have a teen driver in your family, continue driver instruction for your teen even after she or he is licensed. Make sure your teen follows the graduated driver licensing laws in your state. Keep track of your teen's progress by having them drive with you in the front passenger seat occasionally. Monitor your teen's cell phone bill to make sure the teen isn't making calls or sending texts during times she or he is usually on the road.

Auto insurance is a necessary expense, but there are ways to minimize the cost. Conducting a little research to determine how to save money on auto insurance is a worthwhile effort.

Labels: auto insurance, auto insurance discount course, defensive driving course, discounts, dismiss traffic ticket, teen auto insurance, texas auto insurance

While getting a speeding ticket in Texas is never a happy occasion, drivers can mitigate the effects of the speeding ticket by taking a defensive driving course. In addition to not having points added to the violator's driving record and avoiding an auto insurance increase, drivers can use the course to refresh their driving skills and evaluate their current driving behavior. Here are the steps to follow to have your Texas speeding ticket dismissed and reap all the benefits of a defensive driving course:


Step One: Check your speeding ticket for your court date. You must ask the court for permission to take a defensive driving course for ticket dismissal, in person or via US mail, but the appearance date indicated on your ticket. You must submit a completed copy of the Affidavit form with your signature notarized, proof of valid non-commercial Texas driver's license, the court administrative fee, and a copy of your insurance policy when requesting permission to take the defensive driving course for speeding ticket dismissal.

Step Two: Once the court grants permission for you to take the course, you'll have 90 days to complete the course and submit your certificate of completion to the court. Conveniently, the Texas ticket dismissal course is offered online. So your next step is to register for and take the Texas defensive driving course. If you take the course online, you don't have to take it all at once; you can log in and out of the course as many times as necessary. Your place in the course will be saved so the next time you log in, you can just pick up where you left off in the previous session.

Step Three: After you complete the speeding ticket course, the school will issue a certificate of completion. The certificate will be sent to you for you to submit to the court; by Texas law, the school can't do that for you. You may need to send a copy of your driving record to the court with your certificate; check with the county that has jurisdiction over the speeding ticket to be sure. If a copy of your driving record is required and you don't send it, the speeding ticket dismissal process could be delayed. Be sure to submit the certificate by the deadline imposed by the court.

Tips for a Clean Driving Record in Texas

In the state of Texas, you may to take a defensive driving course once every 12 months to dismiss a traffic ticket. The points you receive for a speeding ticket will remain on your Texas driving record for a period of three years; however, you can avoid having the points assessed if you take a defensive driving course. Even if you haven't received a ticket, you can take a defensive driving course to have points removed from your Texas driver's license and to receive insurance discounts.

Are you eligible for a Defensive Driving Course?

Be sure to meet all deadlines imposed by the court; failure to do so could affect the status of your driver's license.

If you have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), you may not take a defensive driving course for ticket dismissal.

You are not eligible for the traffic ticket dismissal course if your citation was for driving 25 mph or more above the posted speed limit.

Labels: defensive driving, dismiss traffic ticket, driving safety, online defensive driving, texas driver record, texas traffic ticket

Getting your Texas Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is a wonderful accomplishment, because it means you are on your way to an exciting and rewarding career as a professional truck driver. But the process of obtaining the license can be confusing and the exam process very challenging, leading many potential drivers to delay or even forego earning a Texas CDL.

Before you begin, it is helpful to get a copy of the Texas CDL Handbook. The handbook will tell you what steps to follow to get your CDL license, and you'll also use it as a tool to study for your written exams at the Texas Department of Safety. You'll also need to pass a pre-trip inspection exam on the type of vehicle you wish to drive.

Next, get a learner's license so you can practice driving a commercial motor vehicle for the skills exams you'll take to earn your CDL. To earn a learner's license, you'll need to pass one or more written tests, depending on the type of commercial motor vehicle you want to drive. All applicants for a Texas CDL must take the General Knowledge exam. Other endorsements for which you may need to take written exams include:

• Passenger


• Double/Triple Trailers


• Tank Vehicles


• Hazardous Materials


• School Bus

Last, you'll take a set of skills tests to earn your CDL. If you can't pass the air brake inspection skills test, you won't be allowed to take the road test. The road test must be taken in the same class of vehicle for which you want to be licensed.

You'll need to present proof of your identity and social security number to receive your Texas CDL. To avoid making unnecessary trips to the Department of Public Safety, start gathering your paperwork early. If you want a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on your Texas CDL, you'll need to pass a federal threat assessment. This program requires a time-consuming fingerprint check, so start the process as early as possible.

While operating a commercial motor vehicle with a learner's license, you must have a licensed CDL operator with the proper class of license in the front seat with you. Remember, the CDL exams are difficult and even experienced commercial motor vehicle drivers who retake the exams often fail them. A CDL test prep course can help you retain more information, giving you a better chance of passing the written tests the first time you take them.

Labels: cdl practice test, commercial drivers license, texas cdl, texas cdl handbook