Texas Driver Safety and Training

Running a red light is a universally bad idea. In Texas, (and most anywhere else) motorists should pay attention to traffic lights. These traffic lights are one of the basic things to know about driving: the green light means go, the red light means stop, and the yellow light means that the light will turn either green or red.

Following that rule should be simple, right? Here are a few things to know about the traffic lights in Texas:

Traffic Cameras

In most cities in Texas, there are traffic cameras installed where there are traffic lights. At first, one might conjure up images of “Big Brother” watching each and every vehicle passing the road, but the reality is: these traffic cameras are only triggered when a vehicle runs a red light. They usually have a grace period of half a second, enough time for a vehicle to notice the red light and stop at the appropriate time.

Red lights

When a vehicle runs a red light, the high-speed traffic cameras capture the plate number and the model of the car, and that image is further examined by professional traffic enforcers to determine if there was an offense or not. When it is confirmed that a vehicle caught on camera did indeed ignore the traffic light, they will be mailed a citation using the information from their plate number. The Texas traffic light offender will then choose to either pay the fine, or appear in court. After that, there is also a possibility of being ordered to attend a defensive driving or driving education course that specializes in traffic lights and signs. Fines are usually between $75 to $100, plus other fees.

Traffic signal out

Surprisingly, there is a law that was only enacted in 2003: when a traffic light is out, all intersections turn into four-way stop. No exceptions. A traffic light can be considered “out” when none of the signals are flashing, or when the lights are behaving erratically.

In Texas, these laws are put into practice to keep Texas a safer place to drive!

Complete a Texas Defensive Driving Course to reduce points on your driving record or for an auto insurance discount.

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Earning a CDL License in Texas can be a confusing task. Knowing the right procedure, list of requirements and passing the tests may sound easy, but here are a few tips to get you started into getting your Texas CDL License.

• Check if your local Texas driver's license office offers CDL testing. Not all driver's license offices are the same, some don't offer CDL testing, so check first with your local office or nearby counties for information. Here's a link to a Texas DPS page that offers information on some driver's license offices. (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/rolodex/search.asp) You might still need to call, so find contact numbers for the driver's license office in the county you are checking.



• Know the Requirements. A prerequisite for drivers is being at least over 21 years old and must already be licensed. Bringing your Social Security card along with your license is for verifying your identity.



• Know your vehicle's (truck's) weight class and fill out the appropriate Texas CDL license form. Each class has its own application form, so applying for the wrong one might take you more time in getting your CDL License.
  
  
  
  • Class A is for a combination of vehicles that weigh from 26,001 pounds or more,
  
  
  • Class B is for a single vehicle that weighs 26,001 pounds or more,
  
  
  • Class C is for single or combination vehicles that don't fall into either Class A or Class B criteria, and might be designed for a specialized purpose.
  
  
  
  



• Review the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook. The written and skills exam questions will be based on the contents here. Here is a link to the PDF version of the handbook: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/InternetForms/Forms/DL-7C.pdf. Additionally, signing up for a CDL practice test will also help you pass your Texas CDL Licensing exams.



• Have a commercial vehicle for your driving test. Applicants are required to provide the vehicles they will be tested on. Usually, when applying for a Texas CDL, the driving test will be performed using the vehicle that the applicant will be driving, once they obtain their license.



• After you have passed, there will be a fee for your CDL license. It is usually just a little over $60. Applicants will also be required to take a photo and get their fingerprints on record after this process.

By following these tips and maintaining a good driving record, an applicant will stand a greater chance at obtaining their Texas CDL License quickly, with relatively less hassle and confusion.

Labels: commercial drivers license, texas cdl, texas drivers license