Texas Driver Safety and Training

Though teens cannot legally drink alcohol, teen drivers still have to contend with intoxicated drivers on the road. Summer or holiday breaks are a dangerous time for teen drivers because they spend more time on the road, where they may encounter impaired drivers.

Risk factors for teens on the road in summer include:

• Due to their limited driving experience, teens often have difficulty handling emergency situations; for example, they might try to pass a driver who keeps drifting into their lane.
• Teens may have trouble recognizing when other drivers might be impaired and neglect to allow an adequate space cushion between their vehicle and the vehicles of those drivers.
• Teens often have poor impulse control, which could lead them into playing traffic games with aggressive or impaired drivers, such as racing from one traffic light to another.

Here are some tips on how to recognize an impaired driver:

• their vehicle is straddling two lanes
• they have a close call, such as nearly hitting a parked car
• they make wide, clumsy turns
• they are traveling well below the speed limit (10 mph or more)
• they are following too closely
• they are braking erratically or stopping at inappropriate places (such as at an intersection with a green traffic light)
• their headlights aren't on at night, or they leave their turn signal on for a prolonged time

Teens can use defensive driving techniques for safe driving:

• Always wear your safety belt. This is your best defense against impaired drivers.
• Obey the speed limit. Driving too fast means drivers have less space to respond to hazards.
• Avoid being distracted from watching the road by noisy passengers, loud music, or using a cell phone.
• Maintain an adequate space cushion on all sides between your vehicle and other vehicles. If you notice someone driving erratically, increase your space cushion.
• Observe the behavior of other drivers, but keep your eyes moving; don't get so distracted that you miss another hazard.

Labels: driver safety, driving hazards, driving while intoxicated, impaired driver, seat belt safety

Unlike most other states that have a single DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) law, the State of Texas has both a DUI and a DWI law and there are important distinctions between the two. The main thing to remember is that the distinction between the DUI and DWI laws depends on the age of the driver.

DUI

In Texas, the DUI law applies only to minors under the age of 21. Texas, like every other state has a Zero Tolerance Law that prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from consuming alcohol. These Zero Tolerance Laws apply not only to teen drivers but in non-driving situations as well. Where Texas differs from most other states is in the legal measurement of the amount of alcohol consumed. Most states require that the police measure a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .02 to charge a minor with a violation of the law. The Texas law however, calls for charging a minor with violation of the law for "any detectible amount" of alcohol; a very low standard.

A minor charged under this law will have their driver's license automatically suspended for a period of:

• 60 days for a first offense
• 120 days for a second offense
• 180 days for a third or subsequent offense

A minor whose license has been suspended under this law is not eligible to apply for an occupational license (commonly known as a hardship license) for:

• 30 days for a first offense
• 90 days for a second offense
• The entire period of the suspension for a third or subsequent offense

DWI

The Texas DWI law is in line with the DUI laws of most other states but it applies only to adults over the age of 21. The legal limit where a driver is presumed too drunk to drive is .08 BAC. Remember though, that a driver doesn't have to register a .08 BAC to be arrested for DUI. If, in the opinion of the arresting officer, the driver is acting in a way that shows he or she is incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle due to any amount of alcohol or drug consumption, that driver can still be arrested under the DWI law.

Help keep you and other motorists safe by reading our article 7 Ways to Avoid a DUI.

Labels: avoid dui, BAC, blood alcohol level, driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, dui, dui laws, dwi, texas dui, texas dwi

The Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) limit is determined at .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) in Texas. However, in El Paso, Texas, they are pushing forward the creation of a new law that may change that. The new law, which is the DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired) law, lowers the drinking limit from .08 to between .05 and .07.

What does this all mean? It means a driver could potentially be arrested after a glass of wine or a bottle (or less) of beer if they choose to drive. Depending on a driver’s physical condition and over all general health, most drivers don’t be exhibit any outward signs of being ability-impaired at .05 BAC., according to the Progressive Effects of Alcohol by VirginiaTech1 . However, studies show that driver may have a harder time of focusing and concentrating, whether the driver is aware of the alcohol effects or not.

The Good:

• There could be less DWI/drunk-driving-related crashes on Texas roads.


• There would be more reason to have a designated-driver or the use of taxi's and other safe ride resources planned for when going out.


• Texas authorities are continually finding ways to stop drunk-driving. Drunk driving is 100 percent preventable including programs like the "Know When to Pass" campaign


• It would raise awareness to the importance of substance free driving and help to reduce the number of fatalities caused by driving under the influence.

The Bad:

• It could potentially hurt the bar industry in Texas. Less people would be out at clubs for fear of getting a DWAI charge.


• Motorists may not realize that they are driving-ability-impaired at .05 BAC.

The Ugly:

• A LOT of people will get charged with DWAI and the result could crowd the jails and court systems.


• There's still no clear definition of what the punishment is for a DWAI. Will it be the same as a DWI, or will it be less, since, technically the BAC isn’t a DWI yet?

According to the same article, the Texas Senate is currently discussing the proposed law and if it pushes through, it could possibly pass by January.

Keep in mind that alcohol affects people differently. If you are coming down with an illness, haven't eaten, or are dehydrated, the way it makes you feel may change or compound the alcohol effects. While these effects will not change your BAC, it can affect your abilities.

If you choose to drink, give yourself up to two hours per drink to allow the alcohol to move through your system.

How to Deal with Underage Drinking: Tips for Parents

[Source: http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/25362754/detail.html]

Labels: drinking and driving, driving while ability impaired, driving while intoxicated, dui, dwai, texas dui