The Texas Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program is designed to help new drivers gain experience and reduce crashes. This program gradually introduces driving privileges to young drivers, ensuring they gain the necessary skills and experience to drive safely. Here’s a breakdown of the program's phases and requirements.
Phase One: Learner License
The first phase of the Texas GDL program is obtaining a learner license.
Age Requirement: To apply for a learner license, you must be at least 15 years old.
Education: You must complete a driver education course approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). This course includes both classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel training and in-car observation.
Supervised Driving Practice: With a learner license, you must drive 30 hours of behind the wheel supervised driving practice, of which at least 10 hours must be at night, with a licensed adult over 21 years old in the front seat. This allows new drivers to gain experience under the supervision of an experienced driver.
Phase Two: Provisional License
The next phase is obtaining a provisional license, which allows for more independence but still includes some restrictions.
Age Requirement: You must be at least 16 years old and have held a learner license for at least six months to apply for a provisional license.
Experience: Before applying for a provisional license, you must complete the classroom, behind-the-wheel, and in-car observation portion of driver education, which includes 32 hours of classroom instruction, 7 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and 7 hours of in car observation.
You must also complete 30 hours of behind the wheel supervised driving practice, of which at least 10 hours must be at night with a licensed driver 21 years of age or older in the vehicle at all times.
You must have completed the Impact Texas Teen Driver Program within the previous 90 days of taking your skills test.
You must successfully pass your driving test.
Restrictions: With a provisional license, there are certain restrictions you must adhere to:
No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless for work, school, or emergencies.
You may not have more than one non-family passenger under 21 years old in the vehicle.
You are restricted from using a wireless communications device, including a hands-free device, except in the case of an emergency.
Full License
The final phase is obtaining a full, unrestricted license.
Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a full license.
Completion: To obtain a full license, you must successfully complete both the learner license and provisional phases of the GDL program.
Unrestricted: Once you have a full license, you can enjoy full driving privileges without the restrictions that apply to a provisional license.
Importance of the GDL Program
The Texas GDL program is designed to ensure that new drivers gain the necessary experience and skills in a gradual and safe manner.
Safety: By gradually introducing driving privileges, the GDL program helps new drivers build confidence and competence behind the wheel. This reduces the likelihood of crashes and promotes safer driving habits and choices.
Experience: The phased approach allows new drivers to gain experience in a variety of driving conditions and situations, which is crucial for developing good judgment and decision-making skills.
Responsibility: The GDL program instills a sense of responsibility in new drivers, emphasizing the importance of safe driving practices and adherence to traffic laws.
Understanding and following the Texas GDL program ensures that new drivers are well-prepared and experienced, leading to safer roads for everyone.
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