Blank Texas Behind Wheel PDF Template

Special Thanks

… to all the people who contributed to the development of this Guide.

This Guide was developed by the Texas Education Agency, Driver Training Division in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division. The information contained in this Guide is not intended to be a comprehensive document for teaching good driving habits. As a helpful guide it contains information that, if used, can help reduce risk. Good judgment should be used to adapt this information to different driving situations and conditions.

This Guide supports the important partnerships between driver education and training instructors, young drivers and their parents/guardians. It is our hope that this information will contribute to a lifetime of reduced risk driving habits.

Special thanks go to the Idaho Department of Education, Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Virginia Department of Education for the use of their parent curriculum guides.

Robert Scott

Commissioner of Education

Ray Glenn

Deputy Commissioner School District Leadership and Educator Quality

Jerel Booker

Associate Commissioner Educator Quality and Standards

Julie Harris-Lawrence

Deputy Associate Commissioner Student Support

Victor Alegria

Director, Driver Training Division

Copyright © Notice The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of TEA, except under the following conditions:

1)Texas public school districts, charter schools, licensed driver education schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts and schools’ educational use without obtaining permission from TEA.

2)Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only without obtaining written permission of TEA.

3)Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way.

4)No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged.

Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts, Texas Education Service Centers, or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from TEA and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing fee or a royalty. For information contact: Office of Intellectual Property, Texas Education Agency, 1701 N. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701-1494; phone 512-463-9270 or 512-463-9713; email: copyrights@tea.state.tx.us.

Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status in any educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. (Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the

rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.) It is the policy of the Texas Education Agency not to discriminate in any educational programs or activities or in employment practices.

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Provisional License

All original licenses, other than an instruction permit, issued to persons under 18 years of age will be marked "Provisional.” The license will be vertical and will be dated to expire on the applicant's 18th birthday. A fee is required to obtain this license. If the instruction permit or driver license is not due for renewal, a fee is required for a duplicate instruction permit or duplicate license.

Documentation to Department of Public Safety (DPS) for Provisional License (Unrestricted driver license): Once the applicant has held a valid instruction permit or hardship license for a minimum of six months, has reached the age of 16 for a Class C license (17 years of age for a Class A or B non-CDL), has completed both the classroom and laboratory (driving) portions of driver education and has completed the additional 20 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, they are eligible to apply for the provisional license. The teenager will be required to pass the Road Test at the DPS office before licensure. The items you will need to take to the DPS are as follows:

1.Valid Learner’s License (Instruction Permit)

2.Verification of Enrollment and Attendance Form

3.DE 964 from school which provided the driver education course

4.20 Hours Behind-the-Wheel Practice Log

5.The vehicle used for the Road Test must be able to pass an inspection where everything works properly, have a valid inspection sticker, valid registration sticker, and current insurance

6.Money to pay for license

Message from NHTSA about Parent/Guardian’s Role in Teenage Driving

www.nhtsa.gov

It's not just good parenting; it's a matter of life and death. You need to talk to your teenager about traffic safety early and often – before they reach driving age. When your teenager begins driving, we recommend that you set rules and then clearly outline the consequences of breaking the rules. Remind your teenager that driving is a privilege – a privilege they will lose if they don't drive by your rules. We know that getting through to your teen can be tough, but research tells us that teens listen to their parents, and that you influence your teenager’s driving habits.

Set the Standard

You need to teach safe driving behavior from the beginning. As the parent, you can start by modeling safe driving behavior anytime you drive your kids anywhere, even before they begin to drive.

Talk to your teen about safety issues and the rules you are setting. Explain each one of your rules and the consequences for breaking it. Write up a contract with your teen driver to make sure they drive by the rules and drive as safely as possible. Include the most important issues. Here's how: Spell out the rules

1.Absolutely No Alcohol or Drugs Teen drivers (ages 15-20) are at far greater risk of death in crashes where alcohol was present than the rest of us, even though they cannot legally purchase or possess alcohol, which includes your teen and others he/she may ride with.

These are staggering statistics - In 2007, almost one-third of teen drivers who were killed in crashes had a positive BAC of .01 or higher at the time of the crash, even though it is illegal in all states for anyone under the age of 21 to drive with any trace of alcohol in their system. On average over the last five years, one-fourth of the deaths in motor vehicle traffic crashes occurred when a teen driver had a BAC of .01 or higher.

The consequences are grim - If your teenager is lucky enough to survive a crash, they will have to face the consequences of breaking the law. That includes a trip to jail, the loss of their driver’s license, and dozens of other expenses including attorney fees, court costs, and other fines. They will also stand to lose academic eligibility, college acceptance, scholarship awards, and more.

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breaking the rules. In fact, your house rules can be tougher than the GDL laws, based on your assessment of your teen.

Be accountable, make them accountable - Write up an agreement that spells it out. Sign it and have your teen driver sign. Remind them that driving is a privilege that can be easily revoked. Review the agreement often.

You can have an agreement with your teen without writing it down; however writing it down makes it more enforceable and meaningful. Keep an open dialog with your young driver and make your rules and consequences crystal clear. Talk often and stick to your own rules and consequences.

Suggestions To Enhance Your Experience

•Set aside time for practice.

•Be relaxed and keep your voice calm.

•Give clear feedback immediately and precisely.

•Plan your route before you start; rush hour traffic may not be the best time to practice.

•Know when to talk; a complicated maneuver may require lots of concentration.

•Reinforce the skills taught by the driver education course and have the Texas Driver Handbook available for reference.

•Make this time enjoyable and focus on the driving task, leaving other issues for later.

• Reinforce good decision-making that leads to reduced risk driving practices that will last a lifetime.

• Be a role model by wearing your safety belt and using correct driving procedures such as making a complete stop at stop signs, slowing to a stop at yellow lights, and obeying the speed limit, etc.

• Be patient, calm, and alert at all times making positive remarks frequently.

Suggestions Before Beginning Practice

• If possible, instruction should begin in a car with automatic transmission so that your teenager can focus on mastering basic vehicle control maneuvers.

•Select traffic environments that complement the lesson objectives and the teenager’s abilities.

•Begin in a low-risk environment, which includes parking lots and progress to less traveled residential streets.

•Review previous lessons and explain what the next lesson will be before proceeding.

•Keep instructions simple and concise. First direct where to go, and then state the action to take (e.g., “At the next intersection, turn right.”)

•Check mirrors, and the space to all sides and ahead of the vehicle before giving directions.

•Remind the young driver not to panic when approached by an emergency vehicle and to focus on looking for a safe area to pull over.

•Discuss the rules for sharing the roadway with other users including pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles school buses, trains, trucks, animals, etc and explain the risk each one presents.

•Encourage your teenager to change their route to avoid making a difficult left turn.

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Control of Vehicle

To provide you with some control of the vehicle you may want to practice steering from the passenger seat. If the parking brake is located in the console between the driver and passenger front seats, you may want to see if it will slow or stop the vehicle. To prepare yourself to regain speed control in the event your teenager panics and accelerates too much, practice shifting the transmission from drive to neutral from the passenger seat. You may want to adjust the mirror on the passenger sun visor so you can use it as a rearview mirror. Also, you may want to use the right outside mirror.

Commentary Driving

Encourage the use of commentary driving. This tool will allow you to check how your teenager is mentally processing driving skills and evaluating the environment. Ask your teenager to “read the traffic picture aloud” describing anything that may affect the roadway ahead or behind. For example, when your teenager changes speed, your teenager may say: “red light, check mirror, ease foot off accelerator , and brake.” Actually, you should frequently hear “check mirror and ease off accelerator”! Emphasize driving with a large anticipation zone by looking at least 15-20 seconds ahead. Play the “what if game”; what if a car suddenly changes lanes, stops, turns, etc. Ask questions, such as “Where were you looking,” or “What are the steps for this maneuver?”

During ALL Practice Hours: Your Teenager

•Possesses a valid learner’s license or driver license.

•Is mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared to drive. Do not

drive fatigued, aggressively, or distracted.

• Completes pre-drive checks.

• Uses and require passengers to use safety belts / teenager safety restraints.

•Performs proper starting tasks.

•Identifies and properly responds to alert and warning lights on the instrument panel.

•Obeys all traffic laws.

•Is watchful and attentive to the traffic scene by looking ahead and to the sides and checking mirrors to the sides and rear.

•Searches from the vehicle to at least 15 seconds ahead when driving in residential/city traffic and 20 to 30 seconds ahead during freeway/expressway driving.

•Checks blind spots prior to changing lanes or making a lateral maneuver.

•Understands that a green light means one must scan the intersection before proceeding.

•Searches/scans to continuously identify hazards.

•Uses a space management system (safe space around the vehicle) to establish and maintain proper vehicle operating space and lane position.

•Performs speed and position changes in response to traffic flow and volume.

•Positions the vehicle to maintain an open line of sight and path of travel.

•Maintains an adequate following distance between vehicles in front and behind (recommended at least 4 seconds for teenagers).

•Maintains adequate side space.

•Communicates with other roadway users (signal lights, hand signals, horn if necessary, lane placement, eye contact).

•Brakes smoothly, gradually slowing to a stop (taps brakes and check rearview before slowing or stopping to warn other roadway

users).

• Accelerates smoothly, steadily increasing to safe speed within posted limit and maintains appropriate speed.

•Uses accelerator and brake pedals properly to manage vehicle balance.

•Identifies and responds appropriately to all traffic signals, signs, and roadway markings.

•Gives or accepts the right-of-way properly and safely.

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