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Texas driver handbook guide

Texas driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 20 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s Texas course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 62 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
20
Source PDF pages
91
Companion lessons
62
Licensing agency
DPS

A way through the handbook

Start with the application and licensing material that applies to your age and license type. Then work through the driving rules, signs, and safe-driving chapters. A rule is easier to remember when you can explain what it asks you to do in a real road situation.

For a quick refresher, use the chapter list below. For a deeper study session, follow a companion lesson and its checkpoint questions. The page numbers refer to this course’s source edition and may differ from the newest agency edition.

Chapter list

  1. Introduction Source p. 2
  2. Chapter 1: Your License to Drive Source p. 7
  3. Chapter 2: Vehicle Inspection and Registration Source p. 21
  4. Chapter 3: Safety Responsibility Source p. 24
  5. Chapter 4: Right-of-Way Source p. 26
  6. Chapter 5: Signals, Signs, and Markers Source p. 31
  7. Chapter 6: Signaling, Passing, and Turning Source p. 44
  8. Chapter 7: Parking, Stopping, or Standing Source p. 48
  9. Chapter 8: Speed and Speed Limits Source p. 51
  10. Chapter 9: Some Special Driving Situations Source p. 53
  11. Chapter 10: Alcohol and Drug Impact on the Driving Ability Source p. 61
  12. Chapter 11: Motor Vehicle Crashes Source p. 65
  13. Chapter 12: Pedestrian Safety Source p. 67
  14. Chapter 13: Bicycle Laws and Safety Source p. 68
  15. Chapter 14: Additional Safety Tips Source p. 70
  16. Appendix A: Glossary of Terms Source p. 77
  17. Appendix B: Driver License Offices Source p. 83
  18. Appendix C: Study and Review Questions for Class C Operators Source p. 84
  19. Appendix D: Fees Source p. 87
  20. Appendix E: Restriction Codes Source p. 89

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 2

Introduction

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Handbook
  • Contact Us
  • ADA Accommodations
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 7

Chapter 1: Your License to Drive

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Who May Drive a Motor Vehicle in Texas?
  • Types of Texas Driver Licenses
  • Classes of Driver Licenses
  • Fees and Driver Licenses for Veterans
  • Identification (ID) Cards
  • Medical and Emergency Information
  • Organ Donation
  • Voluntary Contributions
  • How to Obtain a Texas Driver License
  • Driver Education
  • Examples of Vehicles for Driving Exam
  • Penalties for Driving Without a License
  • Restrictions Placed on a License
  • Renewing a License
  • Suspensions and Revocations
  • Cancellations
  • Court-Ordered Suspensions, Revocations, and Cancellations
  • Denials
  • Driving While License Invalid (DWLI)
  • Penalties for Non-Driving Alcohol-Related Offenses by Minors
  • Occupational License (Essential Need License)
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 21

Chapter 2: Vehicle Inspection and Registration

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Vehicle Inspection
  • Required Equipment for Vehicles
  • Equipment You Must Not Have
  • Optional Equipment for Vehicles
  • Registration of Vehicles
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 24

Chapter 3: Safety Responsibility

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Chapter 3: Safety Responsibility The Liability Insurance Law
  • Evidence of Financial Responsibility
  • Failure to Provide Evidence of Financial Responsibility
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 26

Chapter 4: Right-of-Way

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Right-of-Way at Intersections
  • Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Emergency Notification System (ENS)
  • Yield Right-of-Way to Emergency Vehicles
  • Yield Right-of-Way to School Buses
  • Yield the Right-of-Way to Pedestrians (Persons on Foot)
  • What Pedestrians See
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 31

Chapter 5: Signals, Signs, and Markers

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Traffic Signals
  • Traffic Signs
  • Warning Signs
  • Regulatory and Warning Signs
  • Guide Signs
  • Railroad Warning Signs
  • Pavement Markings
  • Barrels
  • Hearing Impaired
  • Construction and Maintenance Devices
  • Obey Warning Signs and Barricades
  • Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 44

Chapter 6: Signaling, Passing, and Turning

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Signaling
  • Passing
  • Turning
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 48

Chapter 7: Parking, Stopping, or Standing

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Do Not Park, Stop, or Stand a Vehicle
  • Do Not Park or Stand a Vehicle
  • Do Not Park a Vehicle
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 51

Chapter 8: Speed and Speed Limits

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Speed
  • Speed Reduces Your Field of Vision
  • Speed Limits
  • Slow Down or Move Over
  • Street Racing
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 53

Chapter 9: Some Special Driving Situations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Headlights
  • Highway Driving
  • Controlling a Car in Special Situations
  • Utopia
  • Winter Driving
  • Roundabouts
  • Floods
  • Forces on Vehicles Crossing Streams
  • Share the Road with Motorcycles
  • Share the Road with Light Rail
  • Share the Road with Bicycles
  • Distracted driving
  • Texting While Driving
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 61

Chapter 10: Alcohol and Drug Impact on the Driving Ability

This chapter’s sections include:

  • The Number One Killer is Alcohol
  • Texas Tough Alcohol-Related Laws for Minors
  • Texas Alcohol-Related Laws for Adults
  • Know Your Legal Limit
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 65

Chapter 11: Motor Vehicle Crashes

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Crash Resulting in Injury to, or Death of a person
  • Crash Resulting in Damage to a Vehicle
  • Crash Involving an Unattended Vehicle
  • Crash Resulting in Damages to a Fixture, Landscaping, or Structure
  • Hit-and-Run Crashes
  • Aiding the Injured
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 67

Chapter 12: Pedestrian Safety

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Laws and Safety Tips for Pedestrians
  • Laws and Safety Tips for Motorists
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 14 · source p. 68

Chapter 13: Bicycle Laws and Safety

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Bicycle Traffic Laws
  • Don’ts
  • Shared Lane Marking
  • Bicycles Must Be Properly Equipped
  • Bicycle Safety Guidelines
  • Riding in Wet Weather
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 15 · source p. 70

Chapter 14: Additional Safety Tips

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Defensive Driving
  • Safety Belts
  • Vehicles with Open Beds
  • Belts
  • When Stopped by Law Enforcement
  • Road Rage
  • Neighborhood Electronic Vehicles and Motor Assisted Scooters
  • Your Keys to Safe Driving
  • Transporting Cargo and Materials
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Driving with Disability Program
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 16 · source p. 77

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 17 · source p. 83

Appendix B: Driver License Offices

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 18 · source p. 84

Appendix C: Study and Review Questions for Class C Operators

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Study and Review Questions for Class C Operators
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 19 · source p. 87

Appendix D: Fees

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 20 · source p. 89

Appendix E: Restriction Codes

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 2. Vacation and sick leave monthly accruals
  • 6. State issued vehicles for Law Enforcement positions
  • • K-9 and Motorcycle Unit organization
  • Driver License Division Careers
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The Texas course groups the source material into 12 units. Each lesson includes handbook page references, examples, and a checkpoint in the study app.

Unit 1 · 8 lessons

Your License to Drive

Permits, GDL, classes, exams, renewals, suspensions

  1. Learner license, VOE & hardship license
  2. GDL phases & provisional license
  3. License classes A, B, C and M
  4. Who may drive in Texas, ID cards & veterans
  5. Applying: documents, exams & the driving test
  6. Renewal, replacement & address changes
  7. Suspensions, revocations & cancellations
  8. Denials, driving while invalid & occupational licenses

Unit 2 · 4 lessons

Vehicle Requirements, Registration & Insurance

Equipment, inspection, registration, liability insurance

  1. Required equipment
  2. Prohibited equipment, optional equipment & the slow-moving vehicle emblem
  3. Inspection & registration
  4. Insurance & financial responsibility

Unit 3 · 5 lessons

Right-of-Way

Intersections, trains, emergency vehicles, school buses, pedestrians

  1. Right-of-way at intersections
  2. Railroad crossings
  3. Yielding to emergency vehicles
  4. School buses
  5. Pedestrians & crosswalk signals

Unit 4 · 8 lessons

Signals, Signs & Markings

Signals, sign colors and shapes, every sign table, markings, work zones

  1. Traffic signals
  2. Sign colors & shapes
  3. Warning signs I: signals, curves & road changes
  4. Warning signs II: intersections, surfaces & hazards
  5. Regulatory signs
  6. Guide signs & lane-use signals
  7. Railroad signs & pavement markings
  8. Work zones & construction devices

Unit 5 · 3 lessons

Signaling, Passing & Turning

Signals, passing rules, turning steps

  1. Signaling
  2. Passing
  3. Turning

Unit 6 · 4 lessons

Parking, Stopping & Standing

No-stop zones, distances, disabled parking, parallel and hill parking

  1. Where you can't stop, stand or park & leaving your car
  2. Parking distance rules
  3. Disabled parking
  4. Parallel parking, hills & leaving a space

Unit 7 · 3 lessons

Speed and Speed Limits

Following distance, stopping distance, limits, move over, racing

  1. Following distance, stopping distance & vision
  2. Speed limits
  3. Slow down or move over & street racing

Unit 8 · 8 lessons

Special Driving Situations

Highways, night, emergencies, weather, sharing the road, distraction

  1. Highway driving & highway hypnosis
  2. Headlights & night driving
  3. Breakdowns, skids & vehicle emergencies
  4. Winter driving, roundabouts & floods
  5. Sharing the road with trucks
  6. Sharing the road with motorcycles
  7. Sharing the road with bicycles & light rail
  8. Distracted driving & texting

Unit 9 · 5 lessons

Alcohol and Drugs

Effects, BAC, implied consent, zero tolerance, DWI penalties

  1. How alcohol and drugs affect driving
  2. BAC, legal limits & implied consent
  3. Zero tolerance & minors' non-driving alcohol offenses
  4. Minors: testing, DUI & DWI penalties
  5. Open container & adult DWI penalties

Unit 10 · 3 lessons

Motor Vehicle Crashes

Duties at the scene, reports, penalties, first aid

  1. Duties after a crash with injury or death
  2. Property-damage crashes & written reports
  3. Hit-and-run, aiding the injured & insurance terms

Unit 11 · 3 lessons

Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety

Pedestrian rules, bicycle laws, equipment

  1. Pedestrian laws & safety
  2. Bicycle traffic laws
  3. Bicycle equipment, shared lanes & safety

Unit 12 · 8 lessons

Additional Safety & Traffic Stops

Belts, open beds, traffic stops, road rage, cargo, glossary

  1. Safety belts, child seats & defensive driving
  2. Open beds, trailers & towed boats
  3. When stopped by law enforcement
  4. Road rage & aggressive driving
  5. Cargo, towing & carbon monoxide
  6. Low-speed vehicles, scooters & driving with a disability
  7. Key terms A to L
  8. Key terms M to Z