Football season means a lot of things to Texans. To the law enforcement agencies of Texas it means an increase in DUI related crashes and arrests. Football game day drinking and driving has become a serious problem across Texas and around the country. In an effort to combat this problem the Texas Department of Transporation (TxDOT) has rolled out the "Know When to Pass" campaign for the 2010 football season.

TxDOT’s campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers of game day drinking and driving and to encourage would be drunk drivers to pass their keys to a designated driver. The campaign encourages fans to enjoy their games while being responsible when it comes to driving home after a day of drinking and cheering for their teams.

According to study from the University of Texas, the heaviest days for alcohol consumption, in Texas, are football game days. A report released by the TxDOT in 2009 states that 45% of Texans who drink at a football party report driving home. 51% of the people who drank at football parties had 3 or more drinks. In 2009, 6% of DUI crashes in Texas occurred when a Texas team was playing football.

The TxDOT wants to remind football fans that the consequences of drinking and driving are real. Driving under the influence of alcohol is extremely risky. First and foremost, football fans are jeopardizing their wellbeing and the lives of their friends, family and everyone else on the road. Additionally, football fans who are convicted of DUI after the big game could face jail time, loss of their driver’s licenses, increased insurance rates, and much more.

Football fans should pick a designated driver and pass their keys to that person. If you are impaired and without a safe ride home – DO NOT DRIVE. Instead, call a cab, take public transportation, call a sober friend, or worst case scenario – stay where you are. But, do not become statistic, do not drive.

For more information on the TxDOT's "Know When to Pass Campaign" visit the facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/KnowWhenToPass

Labels: drink responsibly, driver safety, drunk driving, DUI, prevent drunk driving, texas laws

Try to picture Texas 25 years ago. See, Texas had a litter problem. The Texas Highway Commission then said they'd had enough, and did something about it: they launched the “Don't Mess With Texas” campaign (DMWT).

Though the slogan “Don't Mess With Texas” has been in use for almost 25 years, it remains very popular, and Texans take it very seriously.

“Don't Mess With Texas” is an extensive public education campaign that informs Texans the importance of not littering. Every two years, the DMWT research team gathers all the litter they could find, and conduct surveys from thousands of Texans to find out their littering behaviors. After this research, DMWT then comes up with strategies that are specifically tailored to address the problem of littering.

What they find every two years is: though roadside litter has lessened, half of Texans still admit to littering, and that if every litterer in Texas picks up just six pieces of trash every month, the highways would be clean.

What happens when you get caught littering in Texas:

Littering in Texas is against the law (like in some other states) and an offender may be fined up to $500. If an offender repeats the offense, the fines may go up to as high as $2000 and 180 days in jail.

The next time you are eating something with a wrapper, or smoking tobacco, while driving in Texas, think twice. Put the trash in your bag or purse and dispose of it when you come across a trash can. It's infinitely better than getting jail time for it. If you see a litterer and would like to report, there's a page in the DMWT site specifically for that: (http://dontmesswithtexas.org/report-a-litterer/)

Labels: dont' mess with texas, texas laws

A quick survey into Yahoo! Answers or any similar service would yield the same result: drivers over 18 are confused if they are automatically eligible to apply for a license or not. In the state of Texas, this has been remedied by a new law.

As of March 1, 2010, driver's license applicants between the age of 18 and 24 are required to complete an approved driver education course approved by the Texas Education Agency and a driving skills test in order to hold a license.

Senate Bill 1317 created this requirement and authorized the development of a six-hour adult driver education course to create more responsible drivers belonging to this age group.

It specifically states that a driver in between 18 and 24 must undergo a driver education course, and not the other supplemental driving courses available.
18 to 24 year old applicants who are able to present proof of their completion of the course are not required to take the written highway signs and traffic laws test but must still complete the driving skills exam.

So if an applicant falls into the age qualification of 18 and 24 is trying to apply for a license, the answer is clear: finish a T.E.A.-approved driver education course and successfully pass the driving skills exam.

Labels: driver education course, driver safety, driver safety course, drivers license, driving skills, tea, texas drivers license, texas education agency, texas laws

Distracted driving seems like an easy problem to solve when you hear it, but you wonder, why is it still such a persistent problem? In Texas, to remedy distracted driving, several laws have been approved to counter this.

Two new laws have been enacted: one that bans teens from using mobile phones and text messaging devices and the other one prohibiting the use of cellphones in school zones.

In Texas, here are the current list of prohibitions:

• Learner's permit holders and drivers under 18 are not allowed to use cell phones while driving. This includes stops.


• School bus operators are not allowed to use cell phones while driving.


• School crossing zones are "No Phone Zones."


• Dallas, Austin, Galveston, El Paso, Missouri City and Stephenville have all enacted these distracted driving laws with minor variations.

Fines for breaking the prohibitions may be from $200 to $500 or more.

In Missouri City, the first of June marked the start of the distracted driving ban. The city has even posted traffic signs that state, "No Texts, Emails or Apps While Driving." In El Paso, the ban has been in effect since the first of May. Though texting/cell phone use while driving is prohibited, hands-free devices are still allowed to use.

Galveston has started even earlier, with the ban being in effect since the fourteenth of January. Fines go up to $500.

As of yet, Texas lawmakers are still considering to give these laws an "O.K." for Houston.

Read about other Distracted Driving Campaigns or learn about Oprah's No Phone Zone campaign!

Labels: distracted driving, learners permit, texas laws, texting and driving