Texas Driver Handbook 2017

Chapter 9: Some Special Driving Situations 

Texas Driver Handbook

3.  A motorist pulls away from a stop sign and fails to yield the right-of-way to bicycle cross traffic. At intersections, the right-of-

way rules apply equally to motor vehicles and bicycles.

Wrong way 

(do not cut across the 

path of a bicycle)

         

Turning right,

merge right!

Image source: Some images in this chapter are courtesy of The MUTCD, 2009 Edition, published by FHWA at mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/pdf_index.htm

Distracted driving

Whenever you are driving a vehicle and your attention is not on the road, you’re putting yourself, your passengers, other vehicles, 

and pedestrians in danger. Distracted driving can result when you perform any activity that may shift your full attention from the 

driving task. Taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel presents obvious driving risks. Mental activities that take 

your mind away from driving are just as dangerous. Your eyes can gaze at objects in the driving scene but fail to see them because 

your attention is distracted elsewhere.

Activities that can distract your attention include: texting, talking to passengers, adjusting the radio, CD player or climate controls; 

eating, drinking or smoking; reading maps or other literature; picking up something that fell; reading billboards and other road 

advertisements; watching other people and vehicles including aggressive drivers; talking and/or texting on a cell phone or CB radio; 

using telematics devices (such as navigation systems, pagers, etc.); daydreaming or being occupied with other mental distractions.

If drivers react a half-second slower because of distractions, crashes double. Some tips to follow so you won’t become distracted:

•  Review and be totally familiar with all safety and usage features on any in-vehicle electronics, including your wireless device 

or cell phone, before you drive.

•  Pre-program radio stations.

•  Pre-load you favorite CDs or cassette tapes.

•  Clear the vehicle of any unnecessary objects.

•  Review maps and plan your route before you begin driving.

•  Adjust all mirrors for best all-round visibility before you start your trip.

•  Do not attempt to read, text, or write while you drive.

•  Avoid smoking, eating and drinking while you drive.

•  Don’t engage in complex or emotionally intense conversations with other occupants.

You need to be able to recognize other drivers who are engaged in any form of driving distraction. Not recognizing other distracted 

drivers can prevent you from perceiving or reacting correctly in time to prevent a crash. Watch for:

•  Vehicles that may drift over the lane divider lines or within their own lane.

•  Vehicles traveling at inconsistent speeds.

•  Drivers who are preoccupied with maps, food, cigarettes, cell phones, or other objects.

•  Drivers who appear to be involved in conversations with their passengers.

Give a distracted driver plenty of room and maintain your safe following distance.

Be very careful when passing a driver who seems to be distracted. The other driver may not be aware of your presence, and they 

may drift in front of you. 

Texting While Driving

It is against the law to read, write, or send messages on a cell phone or other portable wireless device. If your cell phone rings, do 

not answer the call or respond to the text message. Convictions for violations of this law are subject to fines. 

You may use a cell phone to contact law enforcement, or during an emergency. If you must make a call, pull safely off the road and 

make the call. Try to keep the conversation short, or have a passenger make the call for you, if possible. 

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Chapter 10: Alcohol and Drugs Impact on the Driving Ability 

Texas Driver Handbook

Chapter 10: Alcohol and Drug Impact on the Driving Ability

Any drug may affect a person’s ability to drive. Millions of people take over the counter and prescription medications, illegal drugs, 

or drink alcohol and do not realize they may affect the mental and physical (psychomotor) skills necessary to operate a vehicle and/

or react to external events while driving a vehicle.

Each individual is different. Driving skills of persons taking the same drug may be affected differently. A driver’s body weight, 

emotional state, amount of drug taken, and when the drug was taken will influence the driver’s ability to assess an emergency situ-

ation or judge speed and distance. Safe driving always requires an observant eye, a steady hand, and a clear head.

When a person drinks alcohol or uses drugs, one of the first affects is they lose their judgement and their sight is impaired, causing 

slower reactions to sounds and the inability to judge another vehicle’s speed. A person’s ability to reason can all but disappear. Good 

judgment may be as simple as saying no to a friend who wants to race their car. However, if a person has been drinking alcohol or 

they are under the influence of drugs, their judgment may turn into, “Sure, take my car.” 

Taking more than one drug at the same time is even more dangerous since drugs may have a different overall cumulative effect, 

especially when alcohol is involved. Besides escalating the overall effects of the other drugs, alcohol can also mask the effects of 

those drugs, increasing a person’s risk of poor decision making and/or slowing responsive reactions to situations. You should always 

check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking more than one type of drug or mixing drugs, especially tranquilizers or sedatives. 

Table 27: Alcohol and Other Types of Drugs

Type

Description

Marijuana

Research shows even typical social doses of marijuana can affect concentration, judgment, and sensory and 

perceptual skills needed for careful driving. People who are under marijuana influence have impaired sensory and 

perceptual abilities.

Stimulants

Heavy amphetamine use may keep drivers awake and active for long periods of time. It also makes them less 

coordinated, edgy, and is more likely to be involved in a car crash. Research shows typical social amounts of 

cocaine can produce lapses in attention and concentration. While caffeine can help drowsy drivers stay alert, it 

can’t make a drunk driver sober. Studies show ordinary amounts of caffeine don’t improve a drunk driver’s ability 

to operate a vehicle.

Tranquilizers / 

Sedative-Hypnotics

Tranquilizers/Sedative-hypnotic drugs, including barbituates, are powerful depressants, which calm people down 

or help them sleep. Tired or over-sedated drivers are not good drivers.

Over-the-counter drugs

Many over-the-counter drugs cause drowsiness in some people which can affect their driving. Read the labels and 

be careful with antihistamines, other cold preparations, or any medicine that relaxes or promotes sleep.

Any drug

Any drug might affect your ability as a driver. If you take more than one drug or if you mix drugs, especially 

tranquilizers or other sedative-hypnotics with alcohol, you could be asking for trouble on the road and off. If you 

have doubts about a drug or drug mix, check with a doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol

Each year alcohol, a depressant drug affecting coordination, judgment, perception, and emotional state, is 

responsible for a significant number of highway deaths. Alcohol increases the depressant effects of tranquilizers 

and barbiturates. Mixing these drugs, on or off the road, can be hazardous.

The Number One Killer is Alcohol

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a problem affecting all Texans. According to the Calendar Year 2014 Texas Motor Vehicle 

Traffic Crash Highlights (Texas Department of Transportation), 1041 persons were killed in a motor vehicle traffic crash with a 

driver under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol related crashes represent 29% of the total number of persons killed in motor vehicle 

traffic crashes.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading cause of death for U. S. teens is motor vehicle crashes. In 

2011, approximately 2650 teens (aged 16-19) were killed and almost 292,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries 

suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. That means seven teens aged 16-19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. 

In 2013, Texas had the highest number of alcohol impaired driving fatalities in the United States, and 17% of drivers aged 16 to 20 

involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Not all teens involved in fatal crashes were 

drinking. Some were passengers or innocent victims of people who drink and drive. Maybe one of those injured or killed was a 

family member or your best friend. It could have been you.

To make Texas safer, the Texas legislature enacted laws to deter people from drinking and driving by penalizing those who choose 

to drink and drive. In Texas, a person is considered legally intoxicated if the person has a BAC of 0.08 or more. Driving While 

Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests can be a humiliating experience and are costly. Some fines range 

as high as $10,000 not including the cost of a bail bondsman, attorney, or other court-required expenses. Is it worth the risk?

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