The Texas Department of Public Safety announced that a new one-hour video course about the dangers of distracted driving will soon become required viewing for drivers preparing to take the driving skills exam.

Beginning Sept. 1, all driving skills examination applicants 18 and older must complete the free Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD) video course and obtain proof of course completion before taking the examination. In addition, drivers 18-24 years old must complete a six-hour adult driver education course prior to the skills exam.

ITYD is the second course offered through the Impact Texas Driver program, which the Department of Public Safety developed in 2015 to combat distracted driving. The first course launched under the program was Impact Texas Teen Drivers, which drivers ages 16 and 17 must complete.

“Driving is one of the most dangerous things we do on a daily basis, and it should command our undivided attention,” said Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. “This new component of the department’s distracted driving initiative uses research and compelling true stories to highlight the many risks facing drivers. This important program is designed to provide Texas drivers with critical information to help keep their focus on driving — and to ultimately save lives on Texas roadways.”

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