Your Guide to Impact Texas Drivers Program

What is the Impact Texas Drivers Program?

The Impact Texas Drivers Program (ITDP) was created to reduce the number of automobile crashes in the state, specifically those caused by distracted driving. Distracted driving claimed 3,500 lives in 2021, so the program teaches drivers how to avoid bad habits that could lead to these types of crashes through informative videos. All Texas drivers must complete either the Impact Texas Teen Drivers course or the Impact Texas Adult Drivers course before taking the driving skills test.

Why Is the ITYD Program Important?

The ITYD program is a one-hour, three-module video that shares the stories of real Texans who've been impacted by distracted driving. It was developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) with the ultimate goal of saving lives. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, one-in-five of the state's car accidents - more than 109,000 in 2016 alone - are caused by distracted driving. The aim of the ITYD program is to reduce that number through education.

Is ITTD Required?

If you're under 18 and applying for your license, you will need to complete the course. The state began requiring new drivers to take it in September of 2015 and it must be completed in addition to a state-approved driver education course. You must finish the ITTD course no more than 90 days before you take your behind-the-wheel exam at the license office. If you wait too long to take your exam or if you complete the course too early, you'll have to watch the videos again. In fact, it's best to take the course within a few weeks of your exam appointment so that you have some leeway in the event that you need to take the exam more than once.

Who Needs to Complete the ITYD Program?

All Texas drivers who are applying for their first license, regardless of their age, are required to complete the ITD program in one of its formats. Here's a breakdown by age group:

• Drivers under 18 should complete the ITTD version of the program. 18 and 24 who took a teen drivers education course should also complete the ITTD version of the program.
• Drivers 18-24 who took an adult drivers education course should complete the ITYD version of the program.
• Currently, drivers over 25 should also complete the ITYD version of the program. The Texas DPS is in the process of developing a format of the program for adults, but it won't be released until 2018.

How To Sign Up for the ITYD Program

New drivers can register for the free ITYD program online. The entire video doesn't need to be watched in one sitting, but each individual module does need to be viewed in its entirety in order for your progress to be saved. Be sure to complete the ITYD program within 90 days of when you plan to get your license as your certificate of completion is only valid for that length of time.

What Comes Next?

After you've completed the ITYD program and any necessary drivers education requirements, the next step toward getting your license is scheduling an appointment at a DPS office. Along with documents verifying your identity, social security number, legal status and Texas residency, you'll also need to bring along a printed copy of your ITYD certificate of completion.

Once you've submitted your paperwork and passed your driving test, you'll be ready to hit the road equipped with an understanding of the dangers of distracted driving.

The Texas Department of Public Safety created the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) course to educate new drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. The free course is made up of eight video modules that cover the importance of focusing on the road. In total, ITTD takes two hours to complete and it discourages multitasking while driving by sharing true stories about teen drivers.

Teen VS. Adult IITTD Program

Impact Texas Teen Drivers

The Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) program is a two-hour, eight-module video series that tells teen drivers what could happen if they drive while distracted. It includes facts about distracted driving and real-life stories about teenage drivers who died from it.

Who Needs to Take the Impact Texas Teen Drivers Course?

There are two sets of teenage drivers who need to take the ITTD:

• Drivers 15-17 years old — The course is necessary for those required to finish an approved parent-taught or minor driver education course.
• Drivers 18-24 years old — The course is necessary for those required to finish an approved parent-taught, minor, or adult driver education course.

You should take the ITTD after you finish your 32 hours of driver's ed, which you can complete with DriversEd.com.

What Will I Learn in the Impact Texas Teen Drivers Course?

The theme of the ITTD course is “It is not about bad kids doing bad things, but about good kids making poor choices.” The intent is to show that most of these poor choices revolve around drivers using their cell phones behind the wheel, instead of paying attention to the road.

This eight-part video helps the to-be driver identify "what's lethal" through state-specific materials and statistics. It highlights the problems of reckless and distracted driving in teens and how to fix them. The video also explains the Graduated Driver's License and the restrictions it brings for new drivers.

Impact Texas Adult Drivers

The Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) program is a one-hour, three-module video series for new adult drivers that explains the dangers of distracted driving through real-life stories and statistics.

Who Needs to Take the Impact Texas Adult Drivers Course?

There are two groups of adult drivers who need to complete the ITAD:

Drivers 18-24 years old — These drivers must complete the course after meeting behind-the-wheel driver education requirements and before taking the driving skills test.

Drivers 25 years old and above — These drivers are not required to take a driver education course, but it is highly recommended.

The proper path to getting your license is to complete your 6 hours of adult driver's ed, complete the ITAD, and then take your skills test. You can take your adult driver's ed course entirely online.

What Will I Learn in the Impact Texas Adult Drivers Course?

The theme of the three-part ITAD video is "It is not about bad people doing bad things, but about good people making poor choices." The Department of Public Safety wants newer adult drivers to stop trying to multitask on their cell phones and pay attention to the road instead. You'll learn the definition of distracted driving, who it affects, and how to prevent both reckless and distracted driving.

How Do You Get Your Impact Texas Drivers Certificate as an Adult?

The first step in getting your Impact Texas Drivers certificate as an adult is to register for the Impact Texas Young Drivers online through the Impact Texas Drivers’ website. Since the ITAD program is still being developed, you will register for the ITYD program, even if you are 25 years old or older.

Once you are registered, you will gain access to the video. And once you have watched the video start to finish, you’ll be able to download and print your Impact Texas Drivers certificate.

Your printed certificate will be required when you arrive at the DPS to take your driving test. It’s also important to note that you must earn your Impact Texas Drivers Certificate within 90 days prior to taking your driving exam.

What Else Do I Need to Know About the Impact Texas Drivers Program?

These helpful tips may save you some time with the ITDP.

How Do I Take the Course?

Start by going to the ITDP website and picking which version of the program you need to enroll in. Create an account, and you can begin watching the videos. The video is only compatible with a desktop or laptop.

How Much Does The Course Cost?

FREE! The Department of Public Safety provides the course for free for all Texas drivers.

How Long Do I Have to Take the Course?

You can complete the course one module at a time. So you can watch the eight-part ITTD or three-part ITAD one module at a time at your convenience until you complete it.

Does the Completion Certificate Expire?

Both the ITTD and ITAD completion certificates expire 90 days after you finish the course. If you do not pass your driving skills course within 90 days, you must retake the appropriate impact course.