Impact Texas Drivers Program: ITTD, ITAD & ITYD Courses
The Impact Texas Drivers program, developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), aims to reduce accidents and save lives on the road. The program utilizes a free video to educate new drivers about the hazards of distracted driving. The program can be completed online through a computer or laptop, however, it is currently not mobile-compatible and trying to complete the course on a mobile phone may result in technical issues that will invalidate the course completion.
As per the Texas DPS, individuals who complete a driver's education course before applying for a driver's license in Texas, must view the Impact Texas Drivers video before taking their driving test. The program used to offer three variations: Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD), Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) and Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD), however, ITYD has been discontinued. The ITTD is designed for new drivers under the age of 18 and covers a wide range of topics including traffic laws, defensive driving techniques, and safe driving practices. The ITAD is specifically tailored for adult drivers between the ages of 18 and older, with a focus on the unique challenges and risks faced by this age group. It's important to note that individuals who are already 25 years old or older and who plan on not taking driver's education do not need to complete an ITD course, and thus can skip the ITD program.
Which Impact Texas Drivers Course Do I Take?
The version of Texas Impact Drivers that you are required to watch is determined by your age and the type of driver education course you have completed. The Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) is intended for:
- Teens between the ages of 15 and 17 who have completed a teen driver education course or a parent-taught driver education course
- Adults over 18 who have completed a teen driver education course.
The Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) is intended for:
- Adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who have completed a Texas adult driver education course
- Adults 25 and older who have completed an adult driver education course.
It's important to note that adults who are 25 years old or older and who did not participate in a driver's education program are not required to watch the ITD video.
Impact Texas Teen Driver (ITTD)
The Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) program is developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety with the objective of reducing accidents and saving lives on the road through education and awareness. The ITTD course is an 8-part video that illustrates the dangers of distracted driving, using hard facts and real-life stories of teens who have lost their lives as a result of this behavior. The theme throughout the video is "It is not about bad kids doing bad things, but about good kids making poor choices" when it comes to using cell phones and multitasking while driving. The video takes 2 hours to watch in total, but it does not have to be watched in one go. Since the video is divided into 8 parts, you can take breaks between the separate parts and your progress will be saved.
This program is intended for:
- Teens between the ages of 15 and 17 who have completed a teen driver education course or a parent-taught driver education course
- Adults over 18 who have completed a teen driver education course.
The course is based on a similar initiative by the California-based non-profit organization, Impact Teen Drivers. The program utilizes state-specific statistics, videos, and materials to engage teens in understanding the risks of reckless and distracted driving. It also includes the "GDL Made Simple" video, which serves as a reminder of the increased crash risk for teen drivers and the restrictions on passengers and other novice drivers in Texas.
Impact Texas Adult Driver (ITAD)
The Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) program is a version of the Impact Texas Driver (ITD) program developed specifically for adult driver’s license applicants, with the objective of preventing accidents and saving lives on the road through education and awareness. The ITAD course is shorter than the ITTD program, it is a 3-part video that illustrates the dangers of distracted driving through factual evidence, real-life stories of individuals who have lost their lives or been severely injured as a result of this behavior. It should be noted that the 3 parts of the video can be viewed independently, they do not have to be watched all at once, allowing flexibility for those who wish to break it up and watch it in multiple sessions. The entire video takes 60 minutes to watch.
The Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) program is designed for:
- Adult driver's license applicants aged 18 to 24 who have completed an adult driver education course
- Adult driver's license applicants who are 25 years old or older and have completed an adult driver education course.
Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD)
The Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD) course was previously offered as part of the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) program, developed by the Department of Public Safety with the goal of saving lives through awareness and education. However, it has been discontinued and is no longer available for completion. The ITYD course focused on educating young drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 about the dangers of distracted driving and safe driving practices. It consisted of a series of videos that used state-specific statistics and real-life stories to engage young drivers in understanding the risks associated with reckless and distracted driving.
Important: the ITYD course is no longer available, driver's license applicants between the ages of 18 and 24 should complete the Impact Texas Adult Drivers course instead.
When To Start The ITD course
The Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) or Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) courses should be completed just before the in-car driving test. The certificate of completion for the course should be presented at the time of the driving test appointment. It is recommended to not complete the course too early, as the certificate of completion for ITD courses is only valid for 90 days. It is important to wait until you have scheduled your driving test appointment and complete the course within 90 days of that date. The course is relatively short, and the certificate can be delivered electronically on the same day, so it can be completed just before your driving test appointment.
How To Register
The registration process for the ITTD, ITAD, and ITYD courses is straightforward and can be done online through the official DPS website.
To sign up for the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course, you will need the following:
- A valid email address
- The number of the Texas parent-taught drivers ed curriculum you utilized, or the TDLR number of the school you took your commercial drivers ed or Texas adult drivers education course with (located on your certificate of completion)
- The ADE/DE Control number. This is the number of your certificate of completion for drivers ed, usually located in the top-right corner of the certificate
Impact Texas Drivers Certificate
Upon completion of the ITTD, ITAD, or ITYD courses, you will receive the Impact Texas Drivers certificate. This certificate represents that you have successfully completed an ITD course.
Upon completion of the ITD course, a certificate of completion will be sent to the email address used to register for the course on the ITD website. You can also access your certificate at any time by logging into the ITD website, navigating to the "course overview" section and selecting the "reprint certificate" option. It is important to print a hard copy of the certificate and submit it to the driver license office or TPST School at the time of your driving test appointment. Please be aware that electronic copies of the certificate are not accepted by the DPS, a paper copy is required.
It's important to note that the certificate of completion for the ITD course is only valid for 90 days from the date of completion. This means that if you complete the course more than 90 days before your driving test appointment, the certificate will have expired by the time of your appointment, and you will have to retake the course. To avoid this, it is recommended to complete the course as close as possible to your driving test appointment. This way, you can ensure that the certificate is still valid and you can present it at the time of your appointment.
The Cost Of The ITD Course
The Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course is offered for free by the Texas Department of Public Safety. There is no cost associated with taking the course.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the impact Texas drivers course?
The length of the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course depends on the specific version of the course. The Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) course is an 8-part video that takes approximately 2 hours to watch. The Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) course is a 3-part video that takes about 60 minutes to watch.
How do I register an Impact Driver in Texas?
To register for an Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course, you can visit the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) website and follow the instructions for registration. You will need to provide a valid email address, your personal information, and information about the driver education course you have completed.
How do I get an Impact Driver's License certificate in Texas?
To obtain an Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) certificate in Texas, you must complete one of the ITD courses offered by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). These courses include the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) for new drivers under 18, and the Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) for adult drivers who have completed a driver education course. After completing the course, you will receive a certificate of completion via email, which you must print and submit a paper copy to the driver license office or TPST School at the time of your driving test appointment.
How long is the impact Texas drivers certificate good for?
The Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) certificate is valid for 90 days from the date of completion. This means that you must take your driving test within 90 days of completing the ITD course in order to use the certificate as proof of completion. It's important to check the expiration date of the certificate before your driving test, and retake the course if the certificate has expired.
Can I complete the ITD course on my phone?
The Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course is currently not mobile-compatible and attempting to complete the course on a mobile phone may result in technical issues that will invalidate course completion. The course is designed to be completed on a desktop computer or laptop. It is recommended to use a device with a larger screen and stable internet connection to ensure the best experience while taking the course.
Is the Impact Texas Drivers program the same as driver's education?
No, Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) and driver's education are not the same things. ITD is a separate program developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to improve the safety of Texas roads. It is a requirement for all individuals who complete a driver's education course before applying for a driver's license to watch the ITD video. Driver's education, on the other hand, is a program that teaches new drivers the rules of the road and how to drive safely. It is usually provided by licensed driving schools or by a parent or legal guardian in the case of parent-taught driver education. Both programs are important for ensuring that new drivers are properly prepared to safely operate a vehicle on public roads.
