Opinion: It’s Time for a Multi-Level Driver’s License System in Texas

OPINION – For more than 20 years, Texas has endured a grim statistic: every single day, at least one person has died on our roadways. Despite efforts to improve traffic safety, the streak continues, and the number of fatalities remains alarming. Isn’t it time we rethink how we license drivers in this state?

The reality is this: Texas has lost at least one person every day on Texas roads since Nov. 7, 2000. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) should explore a system that could be the bold shift we need. The suggestion is a multi-level driver’s license system, which would categorize drivers based on their experience and driving record. At first glance, it may seem like just another layer of bureaucracy, but in reality, it could be the key to making our roads significantly safer.

Here’s the idea: New drivers would start at the Beginning Driver level, learning the ropes while gaining experience. After two years of accident-free driving and passing both a driving and written test, they’d graduate to the Novice Driver level. Then, after four years of safe driving, they could advance to the Journeyman level. The ultimate goal? The coveted Lonestar License, reserved for drivers over 30 with no crashes or violations, who prove their skills every four years by passing a driving test.

Each level would reward drivers for their experience and competence, and those who maintain spotless driving records would be incentivized with lower insurance rates. On the flip side, reckless drivers would face more scrutiny — if you’ve had an accident or ticket, you’d have to pass a driving test before renewing your license.

This proposal is more than just an effort to categorize drivers. It’s a cultural shift that demands responsibility on our roads. In a state where more than 3,600 people died in crashes in 2022 alone, shouldn’t we hold drivers to a higher standard? By ensuring that people with the most experience and safest records get the highest-tier licenses, we’ll gradually reduce the number of inexperienced or careless drivers behind the wheel.

Consider this: the current system treats all drivers essentially the same. Once you get your license, it’s valid for years, regardless of how you drive. But we don’t all have the same skills or habits. Someone with 10 years of flawless driving shouldn’t be treated the same as someone with a year of reckless behavior, or even worse, multiple accidents. This tiered system encourages improvement and creates an environment where drivers are constantly striving to be safer and more competent.

There’s also another piece to this: The proposal includes transferring driver licensing duties from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to TxDOT itself. That makes sense. TxDOT is already in charge of our roads and focused on traffic safety, while DPS has its hands full with law enforcement responsibilities. Shifting licensing to TxDOT could make the process more efficient and safety-focused.

Opponents might argue this is unnecessary government overreach, or that it will complicate the licensing process. But is safety ever too much to ask for? With road deaths occurring every day, we need to take bold steps. The system we have now isn’t working. A multi-level licensing system could change that.

Imagine a Texas where every driver on the road has demonstrated not just their ability to pass a test, but their ongoing commitment to being a safe, responsible driver. Imagine a state where fewer families are grieving over lost loved ones due to traffic fatalities. That’s the future this proposal promises.

Yes, it’s time for Texas to adopt a multi-level driver’s license system. It’s time to end the streak.