Texas Driver License: Alcohol, Drugs and Crashes

25 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Alcohol, Drugs and Crashes. Free, no account needed.

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1. A driver has had a couple of drinks. Which mental and physical abilities does alcohol impair first?

  1. Hearing and reaction time to sound
  2. Judgment and sight
  3. Muscle coordination and balance
  4. Memory and speech

Answer: B — Judgment and sight

Judgment and sight are named as the first abilities alcohol or drugs take away, before other effects follow.

2. A person taking a prescription tranquilizer decides to also have a few drinks, assuming the effects will simply add up in a predictable way. What actually happens?

  1. The two substances have completely separate effects that never interact
  2. The alcohol cancels out the tranquilizer, leaving the person unaffected
  3. The tranquilizer prevents the alcohol from being absorbed
  4. The alcohol escalates and masks the tranquilizer's effects, making the combination more dangerous

Answer: D — The alcohol escalates and masks the tranquilizer's effects, making the combination more dangerous

Alcohol both escalates and masks the effects of other drugs, especially tranquilizers and sedatives, making the mix more dangerous than either alone.

3. Someone argues that smoking a small, purely social amount of marijuana before driving is harmless. Is this accurate?

  1. No — even social doses impair concentration, judgment, and sensory and perceptual skills
  2. No — marijuana is only dangerous when combined with alcohol
  3. Yes — only heavy, repeated use affects driving ability
  4. Yes — marijuana affects reaction time but not judgment

Answer: A — No — even social doses impair concentration, judgment, and sensory and perceptual skills

Even social doses of marijuana impair the concentration, judgment, and sensory-perceptual skills that driving requires.

4. A driver who has been drinking has a large cup of coffee before heading home, believing it will sober them up. Will it work?

  1. No — caffeine actually raises blood alcohol concentration
  2. Yes — caffeine metabolizes alcohol faster than the liver alone
  3. Yes — caffeine directly lowers blood alcohol concentration
  4. No — caffeine can help a drowsy driver stay alert but cannot sober someone who is drunk

Answer: D — No — caffeine can help a drowsy driver stay alert but cannot sober someone who is drunk

Caffeine can counter drowsiness but does nothing to sober up someone who is intoxicated.

5. In 2018, about what share of all Texas crash deaths involved a driver under the influence of alcohol?

  1. About 10 percent
  2. About 50 percent
  3. About 26 percent
  4. About 7 percent

Answer: C — About 26 percent

Alcohol-impaired drivers were involved in about 26 percent of all Texas crash deaths; 7 percent refers specifically to fatal crashes involving a drinking driver under 21.

6. A 25-year-old driver has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.06 but is visibly unable to normally use their mental and physical faculties. Are they legally intoxicated?

  1. Yes, but only if a breath test later confirms 0.08
  2. Yes — loss of the normal use of mental or physical faculties counts as intoxication even below 0.08
  3. No — adults are only judged by BAC, never by behavior
  4. No — an adult must reach exactly 0.08, regardless of behavior

Answer: B — Yes — loss of the normal use of mental or physical faculties counts as intoxication even below 0.08

An adult is legally intoxicated either at 0.08 BAC or at any level causing loss of normal use of mental or physical faculties.

7. A driver pulls over and parks along a public road, engine off, with an open can of beer in the cup holder. Is this legal?

  1. No — it is illegal whether the vehicle is moving, stopped, or parked
  2. Yes — as long as the engine is off, an open container is allowed
  3. Yes — the law only applies while the vehicle is actually being driven
  4. No, but only because the driver is also over the legal BAC limit

Answer: A — No — it is illegal whether the vehicle is moving, stopped, or parked

An open container in the passenger area on a public highway is illegal regardless of whether the vehicle is moving, stopped, or parked.

8. A group who have been drinking debate the fastest way to sober up before driving — a cold shower, exercise, black coffee, or just waiting. Which actually works?

  1. Black coffee, which counteracts the depressant effect
  2. Waiting — only time sobers a person up, roughly one hour per drink
  3. A cold shower, which quickly lowers blood alcohol concentration
  4. Exercise, which burns off alcohol through sweat

Answer: B — Waiting — only time sobers a person up, roughly one hour per drink

Cold showers, coffee, and exercise are myths; only time, roughly an hour per drink, actually sobers someone up.

9. Which two drinks contain roughly the same amount of alcohol?

  1. A 12-ounce beer and a 5-ounce mixed drink with 3 ounces of liquor
  2. A 5-ounce glass of wine and a 1-ounce shot of liquor
  3. A 12-ounce beer and a 5-ounce glass of wine
  4. A 12-ounce beer and a 12-ounce glass of wine

Answer: C — A 12-ounce beer and a 5-ounce glass of wine

A 12-ounce beer, a 1.5-ounce mixed drink, and a 5-ounce glass of wine all hold about the same amount of alcohol.

10. A 17-year-old is stopped while driving, and a breath test shows a small but detectable amount of alcohol, well under 0.08. Can they be charged with an alcohol driving offense?

  1. No — minors are held to the same 0.08 threshold as adults
  2. Yes — driving with any detectable amount of alcohol is an offense for a minor, even below 0.08
  3. Yes, but only if the minor is also found with alcohol in the vehicle
  4. No — only minors caught buying or possessing alcohol can be charged, not for driving

Answer: B — Yes — driving with any detectable amount of alcohol is an offense for a minor, even below 0.08

A minor driving with any detectable amount of alcohol commits an offense even if their BAC is below the adult 0.08 threshold.

11. A minor is convicted for the first time of trying to buy alcohol. Besides a fine and community service, what happens to their driver's license?

  1. It is suspended for 60 days
  2. It is suspended for 180 days
  3. It is suspended for 30 days
  4. It is not affected, since this is not a driving offense

Answer: C — It is suspended for 30 days

A first non-driving alcohol offense by a minor carries a 30-day license suspension.

12. A minor is arrested for intoxicated driving and refuses to give a breath or blood specimen for the first time. What happens to their license?

  1. Suspended for 60 days
  2. Suspended for 90 days
  3. Suspended for 180 days
  4. Suspended for 2 years

Answer: C — Suspended for 180 days

A minor's first refusal to give a specimen results in a 180-day suspension; a second refusal raises it to 2 years.

13. A minor arrested for intoxicated driving provides a specimen showing alcohol below 0.08, for the first time. What license suspension applies?

  1. 60 days
  2. 180 days
  3. 30 days
  4. 120 days

Answer: A — 60 days

A minor's first specimen showing alcohol below 0.08 results in a 60-day suspension, rising to 120 and then 180 days for later offenses.

14. A 19-year-old is convicted for the third time of driving with a detectable amount of alcohol. What happens to their license, and is there any way to shorten the suspension?

  1. Suspension for 180 days, with no way to reduce it
  2. No suspension, since jail time replaces it
  3. Suspension for 60 days only
  4. Suspension for one year, or 90 days if the judge orders an ignition interlock

Answer: D — Suspension for one year, or 90 days if the judge orders an ignition interlock

A third DUI-by-minor conviction for someone 17 to 20 brings a one-year suspension, which a judge can reduce to 90 days by ordering an ignition interlock.

15. A minor is convicted of a first DWI (0.08 or more), and there was an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. What happens to the minimum jail time?

  1. It drops to three days
  2. It has no effect on jail time, only on the fine
  3. It is waived entirely
  4. It rises to six days

Answer: D — It rises to six days

An open container present during a minor's first DWI raises the minimum jail term to six days.

16. An adult driver is arrested for DWI and refuses to give a breath or blood specimen for the first time. What happens to their license?

  1. Suspended for 365 days
  2. Suspended for 90 days
  3. Suspended for 180 days
  4. Suspended for 730 days

Answer: C — Suspended for 180 days

An adult's first refusal to provide a specimen results in a 180-day suspension, rising to as much as 730 days for later refusals.

17. An adult is convicted of a first DWI. What fine and jail range apply?

  1. Up to $2,000 and 72 hours to 180 days in jail
  2. Up to $10,000 and 2 to 10 years in prison
  3. Up to $4,000 and 30 days to a year in jail
  4. Up to $2,000 and 30 days to 180 days in jail

Answer: A — Up to $2,000 and 72 hours to 180 days in jail

A first DWI carries a fine up to $2,000 and confinement of 72 hours to 180 days in jail.

18. A driver is convicted of DWI while a 10-year-old passenger was in the car. How does the confinement range compare to an ordinary first DWI?

  1. It becomes 2 to 10 years in prison, the same as intoxication assault
  2. It stays the same, 72 hours to 180 days
  3. It rises to 180 days to 2 years in state jail
  4. It drops to a maximum of 90 days since no one was hurt

Answer: C — It rises to 180 days to 2 years in state jail

DWI with a passenger under 15 carries a heavier confinement range of 180 days to 2 years in state jail.

19. A driver causes a fatal crash while intoxicated and is convicted of intoxication manslaughter. What prison term range applies?

  1. 180 days to 2 years
  2. 2 to 10 years
  3. 2 to 20 years
  4. 30 days to a year

Answer: C — 2 to 20 years

Intoxication manslaughter carries a prison term of 2 to 20 years, longer than intoxication assault's 2 to 10 years.

20. What are the most common causes of crashes in Texas?

  1. Speeding, failure to yield or stop, and driving under the influence
  2. Faulty traffic signals, potholes, and low visibility
  3. Distracted driving, poor weather, and mechanical failure
  4. Tailgating, fatigue, and unsafe lane changes

Answer: A — Speeding, failure to yield or stop, and driving under the influence

Most crashes stem from speeding, failure to yield or stop, and driving under the influence.

21. A driver is in a minor crash — no injuries, no officer responds, and total property damage is under $1,000. Is there still a reporting requirement?

  1. Yes — a written report must be filed with TxDOT on its form within 10 days
  2. Yes — but only if a passenger requests it
  3. Yes — the report must be filed within 30 days
  4. No — a crash under $1,000 with no injury never needs to be reported

Answer: A — Yes — a written report must be filed with TxDOT on its form within 10 days

Even a low-damage, uninvestigated crash requires a written TxDOT report within 10 days.

22. In which of these situations must a driver call law enforcement to the scene of a crash?

  1. When the crash happens on a private driveway with no other cars involved
  2. When another driver involved leaves the scene
  3. When the total damage is under $200
  4. When both vehicles can be driven away safely

Answer: B — When another driver involved leaves the scene

Law enforcement must be called when there is injury or death, vehicles can't be moved, a driver leaves the scene, or intoxication is suspected.

23. After a crash that injures another driver, what must the at-fault driver do before leaving, besides showing their license on request?

  1. Give their liability insurer and policy number only, and file a written report with TxDOT within 10 days
  2. Give their name, address and registration number, then move both vehicles to the nearest frontage road
  3. Give their name and address, then move the injured person off the road to wait for help
  4. Give their name, address, vehicle registration number and liability insurer, and give reasonable assistance such as arranging transport to a hospital

Answer: D — Give their name, address, vehicle registration number and liability insurer, and give reasonable assistance such as arranging transport to a hospital

A driver must give identifying and insurance information to the injured party and render reasonable assistance, such as arranging transport to a hospital.

24. A driver causes a crash that results in another person's death and then leaves the scene without stopping. How is this treated?

  1. A Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to $4,000 and a year in jail
  2. A second-degree felony, punishable by up to $10,000 and 2 to 20 years
  3. A third-degree felony, punishable by up to $10,000 and 2 to 10 years
  4. A Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to $2,000 and 180 days

Answer: B — A second-degree felony, punishable by up to $10,000 and 2 to 20 years

Failing to stop after a crash causing death is a second-degree felony carrying up to $10,000 and 2 to 20 years, harsher than the third-degree felony for serious bodily injury.

25. At the scene of a crash, a bystander finds an injured person bleeding heavily and is unsure whether to move them. What is the recommended action?

  1. Wait for the bleeding to stop on its own before doing anything else
  2. Elevate and move the victim to the side of the road immediately, regardless of injury
  3. Move the victim to a more comfortable position right away to prevent shock
  4. Avoid moving the victim unless absolutely necessary, and stop the bleeding with clean, thick cloth pads and pressure

Answer: D — Avoid moving the victim unless absolutely necessary, and stop the bleeding with clean, thick cloth pads and pressure

Victims should not be moved unless absolutely necessary, and serious bleeding should be stopped with clean, thick cloth pads and pressure.

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