Get license without road test

HOUSTON - The state of Texas is making it faster for teens to get their driver's license and for Texans to get through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The Texas Department of Public Safety Monday will begin giving teens their driver's education road test without having to wait in line at the DMV. The first tests will be given at the DMV officers on Fry Road in Katy and on Fuqua in southeast Houston.

Testing will be given by an instructor who has been certified by DPS and should take less than 30 minutes.

Katie Gowing was one of the first to take part Monday morning in Katy.

"I really like it because I don't have to go sit in DPS at 8 a.m. and wait in line for somebody to be mean, " Gowing said.

Patrick Barrett owns and operates Driver Ed In A Box and is an approved instructor.

"This was designed, obviously, to eliminate the long wait lines and scheduling months in advance just to get a test, " Barrett said.

The new project is expected to expand to other locations.

Senate Bill 1705 from the last legislative session authorized the DPS to allow driver education schools to administer the driving skills test because of numerous complaints of long wait times and long lines at the driver license office.