NY State Senate Bill S1452

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (16)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 21, 2016	referred to transportation delivered to assembly passed senate
Feb 29, 2016	advanced to third reading
Feb 25, 2016	2nd report cal.
Feb 24, 2016	1st report cal.203
Jan 06, 2016	referred to transportation returned to senate died in assembly
Jun 08, 2015	referred to transportation delivered to assembly passed senate
Jun 02, 2015	advanced to third reading
Jun 01, 2015	2nd report cal.
May 28, 2015	1st report cal.1019
Jan 12, 2015	referred to transportation

Votes

Co-Sponsors

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Assembly Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §502, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S8487
2011-2012: S3598
2013-2014: S2972, S6143
2017-2018: S4799

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Adds a bicycle and pedestrian safety component to the pre-licensing driver's education course.

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1452

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to adding a
bicycle and pedestrian safety component to the pre-licensing driver's
education course

PURPOSE:

Ensure that drivers receive instruction regarding situations that they
may face when sharing the road with cyclists, pedestrians and others
before they obtain their New York State driver's license.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of this bill amends Vehicle and Traffic Law section 502 by
amending subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a), paragraphs (b) and (d),
and adding a new paragraph (c-3). Section 502(4)(a)(i) is amended by
adding bicycle and pedestrian safety to the list of topics that shall
be included in the written examination given to applicants for a
driver's license. The amendments to paragraphs (b) and (d) make
changes to reflect the addition of bicycle and pedestrian safety to
the driver's license written examination. New paragraph (c-3)
prescribes topics that must be included in the bicycle and pedestrian
safety component of the pre-licensing course and which can be included

in the driver's license written examination.

Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on
the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.

EXISTING LAW:

Currently, the Vehicle and Traffic Law requires pre-licensing
education courses and the licensing examination to include various
laws and rules relating to operating a motor vehicle in New York.

JUSTIFICATION:

Vehicle and Traffic Law section 502 mandates that prospective drivers
take a pre-licensing course and a written examination prior to
obtaining a driver's license. While the pre-licensing course and
written examination are required to cover various subjects such as
road rage, driving while impaired and exercising due care to avoid
collisions are required to be included in such pre-licensing education
courses and the licensing examination, bicycle and pedestrian safety
are not required to be included in these courses or in the
examination.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of bicycles on the
road; some estimates put the number of riders at more than 200,000
daily. Additionally, the number automobile and pedestrian accidents
continues to increase. Because there are more bicyclists sharing the
roads, it is imperative that the regulations governing the licensing
of New York State drivers reflect this fact. This legislation would
specifically require the pre-licensing course to cover bicycle safety,


as well as other non-motorized vehicles, and ensure future motorists
are better able to share the road.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2014: S.6143-A - Passed the Senate
2013: S.2972 - Referred to Transportation
2012: S.3598-A - Referred to Transportation
2011: S.3958 - Referred to Transportation
2010: S.8487 - Referred to in Rules

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1452

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 12, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in  relation  to  adding  a
  bicycle  and pedestrian safety component to the pre-licensing driver's
  education course

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Subparagraph  (i) of paragraph (a) and paragraphs (b) and
(d) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of  the  vehicle  and  traffic  law,
subparagraph  (i) of paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 458 of the laws
of 2011 and paragraphs (b) and (d) as amended by chapter 585 of the laws
of 2002, are amended and a new paragraph  (c-3)  is  added  to  read  as
follows:
  (i)  Upon  submission  of  an  application for a driver's license, the
applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit  evidence
of  passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the
laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while  intoxicat-
ed, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", or "Work Zone Safe-
ty"  awareness as defined by the commissioner, the law relating to exer-
cising due care to avoid colliding with a parked,  stopped  or  standing
authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle pursuant to section elev-
en hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, the ability to read and compre-
hend  traffic signs and symbols, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, and such
other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and  to  satisfactorily
complete  a  course prescribed by the commissioner of not less than four
hours and not more than  five  hours,  consisting  of  classroom  driver
training  and highway safety instruction or the equivalent thereof. Such
test shall include at  least  seven  written  questions  concerning  the
effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability of a person to
operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial consequences result-
ing  from  violations of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this chap-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05915-01-5

S. 1452                             2

ter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influ-
ence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one  or  more  written
questions concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage" on the abil-
ity  of  a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial
consequences resulting from assaulting, threatening or interfering  with
the  lawful  conduct  of  another person legally using the roadway. Such
test shall include  one  or  more  questions  concerning  the  potential
dangers  to persons and equipment resulting from the unsafe operation of
a motor vehicle in a work zone. Such test may include one or more  ques-
tions concerning the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding with
a  parked,  stopped  or  standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard
vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter.
SUCH TEST SHALL INCLUDE ONE OR MORE  QUESTIONS  CONCERNING  BICYCLE  AND
PEDESTRIAN  SAFETY. Such test shall be administered by the commissioner.
The commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a vision test  and  a
test  for color blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the applica-
tion may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
  (b) Upon successful completion of the requirements set forth in  para-
graph  (a)  of  this subdivision which shall include an alcohol and drug
education component as described in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, a
"Road Rage" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-1) of  this
subdivision [and], a "Work Zone Safety" awareness component as described
in  paragraph  (c-2)  of this subdivision, AND A "BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY" COMPONENT AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (C-3) OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION,
the  commissioner  shall  cause  the  applicant to take a road test in a
representative vehicle of a type prescribed by  the  commissioner  which
shall  be  appropriate  to  the type of license for which application is
made, except that the commissioner may waive the road test  requirements
for certain classes of applicants. The commissioner shall have the power
to  establish  a  program  to  allow persons other than employees of the
department to conduct road tests in representative  vehicles  when  such
tests  are  required for applicants to obtain a class A, B or C license.
If she chooses to do so, she shall set forth her reasons in writing  and
conduct  a public hearing on the matter. She shall only establish such a
program after holding the public hearing.
  (C-3) "BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY" COMPONENT. (I) THE  COMMISSIONER
SHALL PROVIDE IN THE PRE-LICENSING COURSE, SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF
THIS SUBDIVISION, A MANDATORY COMPONENT IN "BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFE-
TY"  EDUCATION  AS  A  PREREQUISITE FOR OBTAINING A LICENSE TO OPERATE A
MOTOR VEHICLE. THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPONENT IS  TO  EDUCATE  PROSPECTIVE
LICENSEES  ON  THE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, IN-LINE
SKATERS, SCOOTER RIDERS, SKATEBOARDERS AND OTHER NON-MOTORIZED  VEHICLES
CREATED BY MOTOR VEHICLES.
  (II)  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL ESTABLISH A CURRICULUM FOR THE "BICYCLE
AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY" COMPONENT WHICH SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE  LIMITED
TO:   SAFELY PASSING A CYCLIST ON THE ROAD, SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHILE
DRIVING IN URBAN AREAS, BICYCLE LANES AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE  HUNDRED
TWO-A  OF  THIS  CHAPTER  AND OTHER ROADWAY DESIGNS EMPLOYED IN NEW YORK
STATE FOR THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS,  HOW  TO  NAVIGATE  AN
INTERSECTION  WITH  PEDESTRIANS  AND CYCLISTS, EXITING A VEHICLE WITHOUT
ENDANGERING PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS, THE REQUIREMENT THAT DRIVERS EXER-
CISE DUE CARE TO AVOID COLLISION WITH A BICYCLIST OR PEDESTRIAN  ON  THE
ROAD PURSUANT TO SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER.
  (III)  IN  DEVELOPING  SUCH CURRICULUM, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONSULT
WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION, THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTA-
TION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVOCATES.

S. 1452                             3

  (d) The commissioner shall make available for distribution upon regis-
tration at each location where the pre-licensing course will  be  given,
instructional  handbooks  outlining the content of the entire curriculum
of the pre-licensing course including the  information  required  to  be
included  in  the  course pursuant to paragraphs (c), (c-1) [and], (c-2)
AND (C-3) of this subdivision. The commissioner shall also  provide  for
the  additional  training of the instructors necessary for the competent
instruction of the alcohol and drug education [and], "Road Rage"  aware-
ness  [and],  "Work  Zone  Safety" awareness AND "BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY" subject matters of the pre-licensing course.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
have become a law.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S1452

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

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Votes

Mar 21, 2016 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 21, 2016

Feb 24, 2016 - Transportation committee Vote

Transportation Committee Vote: Feb 24, 2016

Jun 8, 2015 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 8, 2015

May 28, 2015 - Transportation committee Vote

Transportation Committee Vote: May 28, 2015

Co-Sponsors

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Details

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S1452

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Sponsored By

Martin J. Golden

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Mar 21, 2016 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 21, 2016

Feb 24, 2016 - Transportation committee Vote

Transportation Committee Vote: Feb 24, 2016

Jun 8, 2015 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 8, 2015

May 28, 2015 - Transportation committee Vote

Transportation Committee Vote: May 28, 2015

Co-Sponsors

Timothy M. Kennedy

Thomas F. O'Mara

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Details

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1452 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments