S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2202
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 12, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  PARKER, AVELLA -- 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  requiring
   that  the  five  hour pre-licensing course include a motorcycle safety
   and awareness component, and that  the  driver's  license  examination
   include two questions concerning motorcycle safety and awareness
 
   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)  of  subdivision  4  of
 section  502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 97 of
 the laws of 2016, is amended 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 and such other matters as the commission-
 er 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,  MOTORCYCLE  SAFETY  AND
 AWARENESS  INSTRUCTION  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 resulting from violations of section eleven  hundred  nine-
 ty-two  of  this  chapter,  prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle
 while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test  shall  include
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD02051-01-7

 S. 2202                             2
 
 one  or  more  written  questions  concerning the devastating effects of
 "Road Rage" on the ability of a person to operate a  motor  vehicle  and
 the  legal and financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threat-
 ening  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 SHALL
 INCLUDE  AT LEAST TWO WRITTEN QUESTIONS CONCERNING MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND
 AWARENESS AND THE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO MOTORCYCLISTS RESULTING FROM  THE
 UNSAFE  BEHAVIOR OF A DRIVER OR OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SHARING THE
 ROADWAYS WITH SUCH MOTORCYCLISTS. Such test  may  include  one  or  more
 questions  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  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  application
 may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
   §  2.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
 if chapter 97 of the laws of 2016 shall not  have  taken  effect  on  or
 before  such  date then section one of this act shall take effect on the
 same date and in the same manner as such chapter of the  laws  of  2016,
 takes effect.