S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
605--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 9, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to adding a
"School Bus Safety" awareness 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, as
amended by chapter 355 of the laws of 2017, are amended and a new para-
graph (c-4) 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", "Work Zone Safety"
awareness and "Motorcycle Safety" awareness as defined by the commis-
sioner, "SCHOOL BUS SAFETY" AWARENESS, the law relating to exercising
due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing author-
ized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven
hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, the ability to read and comprehend
traffic signs and symbols 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 writ-
ten 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04788-06-9
A. 605--A 2
hundred ninety-two of this chapter, prohibiting the operation of a motor
vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall
include 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 may
include one or more questions concerning motorcycle safety. Such test
may include one or more questions concerning the law for exercising due
care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing vehicle
pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter. SUCH
TEST MAY INCLUDE ONE OR MORE QUESTIONS CONCERNING SCHOOL BUS 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 application 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 "Motorcycle Safety" aware-
ness component as described in paragraph (c-3) of this subdivision, AND
A "SCHOOL BUS SAFETY" AWARENESS COMPONENT AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH
(C-4) 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-4) "SCHOOL BUS SAFETY" AWARENESS COMPONENT. (I) THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL PROVIDE IN THE PRE-LICENSING COURSE, SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF
THIS SUBDIVISION, A MANDATORY COMPONENT IN "SCHOOL BUS SAFETY" AWARENESS
EDUCATION AS A PREREQUISITE FOR OBTAINING A LICENSE TO OPERATE A MOTOR
VEHICLE. THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPONENT IS TO EDUCATE PROSPECTIVE LICEN-
SEES ON THE DANGERS OF PASSING A SCHOOL BUS IN VIOLATION OF SECTION
ELEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
SUCH INCIDENTS, AND TO PROMOTE SCHOOL BUS SAFETY.
(II) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A CURRICULUM FOR THE "SCHOOL BUS
SAFETY" AWARENESS COMPONENT WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMIT-
ED TO, AN OVERVIEW OF TRAFFIC LAWS GOVERNING OVERTAKING AND PASSING
SCHOOL BUSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED SEVEN-
TY-ONE AND SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER.
(III) IN DEVELOPING SUCH CURRICULUM, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONSULT
WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION.
(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
A. 605--A 3
included in the course pursuant to paragraphs (c), (c-1), (c-2) [and],
(c-3) AND (C-4) of this subdivision. The commissioner shall also provide
for the additional training of the instructors necessary for the compe-
tent instruction of the alcohol and drug education, "Road Rage" aware-
ness, "Work Zone Safety" awareness [and], "Motorcycle Safety" awareness
AND "SCHOOL BUS SAFETY" AWARENESS subject matters of the pre-licensing
course.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.