Requires five hour pre-licensing course to include a motorcycle awareness and safety component, and the driver's license examination to include two questions concerning motorcycle awareness and safety.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2202
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
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:
1 Section 1. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of
2 section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 97 of
3 the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
4 (i) Upon submission of an application for a driver's license, the
5 applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence
6 of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the
7 laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicat-
8 ed, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", or "Work Zone Safe-
9 ty" awareness as defined by the commissioner, the law relating to exer-
10 cising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing
11 authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle pursuant to section elev-
12 en hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, the ability to read and compre-
13 hend traffic signs and symbols and such other matters as the commission-
14 er may prescribe, and to satisfactorily complete a course prescribed by
15 the commissioner of not less than four hours and not more than five
16 hours, consisting of classroom driver training, motorcycle safety and
17 awareness instruction and highway safety instruction or the equivalent
18 thereof. Such test shall include at least seven written questions
19 concerning the effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability
20 of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial
21 consequences resulting from violations of section eleven hundred nine-
22 ty-two of this chapter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle
23 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
1 one or more written questions concerning the devastating effects of
2 "Road Rage" on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and
3 the legal and financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threat-
4 ening or interfering with the lawful conduct of another person legally
5 using the roadway. Such test shall include one or more questions
6 concerning the potential dangers to persons and equipment resulting from
7 the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. Such test shall
8 include at least two written questions concerning motorcycle safety and
9 awareness and the potential dangers to motorcyclists resulting from the
10 unsafe behavior of a driver or operation of a motor vehicle sharing the
11 roadways with such motorcyclists. Such test may include one or more
12 questions concerning the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding
13 with a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or
14 hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this
15 chapter. Such test shall be administered by the commissioner. The
16 commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and a test
17 for color blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the application
18 may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
19 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
20 if chapter 97 of the laws of 2016 shall not have taken effect on or
21 before such date then section one of this act shall take effect on the
22 same date and in the same manner as such chapter of the laws of 2016,
23 takes effect.
