What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to promulgate rules and regulations requiring school buses to be equipped with back up beepers
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Darryl Towns
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring school buses to be equipped with back up beepers
Purpose
To ensure the safety of students getting on or off school buses by alerting them when the bus is backing up.
Summary of provisions
Subdivision 21-d of section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended to require the installation and use of back up beepers on school buses.
Existing law
Section 375 (21-d) of vehicle & traffic law requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to promulgate rules and regulations for the use on school buses of audible back up beepers, which are devices attached to a vehicle for the purpose of alerting pedestrians when the vehicle is backing up. Section 56.2 of Title 15 of NYS Code of Rules and Regulations permits the use of such devices but does not require school bus owners to install these devices.
Justification
According to statistics compiled by the US Dept. of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average of 41 school-age children die in school bus related accidents each year. In New York, the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee reported that eight people died and 1,509 were injured in 925 accidents as of 1996. The greatest hazard to children are posed when the children get on and off the bus. New York requires that school buses have wide angle exterior mirrors, which enhances a child's safety by allowing the driver to see a child who may be immediately alongside the bus. However, requiring audible back up devices would also help reduce accidents involving school buses and children especially when they are getting on or off the bus. This device could have saved the life of six year old Emory Grant, from Brooklyn, who was killed by a school bus that he was unaware was backing up.
Legislative history
S.1900 of 2007 01/29/07 Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
Unknown at present time.
Effective date
"This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.