Establishes a motorcycle safety awareness component as a requirement for licensing

2 Co-sponsors

• Rich Funke
• Kathleen A. Marchione

BILL NUMBER:S4892

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requirements for licensing

Purpose

To require motorcycle safety and awareness be part of the mandatory pre-licensing course and testing required of new drivers, in order to educate such drivers as to the potential dangers to persons operating motorcycles on our roads.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 adds a new paragraph c-3 to subdivision 4 of § 502 of the vehicle and traffic law to add a motorcycle safety and awareness compo- nent to the mandatory five hour pre-licensing class required of all new drivers

Section 2 amends § 502 of the vehicle and traffic law to add motorcycle safety awareness questions to the written test required to be passed by new drivers in the state.

Section 3 provides the effective date.

Justification

Motorcycle crashes often occur because of the failure of other drivers' awareness of motorcycle traffic on the road. Including motorcycle safety and awareness as components of the pre-licensing education and testing of new drivers will help to prevent motorcycle crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by drivers who share the road with motorcycle traffic. In the past decade, over 10,000 motorcyclists have lost their lives in New York State. In 2012 alone, the DMV reported that 1082 people lost their lives due to motorcycle accidents. It is estimated that three motorcyclists die per day in New York State. For all of these reasons it is imperative that this bill is enacted.

Legislative history

2013-2014: S. 5205 - Passed Senate / A. 9455 2012: S. 7136 - Passed Senate

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.