What's happening
This bill requires a school bus safety component to be added to New York's pre-licensing driver's education course and test.
Why it matters
Targets a Major Safety Issue. By requiring all new drivers to receive specific education on school bus safety—including the risks and penalties associated with illegally passing school buses—the bill aims to directly address a common and dangerous cause of child injuries and fatalities on New York roads.
Standardizes Essential Knowledge. The bill mandates the inclusion of a dedicated school bus safety curriculum and related test questions in every pre-licensing course, ensuring all drivers have a minimum, consistent understanding of the laws and responsibilities around school buses.
Raises Awareness & Accountability. By highlighting the dangers of passing stopped school buses and requiring this subject to be taught and tested, the legislation seeks to shift driver attitudes and behaviors, potentially leading to fewer violations and safer environments for schoolchildren.
Requires Effective Implementation. The law calls for updated training and handbooks for instructors, coordination between the Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Transportation, and the creation of a curriculum—all of which ensure that the requirement is not just symbolic but results in real, actionable education.
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
Add School Bus Safety Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 8565a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- 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.
Add School Bus Safety Training
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Elaine Phillips
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8565--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation -- recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- 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 component to the pre-licensing driver's education course
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, 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 paragraph (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 intoxicated, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", "Work Zone Safety" awareness and "Motorcycle Safety" awareness as defined by the commissioner, the law relating to 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, the ability to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols, school bus safety 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 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11294-03-8
A. 8565--A 2
consequences resulting from violations of section eleven 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, threatening 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 shall 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 paragraph (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" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-3) of this subdivision, and a "school bus safety" 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" 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" education as a prerequisite for obtaining a license to operate a motor vehicle. The purpose of the component is to educate prospective licensees 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" component which shall include, but shall not be limited to, an overview of traffic laws governing overtaking and passing school buses, specifically 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 registration 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. 8565--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 competent instruction of the alcohol and drug education, "Road Rage" awareness, "Work Zone Safety" awareness [and], "Motorcycle Safety" awareness and "school bus safety" subject matters of the pre-licensing course.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 355 of the laws of 2017, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.