What's happening
This bill requires a mandatory "Motorcycle Safety" awareness component in New York’s pre-licensing driver education course.
Why it matters
Increases awareness of motorcycle safety among all new drivers, not just motorcyclists. By making motorcycle safety education mandatory in the pre-licensing course for all driver’s license applicants, the bill aims to reduce accidents involving motorcycles by educating car drivers about the specific dangers motorcyclists face on the road.
Standardizes the content of driver education courses statewide. The bill requires the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to include a "Motorcycle Safety" component in the official curriculum and instructional handbooks, ensuring uniform information is taught across all driving schools and instructors.
May help reduce motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities. By educating new drivers on how to safely share the road with motorcycles and recognize their vulnerabilities, the bill targets one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents: lack of awareness or understanding by other motorists.
Requires additional training for instructors, potentially improving overall course quality. The law mandates that instructors receive extra preparation to competently teach the new motorcycle safety component, which may also raise the professionalism and effectiveness of driver education generally.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Motorcycle Safety Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by A7486A
- Amended on third reading 2119a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.696
- 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.
Require Motorcycle Safety Education
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Marcos Crespo
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2119--A Cal. No. 696
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, FUNKE, MARCHIONE, PHILLIPS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requirements for licensing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph (c-3) to read as follows:
(c-3) "Motorcycle Safety" awareness component. The commissioner shall provide in the pre-licensing course, set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision, a mandatory component in "Motorcycle Safety" awareness 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 potential dangers to persons operating motorcycles on the roadway.
§ 2. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a), and paragraphs (b) and (d) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 97 of the laws of 2016, paragraphs (b) and (d) as amended by chapter 585 of the laws of 2002, are amended 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", [or] "Work Zone Safety" awareness and "Motorcycle Safety" awareness as defined by the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07622-04-7
S. 2119--A 2
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 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 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 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 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.
(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 included in the course pursuant to paragraphs (c), (c-1) [and], (c-2) and (c-3) 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 [and], "Road Rage" aware-
S. 2119--A 3
ness [and], "Work Zone Safety" awareness and "Motorcycle Safety" awareness subject matters of the pre-licensing course.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law provided that, effective immediately, the commissioner of motor vehicles is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as he or she deems necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act on such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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 component 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
2015-2016: S.4892 Passed the Senate/A.6845 Referred to Transportation. 2013-2014: S. 5205 Passed the Senate / A. 9455 2012: S. 7136 - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, section three of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 97 of the laws of 2016, takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.