What's happening
This bill adds a mandatory school bus safety education component to the pre-licensing driver's education course in New York.
Why it matters
Directly addresses a critical safety issue. By mandating school bus safety education, the bill aims to reduce dangerous and illegal passing of school buses, which is a leading cause of injury and death for children traveling to and from school.
Standardizes knowledge for all new drivers. The requirement ensures every new driver is educated on specific laws (like Section 1174 regarding overtaking and passing school buses), closing knowledge gaps that may have previously led to unintentional violations.
Updates curriculum and instructor training. Not only must driving schools update their pre-licensing courses to include this new component, but instructors will also receive specialized training, helping ensure the material is taught effectively and consistently statewide.
Reflects collaboration between agencies. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to work with the Department of Transportation when developing the new curriculum, potentially leading to a more comprehensive and practical approach to school bus safety education.
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Add School Bus Safety Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 7
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Amended on third reading 5974a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.211
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
Show 4 earlier actions
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1732
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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 Linda Rosenthal
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5974--A Cal. No. 211
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 9, 2017
Introduced by Sens. PHILLIPS, RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a 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 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11294-02-8
S. 5974--A 2
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 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,
S. 5974--A 3
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), (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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose
To ensure that drivers have greater awareness of the law prohibiting overtaking and passing a stopped school bus by including a school bus safety component in the drivers education curriculum and at least one question on school bus safety in the pre-licensing written exam.
Summary of provisions
Section one provides for the inclusion of at least one question of the pre-licensing written examination and the inclusion of a school bus safety component in drivers education curriculum.
Section two provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Passing a stopped school bus is a serious violation of the vehicle and traffic law, it places the most vulnerable members of society, our chil- dren, in grave danger. This legislation is aimed at better informing the public as to the dangers of passing a stopped school bus. Protecting our children as they travel to and from school should be just as high a priority as protecting them while at school. By ensuring that drivers are taught from the very beginning the dangers and illegality of passing a stopped school bus we are empowering drivers to make safer decisions while on the road.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None
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.