What's happening
This bill requires a "School Bus Safety" awareness component in the pre-licensing driver's education course for all new drivers.
Why it matters
Directly addresses a major safety risk. By educating all new drivers about the dangers and legal consequences of illegally passing stopped school buses, the bill aims to tackle a leading cause of injuries and fatalities among school-age children traveling to and from school.
Standardizes safety knowledge statewide. The requirement for a formal curriculum ensures that every new driver in New York receives consistent, up-to-date information about school bus safety laws, rather than relying on informal or incomplete knowledge.
Promotes inter-agency expertise. Mandating that the Department of Motor Vehicles consult with the Department of Transportation in developing the curriculum leverages specialized knowledge and best practices, enhancing the program's effectiveness.
Supports long-term culture change. By incorporating this awareness into the earliest stage of driver education, the bill seeks to instill lifelong habits and attitudes regarding the importance of school bus safety, potentially leading to lasting reductions in dangerous driving behaviors around school buses.
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Add School Bus Safety Education
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 7
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Signed chap.513
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.375
- Substituted for A605A
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading (t) 2960b
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
Show 15 earlier actions
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading 2960a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.407
- 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
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2960--B Cal. No. 407
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 31, 2019
Introduced by Sens. KAPLAN, KENNEDY -- 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… Show allHide
Introduced by Sens. KAPLAN, KENNEDY -- 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 -- repassed 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 adding a "School Bus Safety" awareness 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, "School Bus Safety" awareness, 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,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04788-07-9
S. 2960--B 2
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 may 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" awareness 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" awareness 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" 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 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" awareness component which shall include, but shall not be limited to, an overview of traffic laws governing overtaking and passing school buses, including but not limited to section eleven hundred seventy-one and section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter.
S. 2960--B 3
(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 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" awareness subject matters of the pre-licensing course.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective 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 adding a "School Bus Safety" awareness 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 making avail- able 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 making available 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
S. 5974A Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 180th day.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.