S2113-2013 Actions

• Jan 11, 2013: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

S2113-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2113

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:

Section 1 adds a new paragraph c-3 to subdivision 4 of section 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 also amends section 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.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  S7138 of 2012 - passed Senate

FISCAL IMPACT:  None. The pre-licensing course and written test are
already in place.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.

S2113-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    2113

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                              January 11, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
    printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

  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  ASSEM-
  BLY, 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 LICEN-
  SEES ON THE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO PERSONS OPERATING  MOTORCYCLES  ON  THE
  ROADWAY.
    S 2. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 502
  of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 458 of the laws of
  2011, is 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  intoxicat-
  ed,  under  the  overpowering  influence of "Road Rage", [or] "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
  and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to  satis-
  factorily  complete  a course prescribed by the commissioner of not less
  than four hours and not more than five hours,  consisting  of  classroom

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD06543-01-3

 S. 2113                             2

  driver  training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent there-
  of. 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 conse-
  quences 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  inter-
  fering with the lawful conduct of another person legally using the road-
  way. Such test shall include one or more questions concerning the poten-
  tial  dangers  to  persons  and  equipment  resulting  from  the  unsafe
  operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. SUCH TEST SHALL INCLUDE ONE
  OR MORE QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO PERSONS  OPERATING
  MOTORCYCLES  ON  THE  ROAD.  Such test may include one or more questions
  concerning the law for exercising due care to  avoid  colliding  with  a
  parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehi-
  cle  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.
    S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.