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

                                  1184

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             January 5, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens. PARKER, MAZIARZ -- 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  requiring
  that  the  five  hour pre-licensing course include a motorcycle safety
  and awareness component, and that  the  driver's  license  examination
  include two questions concerning motorcycle safety and awareness

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Subparagraph (i) of  paragraph  (a)  of  subdivision  4  of
section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 387 of
the laws of 2010, 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 Safe-
ty"  awareness as defined by the commissioner, the law relating to exer-
cising due care to avoid colliding with a parked,  stopped  or  standing
authorized  emergency  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, MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND AWARENESS INSTRUCTION
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, prohib-
iting  the  operation  of  a  motor vehicle while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one or more written  questions

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02181-01-1
              

S. 1184                             2

concerning  the  devastating  effects of "Road Rage" on the ability of a
person to operate a motor vehicle and the  legal  and  financial  conse-
quences  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 SHALL INCLUDE AT  LEAST  TWO  WRITTEN
QUESTIONS  CONCERNING  MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND AWARENESS AND THE POTENTIAL
DANGERS TO MOTORCYCLISTS RESULTING FROM THE UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OF A  DRIVER
OR  OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SHARING THE ROADWAYS WITH SUCH MOTORCY-
CLISTS. 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 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 2. This act shall take effect immediately.