Bill Text: MI SB0124 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Vehicles; driver training; training component for drivers regarding safety for bicyclists and other vulnerable roadway users on the road; require. Amends sec. 37 of 2006 PA 384 (MCL 256.657).

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-05-23 - Referred To Committee On Transportation And Infrastructure [SB0124 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2017-SB0124-Engrossed.html

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SB-0124, As Passed Senate, May 23, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE BILL No. 124

 

 

February 9, 2017, Introduced by Senators O'BRIEN, KNEZEK and BIEDA and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

     A bill to amend 2006 PA 384, entitled

 

"Driver education provider and instructor act,"

 

by amending section 37 (MCL 256.657), as amended by 2014 PA 317.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 37. (1) A segment 1 curriculum shall include both

 

classroom and behind-the-wheel driver education course experience.

 

The classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction shall be

 

integrated, relate to each other, and meet the following

 

requirements:

 

     (a) Each student shall receive not less than 24 hours of

 

classroom instruction. Classroom instruction shall be scheduled to

 

occur as follows:

 

     (i) Classroom instruction shall occur not more than 2 hours

 

per day.

 

     (ii) Classroom instruction shall occur over the course of 3 or

 

more weeks.

 

     (iii) Classroom instruction of 4 or more hours shall be

 

received before the student begins to receive behind-the-wheel

 

instruction.

 

     (iv) Classroom instruction shall include not less than 1 hour

 

of information concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles, and

 

motorcycles, and other vulnerable roadway users, including

 

pedestrians, and shall emphasize awareness of their operation on

 

the streets, roads, and highways of this state. The laws of this

 

state pertaining to awareness of bicycles, motorcycles, and other

 

vulnerable roadway users, including pedestrians, shall also be

 

incorporated into additional curriculum, which shall include, but

 

is not limited to, laws pertaining to yielding the right-of-way,

 

traveling at a safe and reasonable speed for conditions, ensuring a

 

safe distance, and distracted driving.

 

     (v) Behind-the-wheel instruction of 3 or more hours shall be

 

completed before classroom instruction terminates.

 

     (b) Each student shall receive not less than 6 hours of

 

behind-the-wheel instruction or substitute hours permitted under

 

this subsection. Behind-the-wheel instruction shall be scheduled to

 

occur as follows:

 

     (i) A student shall receive not more than 1 hour of behind-

 

the-wheel instruction per day.

 

     (ii) Not more than 1 student shall occupy the front seat of

 

the vehicle with the instructor.

 

     (iii) A driver education motor vehicle shall contain not more

than 4 students during behind-the-wheel instruction.

 

     (iv) Not later than 3 weeks after the last classroom

 

instruction has been completed, a student shall complete any

 

remaining required behind-the-wheel instruction.

 

     (v) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a student

 

may receive instruction while operating a motor vehicle at a

 

multiple vehicle driving facility. One hour of instruction received

 

at a multiple vehicle driving facility may substitute as credit for

 

1 hour of behind-the-wheel experience. A maximum of 2 hours of

 

behind-the-wheel experience can be substituted with instruction

 

received at a multiple vehicle driving facility.

 

     (c) A student shall receive 4 or more hours of behind-the-

 

wheel observation time.

 

     (2) A driver education provider classified for teen driver

 

training shall not substitute behind-the-wheel instruction with

 

multiple vehicle driving facility experience until the secretary of

 

state gives the provider written approval for that substitution as

 

provided in this act.

 

     (3) A driver education provider classified for teen driver

 

training shall not substitute behind-the-wheel driving experience

 

with simulator device training.

 

     (4) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Integrated" means classroom and behind-the-wheel

 

instruction scheduled to include a mix of classroom and behind-the-

 

wheel instruction throughout the duration of the driver education

 

course, except as otherwise provided in this section.

 

     (b) "Observation time" means the time a student in a driver

education course sits in the rear seat of a vehicle and observes

 

another student in the front seat behind the wheel operating the

 

controls of the vehicle, responding to driving situations, and with

 

an instructor sitting in the front seat.

 

     (5) This section shall be known and may be cited as the

 

"Nathan Bower act".

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.