S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 2698 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E January 23, 2013 ___________ Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- 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: 1 Section 1. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of 2 section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 458 of 3 the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows: 4 (i) Upon submission of an application for a driver's license, the 5 applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence 6 of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the 7 laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicat- 8 ed, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", or "Work Zone Safe- 9 ty" awareness as defined by the commissioner, the law relating to exer- 10 cising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing 11 authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle pursuant to section elev- 12 en hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, the ability to read and compre- 13 hend traffic signs and symbols and such other matters as the commission- 14 er may prescribe, and to satisfactorily complete a course prescribed by 15 the commissioner of not less than four hours and not more than five 16 hours, consisting of classroom driver training, MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND 17 AWARENESS INSTRUCTION and highway safety instruction or the equivalent 18 thereof. Such test shall include at least seven written questions 19 concerning the effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability 20 of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial 21 consequences resulting from violations of section eleven hundred nine- 22 ty-two of this chapter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle 23 while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04298-01-3 S. 2698 2 1 one or more written questions concerning the devastating effects of 2 "Road Rage" on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and 3 the legal and financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threat- 4 ening or interfering with the lawful conduct of another person legally 5 using the roadway. Such test shall include one or more questions 6 concerning the potential dangers to persons and equipment resulting from 7 the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. SUCH TEST SHALL 8 INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO WRITTEN QUESTIONS CONCERNING MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND 9 AWARENESS AND THE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO MOTORCYCLISTS RESULTING FROM THE 10 UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OF A DRIVER OR OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SHARING THE 11 ROADWAYS WITH SUCH MOTORCYCLISTS. Such test may include one or more 12 questions concerning the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding 13 with a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or 14 hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this 15 chapter. Such test shall be administered by the commissioner. The 16 commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and a test 17 for color blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the application 18 may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable. 19 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.