Provides that the course consisting of classroom driver training and highway safety instruction that is required of driver's license applicants shall be not more than six hours instead of five.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A753
SPONSOR: Berger TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the length
of the pre-licensing course required of applicants for a driver's
license
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would increase the maximum duration an approved pre-li-
censing course can run from five hours to six hours.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 increases the maximum duration an approved pre-licensing
course can run from five hours to six hours.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Whether it be through the substitution.of traditional stop-controlled
intersections by roundabouts and traffic-circles, or the introduction of
new technologies on our roadways, communities throughout New York have
taken proactive steps to increase traffic safety, curb congestion, and
make the air cleaner. As communities progress in enacting new traffic
safety measures, it is critical that individuals who are seeking to
become licensed drivers in New York understand not only the rules and
procedures that are well-established, but the new technologies, inter-
sections, and laws that aren't as notable.
This legislation aims to ensure that new drivers are safe drivers by
granting pre-licensing course instructors the option to extend their
pre-licensing course to six hours in length, an hour beyond the current
statutory limit of five hours. The flexibility that would be afforded by
a six-hour window would enable instructors to incorporate emerging
topics and updated regulations into their course which drivers need only
take once for a lifetime license.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
753
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BERGER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the length
of the pre-licensing course required of applicants for a driver's
license
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 379 of
3 the laws of 2022, 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", "Work Zone Safety"
9 awareness, "Motorcycle Safety" awareness and "Pedestrian and Bicyclist
10 Safety" awareness as defined by the commissioner, "School Bus Safety"
11 awareness, the law relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding
12 with a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or
13 hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this
14 chapter, the ability to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols
15 and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to satis-
16 factorily complete a course prescribed by the commissioner of not less
17 than four hours and not more than [five] six hours, consisting of class-
18 room driver training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent
19 thereof. Such test shall include at least seven written questions
20 concerning the effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability
21 of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial
22 consequences resulting from violations of section eleven hundred nine-
23 ty-two of this chapter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00857-01-5
A. 753 2
1 while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include
2 one or more written questions concerning the devastating effects of
3 "Road Rage" on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and
4 the legal and financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threat-
5 ening or interfering with the lawful conduct of another person legally
6 using the roadway. Such test shall include one or more questions
7 concerning the potential dangers to persons and equipment resulting from
8 the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. Such test may
9 include one or more questions concerning motorcycle safety. Such test
10 may include one or more questions concerning the law for exercising due
11 care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing vehicle
12 pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter. Such
13 test may include one or more questions concerning school bus safety.
14 Such test may include one or more questions concerning pedestrian and
15 bicyclist safety. Such test shall be administered by the commissioner.
16 The commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and a
17 test for color blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the applica-
18 tion may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
19 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
