Brief Description: Adding bicyclist and pedestrian safety information to drivers' education curriculum.

Sponsors: By Representatives Upthegrove, Pedersen, VanDeWege, Ormsby, Hunt, Wood, McIntire, Roberts, Hudgins, Jarrett, Rolfes, Kagi, Chase and Simpson.

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) is responsible for overseeing the commercial driver training school program. Driver training schools must meet standards set by the DOL, and driver training schools must be annually approved by the DOL.

The Driver Instructors' Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) reviews and updates the curriculum for driver training schools. The Advisory Committee also updates the instructor certification standards, taking into consideration the standards set by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

The DOL is responsible for providing the driver training school curriculum to each applicant for an instructor or driver training school permit. In addition to information on the safe, lawful, and responsible operation of motor vehicles, the curriculum must include information regarding the intermediate driver's license restrictions and sanctions, the effects of alcohol and drug use on motor vehicle operators, and the importance of safely sharing the road with motorcycles.

If an instructor or school fails to teach the basic minimum curriculum, the DOL may revoke the license of the instructor or school, or both.

Traffic safety education is also available to students in many school districts in the state. Historically, these programs have been funded through a mixture of funds provided by the state, the school district, and individual students' families.

The OSPI is required to adopt the necessary rules governing the operation and scope of the traffic safety education program and to define the classroom and laboratory student learning experiences that must be satisfactorily completed by a student in order to successfully complete a traffic safety education course.

Summary:

Bicycle safety and pedestrian safety are added to the list of items that must be part of the driver training curriculums developed by the DOL and the OSPI.

The act is named for Matthew "Tatsuo" Nakata.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   73   22
Senate   45   2

Effective: June 12, 2008