HB 2439-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Requires the Washington state traffic safety commission to establish a program for improving bicycle and pedestrian safety, and shall cooperate with the stakeholders and independent representatives to form an advisory committee to develop programs and create public private partnerships which promote bicycle and pedestrian safety.  The traffic safety commission shall report and make recommendations to the legislative transportation committee and the fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 1, 1998, regarding the conclusions of the advisory committee.

     Directs the department of licensing to incorporate a section on bicycle safety and sharing the road into its instructional publications for drivers and shall include questions in the written portion of the driver's license examination on bicycle safety and sharing the road with bicycles.

     Provides that the department shall require a driver reported under RCW 46.52.070(2), when a fatality occurred, to submit to an examination.  The examination must be completed no later than one hundred twenty days after the accident report required under RCW 46.52.070(2) is received by the department unless the department,  at the request of the operator, extends the time for examination.

     Provides that the department may require a driver reported under RCW 46.52.070(2) to submit to an examination, or suspend the person's license subject to RCW 46.20.322, when a serious injury occurred.  The examination must be completed no later than one hundred twenty days after the accident report required under RCW 46.52.070(2) is received by the department.

     Establishes a bicycle and pedestrian safety education account for deposit of fines.

     Makes an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars to carry out the purposes of the act.