BILL REQ. #:  H-3706.3 

Read first time 01/20/10.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to bicycle and pedestrian safety education in traffic schools; adding a new section to chapter 46.82 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds a number of cities and counties in the state of Washington conduct traffic schools for eligible persons receiving traffic infractions as a condition of the deferral of the infractions under RCW 46.63.070(5). The legislature recognizes that since driver's education programs have only recently been required to provide information about how to drive safely among bicyclists and pedestrians, many licensed drivers do not have knowledge about such safe driving practices. In order to increase such knowledge and to avoid unnecessary injuries, fatalities, and conflicts, the legislature believes that it is appropriate to include bicycle and pedestrian curriculum approved by the department of licensing for traffic schools or to new drivers as part of the curriculum of traffic schools. Curriculum materials, which are donated by bicycle organizations without state expense, are available from the department of licensing and posted on the department's web site.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.82 RCW to read as follows:
     Any jurisdiction conducting a traffic school as a condition of the deferral of an infraction under RCW 46.63.070(5) shall include, as part of its curriculum, the curriculum for driving safely among bicyclists and pedestrians that has been approved by the department of licensing for traffic schools. This curriculum addition shall not exceed thirty minutes of an eight-hour curriculum block.