BILL REQ. #:  S-3959.1 

Read first time 01/16/08.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to adding bicyclist and pedestrian safety information to drivers' education curriculum; amending RCW 46.82.420; adding a new section to chapter 28A.220 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the state of Washington to encourage the safe and efficient use of the roads by all citizens, regardless of mode of transportation. In furtherance of this policy, the legislature further finds and declares that driver training programs should enhance the driver training curriculum in order to emphasize the importance of safely sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act may be known and cited as the Matthew "Tatsuo" Nakata act.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.82.420 and 2007 c 97 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The advisory committee shall consult with the department in the development and maintenance of a basic minimum required curriculum and the department shall furnish to each qualifying applicant for an instructor's license or a driver training school license a copy of such curriculum.
     (2) In addition to information on the safe, lawful, and responsible operation of motor vehicles on the state's highways, the basic minimum required curriculum shall include information on:
     (a) Intermediate driver's license issuance, passenger and driving restrictions and sanctions for violating the restrictions, and the effect of traffic violations and collisions on the driving privileges;
     (b) The effects of alcohol and drug use on motor vehicle operators, including information on drug and alcohol related traffic injury and mortality rates in the state of Washington and the current penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; ((and))
     (c) Motorcycle awareness, approved by the director, to ensure new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with motorcyclists;
     (d) Bicycle safety, to ensure that operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with bicyclists; and
     (e) Pedestrian safety, to ensure that operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with pedestrians.
     (3) Should the director be presented with acceptable proof that any licensed instructor or driver training school is not showing proper diligence in teaching such basic minimum curriculum as required, the instructor or school shall be required to appear before the advisory committee and show cause why the license of the instructor or school should not be revoked for such negligence. If the committee does not accept such reasons as may be offered, the director may revoke the license of the instructor or school, or both.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28A.220 RCW to read as follows:
     The superintendent of public instruction shall require that information on driving safely among bicyclists and pedestrians, approved by the director of the department of licensing, be included in instructional material used in traffic safety education courses, to ensure that new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in safely sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians.