DRIVER ED; VULNERABLE ROADWAY USERS H.B. 4198 (H-1):
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4198 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Julie Alexander
House Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act to do the following:
-- Require segment one driver education classroom instruction to include at least one hour of information concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles, motorcycles, and other vulnerable roadway users.
-- Require the laws pertaining to awareness of bicycles, motorcycles, and other vulnerable roadway users to be incorporated into other subject areas of the curriculum where appropriate.
-- Allow the information concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles, motorcycles, and other vulnerable roadway users to be incorporated into the segment one curriculum or the segment two classroom course.
The Act specifies, among other things, the requirements for a segment one driver education curriculum. (Under the Michigan Vehicle Code, a person 14 years and nine months of age or older may be issued a level one graduated driver status upon completing segment one of a driver education course and meeting other criteria. A person issued a level one graduated licensing status may operate a motor vehicle if accompanied either by a licensed parent or legal guardian or, with the permission of the parent or legal guardian, by a licensed driver 21 years of age or older.)
A segment one curriculum must include, among other things, at least 24 hours of classroom instruction. The classroom instruction must include information concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles and motorcycles, and must emphasize awareness of their operation on State streets, roads, and highways. Under the bill, the instruction would have to include at least one hour of information concerning bicycles, motorcycles, and other vulnerable roadway users, including pedestrians.
The bill also would require the laws of the State pertaining to awareness of bicycles, motorcycles, and other vulnerable roadway users, including pedestrians, to be incorporated into other subject areas of the curriculum where appropriate. These requirements would apply to both the model curriculum prescribed by the Secretary of State (SOS) and an alternative curriculum approved by the SOS under Section 35. The information required could be incorporated into the segment one curriculum or the segment two classroom course described in Section 39(b).
(Section 35 of the Act requires the Secretary of State to prescribe a model curriculum for teen driver training. A driver education provider classified for teen driver training must use the model curriculum or may use an alternative curriculum after it has been reviewed and approved by the SOS.
Under the Vehicle Code, a person may be issued level two graduated driver status after successfully completing segment two of a driver education course and meeting other criteria. A person issued level two graduated licensing status, except under certain circumstances, may not operate a motor vehicle between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., or with more than one passenger in the vehicle less than 21 years old. Under Section 39(b) of the Act, a segment two course must include six or more hours of classroom instruction scheduled so that the student does not receive more than two hours' instruction per day.)
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
MCL 256.657 Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.