The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 235, aims to enhance driver education and student safety by introducing several key provisions. Firstly, it allows students to select the gender of their driving instructor before beginning behind-the-wheel instruction, with the stipulation that if only one gender of instructors is available, the driving school must inform prospective students of this limitation prior to enrollment. Additionally, by October 1, 2027, all vehicles used for behind-the-wheel instruction must be equipped with electronic monitoring systems, such as GPS, and audio or video monitoring systems to ensure student safety during lessons.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that driver education programs in secondary schools include specific instructional content, such as how to safely stop off the traveled portion of the highway and respond to traffic stops by law enforcement officers. It also updates the requirements for classroom instruction to include discussions on highway work zone safety and the responsibilities of drivers. The bill repeals certain existing provisions while inserting new requirements to improve the overall quality and safety of driver education in the state. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 14-78, 14-36f