SPONSOR: Caton
This bill requires an applicant for a driver's license to successfully complete an online road safety course prior to taking a road skills test. The online safety course must consist of at least five hours of instruction on the following:
(1) The hazards of distracted or impaired driving;
(2) Vehicle-related crash and fatality awareness and prevention;
(3) Common safe driving habits; and
(4) Law enforcement procedures for traffic stops and appropriate interactions, including drivers' and passengers' rights.
Before January 1, 2028, the Department of Public Safety must develop and accredit or contract with a third-party organization to develop and accredit an online road safety course. The Department will collaborate with appropriate traffic safety organizations regarding the course curriculum, and the Department of Revenue will put the course on their website for the public to access.
The Highway Patrol must ensure that only people who have successfully completed the online road safety course are permitted to take the road skills test, and the Department of Revenue must maintain a database of all people who have completed the course for verification purposes.
The online road safety course must be available without charge prior to completion. Upon successful completion of the course, the Department of Revenue is authorized to collect a fee not to exceed $20 from each applicant. The fee will either be placed in the Driver Safety Education Fund if the course is developed and administered by the Department of Public Safety, or the fee will be paid to the third party who developed and administered the course.
The bill also creates the "Driver Safety Education Fund". Moneys in the Fund will be used solely for the administration, maintenance, and improvement of the course.
The online road safety course will not be required for commercial driver's license or when an applicant provides proof that he or she successfully completed a classroom-based driver's education course in high school.
The Department of Public Safety is granted rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of the bill.
Statutes affected: