BILL NUMBER: S6175
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to establish the senior driver safety commission and providing
for its powers and duties; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
This bill establishes a senior drive safety commission.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 cites this legislation as the "Bill Geller. Act", in memory of
Bill Geller, a forty-seven year man from Somers, New York who was struck
and killed by an eighty-eight year old man as he was walking down a
street on a clear day.
Section 2 establishes the legislative intent, identifying the growing
number of senior drivers and increased risk of accidents among this age
group as they experience diminished peripheral vision, slower reaction
time, limited range of movement, and poor night vision; identifies New
York State as lagging other states in adopting provisions to address
this demographic shift; and establishes a senior driver safety commis-
sion.
Section 3 provides that the senior driver safety commission shall
consist of twelve members. Four members are to be appointed by the
governor -- one from the department of motor vehicles, one from the
department of transportation and one from the office for the aging.
Three of the members shall be appointed by the temporary president of
the senate. Three of the members shall be appointed by the speaker of
the assembly. One member shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the senate. One member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
assembly. All appointments shall be made within thirty days of the
effective date of this act, and within twenty days of appointing its
members, they shall elect a chairperson from among them. Section 3 also
establishes the parameters of the commission's study and research
concerning senior driver safety, including effectiveness cf current
laws, regulatory and legislative recommendations to increase the safety
of all drivers, passengers and pedestrians. It also outlines that the
commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor
and legislature no later than one hundred eighty days after the effec-
tive date of this act.
Section 4 defines senior driver as any individual aged seventy and older
with a valid driver's license issued by the New York state department of
motor vehicles.
Section 5 establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation was introduced in response to the death of a 47 year
old man from Somers who was struck and killed by an eighty eight year
old driver as he was walking down the road on a clear day. Mr. Geller
left behind a young son and grieving family. The driver was never
charged in conjunction with his death. A commission designed to investi-
gate ways New York State can keep pedestrians and drivers of all ages
safe is crucial to avoid any further tragic accidents. Seniors repre-
sent the fastest-growing segment of drivers, with current projections
suggesting that a quarter of all drivers will be over sixty-five by
2025. Due to diminished peripheral vision, slower reaction time, more
limited range of motion, and poor night vision, many older drivers have
a higher rate of fatal accidents than teenagers. Yet, according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, New York State lags
behind other states in adopting age-appropriate driving safeguards. The
establishment of this commission begins to correct this gap in the
legislation.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S7917- Referred to Transportation
2021-22: S5075 - Referred to Transportation
2019-20; S4780 Referred to Transportation
2017-18: S4047 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
2015-16: A1905 (Mayer) referred to transportation
2014: A9329 (Mayer) referred to transportation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until
the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law, when
upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.