H. B. 2678
(By Delegate Love)
[Introduced January 10, 1996; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section three, article six, chapter
eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to motorcycle
awareness training in high school drivers education courses.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section three, article six, chapter eighteen of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6. DRIVER EDUCATION.
ยง18-6-3. State board to establish minimum course standards;
students with mental or physical defects; minimum
standards specified.
The state board of education shall establish minimum
standards for all driver education courses offered and made
available to persons within the state, regardless of whether the courses are offered by public, private, parochial, denominational
or commercial schools, but no person shall be permitted to enroll
in any driver education course who has a known mental or physical
defect that would prevent the person from qualifying for an
operator's license, unless the mental or physical defect is
controlled or corrected so the person could so qualify.
The minimum standards shall provide at least that:
(a) All driver education courses offered within the state
are taught by instructors certified by the state board as
qualified for these purposes.
(b) Each person enrolled in a driver education course shall
receive practice driving and observation in a dual control
automobile and instruction in at least the following:
(1) Basic and advanced driving techniques, including
techniques for handling emergencies.
(2) Traffic regulations and laws of the road as provided in
chapter seventeen-c of this code, and other applicable state and
local laws and ordinances.
(3) Critical mechanical parts of vehicles requiring
preventive maintenance for safety.
(4) The vehicle, highway and community features that aid the
driver in avoiding crashes; protect him and his passengers in
crashes; and maximize the salvage of the injured.
(5) Signs, signals, highway markings and highway design features which require understanding for safe operation of motor
vehicles.
(6) Differences in characteristics of urban and rural
driving, including safe use of modern expressways.
(7) Pedestrian safety.
(8) Motorcycle safety awareness.
In addition, in driver education courses participating
students shall be encouraged to acquire first aid skill.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to compel motorcycle
safety awareness training in drivers education.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.