SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2002 SESSION

027244500
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 110
Offered January 9, 2002
Prefiled January 9, 2002
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the adequacy of driver education programs available to youthful drivers.
----------
Patrons-- Mims, Newman and Whipple; Delegates: May and O'Brien
----------
Referred to Committee on Rules
----------

WHEREAS, youthful drivers long have had and continue to be involved in motor vehicle accidents with a frequency that is out of proportion to their percentage of the driving population; and

WHEREAS, more injuries to and deaths of young people in Virginia are attributable to motor vehicle accidents than to any other cause; and

WHEREAS, part of the explanation for this situation is the immaturity and inexperience of most youthful drivers, and the General Assembly in recent years has enacted several statutes aimed at this element of the problem, there may be more that can be done to improve the abilities of youthful drivers by improving the training they receive through in-school driver training programs and commercial driver training schools; and

WHEREAS, of all the improvements that potentially can be made to driver training courses, the potential for improving driving skills of novice drivers is greatest through use of driving simulators and related technologies that permit students to confront simulated highway conditions without exposing them to real highway dangers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the adequacy of driver education programs available to youthful drivers, including but not limited to the desirability and feasibility of incorporating driving simulators and related technologies into the driver training curricula in-school programs and commercial driver training schools. The subcommittee shall consist of thirteen members as follows: three members of the Senate Committee on Transportation, appointed by its Chairman; three members of the House Committee on Transportation, appointed by its Chairman; the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles or his designee; the Superintendent of Public Instruction or his designee; one representative of Drive Smart Virginia; one representative of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; one representative of the Virginia Association of Driving Instructors, who shall be a person who teaches driver education in a Virginia public school; one representative of the University of Virginia and one representative of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, both of whom shall be knowledgeable about and shall have conducted research involving driving simulators and related technologies.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $8,500.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work by November 30, 2002, and shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2003 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.