Transportation (Traffic Safety)

Relates to the passing of stopped school buses on divided highways; provides that vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus on such highway shall not have to stop if a physical barrier is present between the different directions of travel.

Permits the use of photo speed violation monitoring systems in New York city for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction, concealment, and/or distortion; extends provisions permitting the use of speed cameras in certain school zones.

This bill expands existing school zone speed limit provisions to include non-public schools. It allows non-public schools to apply for reduced speed limits of 15 mph (down from the standard 25 mph minimum) for up to 1,320 feet along roads directly adjacent to the school building, entrance, or exit. The change modifies New York's vehicle and traffic law to explicitly define "school" as covering non-public institutions, aligning their eligibility with public schools for these safety zones. This policy change affects non-public schools seeking lower speed limits on nearby roads, without altering the existing engineering requirements for establishing such limits.

Enacts "local control for speed limits"; authorizes cities, villages, and towns to adjust the speed limit to lower than fifty-five miles per hour, but not less than twenty-five miles per hour, for portions of state highways that are particularly dangerous.

This bill (A 9268) requires all new drivers to complete a mandatory 30-minute "Work Zone Safety" module as part of their driver's license pre-licensing course. It directly affects new license applicants by mandating education on work zone dangers, legal obligations (like yielding to emergency vehicles), and consequences of violations. Key provisions include a curriculum covering work zone signage, barriers, lane shifts, photo speed enforcement, and real-world safety consequences, developed with input from transportation and safety experts. The module must be documented in the applicant's licensing record and include at least one exam question on safe work zone driving.