Requiring approved driver education courses to include instruction concerning distracted driving

Under current law, student drivers are required to complete an approved driver education course. The course is required to consist of a minimum of hours of classroom instruction and at least six hours of laboratory instruction. The classroom instruction must include at least four hours of instruction concerning substance abuse, at least minutes of instruction concerning railroad crossing safety, instruction relating to becoming an organ donor, and instruction providing an awareness about sharing the road with bicycles and motorcycles. 178A, may instruct a student in an approved driver education course with the same classroom instruction requirements and hours of street or highway driving including four hours of driving after sunset and before sunrise while the student is accompanied by the teaching parent.178A. Approved courses must include a minimum of four hours instruction concerning substance abuse and distracted driving. The bill does not add additional required instruction time to the student curriculum.