Pre-Licensing Course
Requirements
A quick review for Driver Traffic Safety Educators
What is the Pre-Licensing Course?
• The Pre-licensing Course, also known as “the 5-hour
course,” is a DMV-designed classroom course that
provides new drivers with information which will
help them drive safely.
• For many students, the course provides the only
formal training opportunity to gain knowledge of the
basic rules of the road, safe driving principles,
defensive driving skills, and other factors which affect
driving.
Requirements to issue an MV-278
• Commissioner’s Regulations Part 7, Section 7.8(d):
“…when, in the opinion of the instructor, that
material which is required to be given in an approved
course has been taught to the student even though
the driver education course has not been completed.”
• So how do you know?
Curriculum
The MV-277 Pre-Licensing Course Instructor’s Manual is
available online at
www.dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv277.pdf
Driver Education provider info at
www.dmv.ny.gov/org/drivertraining/requirements-and-forms-drivereducation-providers
Units in the MV-277
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Course Introduction
Driving in the Highway Transportation System
Driver Skills and Habits
Feelings, Attitudes, and Taking Risks
Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving
Course Recap
Required topics per
Vehicle and Traffic Law
• “Alcohol and Drug Education”
• “Road Rage”
• “Work Zone Safety”
“Alcohol and Drug Education”
VTL 502.4{c}
Per New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, the PreLicensing Course must include:
“ (a) mandatory component in alcohol and drug
education of not less than two hours as a prerequisite
for obtaining a license to operate a motor vehicle.”
“…to educate prospective licensees on the effects that
ingestion of alcohol and other drugs have on a person’s
ability to operate a motor vehicle.”
Topics that must be covered
• “instruction describing the hazards of driving while
impaired or intoxicated”
• “…the penalties for alcohol related motor vehicle
violations including sanctions set forth in the penal
law that apply to homicides and assaults arising out
of the operation of a motor vehicle while
intoxicated…”
…and…
• “…those sanctions set forth in the vehicle and traffic
law relating to driving while intoxicated;”
• “Medical biological and physiological effects of the
consumption of alcohol and their impact on the
operation of a motor vehicle.”
Recent law to include
“Leandra’s Law” (in memory of Leandra Rosado):
• Operating a MV while under the influence with a child (15
years old or younger) in the vehicle is a Class E FELONY
(up to 4 years in State prison)
• DWI Drivers that cause serious physical injury to a child
in the vehicle – Class C felony (up to 15 years in prison)
• DWI drivers that cause the death of a child in the vehicle – Class B
Felony (up to 25 years in prison)
• Driver sentenced for DWI must have an ignition interlock
installed on any vehicle they own or operate
“Road Rage”
VTL 502.4{c}{1}
• The purpose of the component is to educate
prospective licensees on the effects that the
development and expression of "Road Rage", as
defined by the commissioner, have on a person's
ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Topics that must be covered
• instruction describing the hazards of driving and exiting
the vehicle while under the influence of "Road Rage";
• the penalties for "Road Rage"-related motor vehicle or
other violations including sanctions set forth in the penal
law that apply to homicides and assaults arising out of the
operation of a motor vehicle while expressing "Road
Rage", and any sanctions set forth in law relating to
driving while under the influence of "Road Rage"; and
• the medical, biological and physiological effects of the
development and expression of "Road Rage", and their
impact on the operation of a motor vehicle.
“Work Zone Safety”
VTL 502.4{c}{2}
• The commissioner shall establish a curriculum for
the "Work Zone Safety" component which shall
include but not be limited to: instruction describing
the potential hazards of driving through a work zone,
whether or not work, maintenance or other related
construction is being undertaken therein, and
information on the provisions of law relating to
driving within a work zone and sanctions for
violations of such provisions, including speeding in a
work zone.
Topics that must be covered
• “…instruction describing the potential hazards of
driving through a work zone, whether or not work,
maintenance or other related construction is being
undertaken therein, and”
• “…information on the provisions of law relating to
driving within a work zone and sanctions for
violations of such provisions, including speeding in a
work zone.”
Conundrum
• VTL 507.1: Students don’t need a permit to
participate in Driver Education
• However:
• Administrative Duties (see Appendix C-1) require a
photo permit be presented before a certificate can be
issued.
• Bottom Line: You can’t issue a certificate until you
see the students’ valid photo permit.
Important new(er) laws
• “Texting/Distracted Driving”
• 5 points on your license and fines up to $400 (plus
surcharges)
• 60-day suspension for Junior or Probationary Licensees
• Constitutes a “Primary Stop” offense
• “Move Over” Law (protects emergency personnel)
• Drivers must move from the lane…unless traffic or other
hazards prevent doing so safely.
Questions?
Contact the Bureau of Driver Training Programs:
Phone: 518-473-7174 (M-F 9am to 4pm)
Fax: 518-473-0160
E-Mail: Driving.School@dmv.ny.gov
(Snail) Mail: NYS Department of Motor Vehicles,
6 S. Swan Street, Room 221,
Albany, NY 12228