A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO STUDY THE ADVISABILITY OF ADDING LANE DEPARTURE TO THE ACTUAL DRIVING PORTION OF THE DRIVER EDUCATION CURRICULUM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Study. – The Department of Public Instruction, in coordination with the Department of Transportation, shall study and make recommendations regarding whether to add lane departure to the actual driving portion of the driver education curriculum. The study shall include, but not be limited to, a review and analysis of all of the following:
(1)	The advisability of adding an element to the driver education curriculum that would allow students participating in the actual driving portion of the course to experience lane departure and learn to avoid overcorrection. This would involve taking the wheels of the vehicle off the paved road and onto the shoulder and then safely returning the vehicle to the paved road.
(2)	The practicality of teaching students to respond to situations of lane departure during the actual driving portion of the driver education course, including the probability of finding sufficient, convenient locations to safely practice this maneuver.
(3)	Data regarding fatalities and injuries associated with lane departure and overcorrection.
(4)	Any liability that may attach to the instructor, the school, the local school administrative unit, or the State, by adding this element to the driver education curriculum.
(5)	Any other matter the Department deems relevant to the study.
The Department of Public Instruction shall ensure that at least one representative from the North Carolina Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association, one instructor employed by a private driving school, and one public school teacher who is certified in driver education is involved in the study.
SECTION 2.  Report. – The Department of Public Instruction shall report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee no later than March 1, 2018.
SECTION 3.  Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law.