Bill > S575

This bill introduces several measures to improve pedestrian safety in North Carolina. First, it establishes a new legal provision that makes it a Class Two misdemeanor for a motor vehicle operator to fail to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian, resulting in serious injury. The bill also requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to develop training courses that educate drivers about highway work zones and pedestrian right-of-way rules, ensuring these courses are accessible online and in-person. Additionally, the bill mandates that the driver education curriculum for public schools include these new training courses, specifically focusing on pedestrian safety modules. Furthermore, the Division of Motor Vehicles, in collaboration with the Department of Public Instruction, is tasked with conducting a comprehensive study to improve driver education curriculum regarding pedestrian safety, with a detailed report due by January 1, 2026. The new legal provisions and curriculum changes will take effect on December 1, 2025, with the driver education modifications applying from the 2026-2027 school year onward, ultimately aiming to reduce pedestrian injuries and increase awareness of road safety.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S575