LD 470, the Traffic Safety Education Act, Passes in Committee 12-1
February 28, 2019 (AUGUSTA, Maine) — The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs voted 12-1 on Wednesday to advance LD 470, legislation that would require Maine schools to teach basic traffic safety education.
The bill is sponsored by Representative Mattie Daughtry of Brunswick on behalf of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. LD 470 passed the Education Committee with revisions that would require Maine students receive instruction in roadway safety four times between second grade and eighth grade.
“We are pleased that the bill advanced, and we hope to continue discussions on revising the bill to ensure traffic safety education reaches as many students as possible,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine Assistant Director James Tassé. “At a time when pedestrian and bicycle fatalities are increasing at an alarming pace, this information can save lives both now and in the future.”
If enacted, the bill would teach Maine students basic rules and laws concerning what side of the street to walk or ride a bicycle on, how to cross streets, and how to be visible and predictable.
Before its revision, the original bill called for one hour of traffic safety education annually between grades two and 12.