TRENTON — A New Jersey bill aimed at improving roadway safety by updating driver education materials to include specific information on sharing the road with pedestrians and cyclists has been advanced by the Senate Transportation Committee.
Assembly Bill No. 4765, as amended and reported on March 17, would require that information about a driver’s legal responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians, cyclists, and users of other non-motorized or personal conveyance vehicles be included in various driver education resources. These updates would apply to classroom curricula, the written knowledge test for driving permits, and informational brochures provided to the parents and guardians of new drivers.
The legislation also mandates updates to the New Jersey Driver’s Manual, adding sections on safe interaction with pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, and riders of motorized scooters. The manual would outline both motorists’ responsibilities and the penalties for violations.
As amended, the bill also now requires the manual to include safety guidance for non-motorized road users themselves. Pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, and others would receive instructions on proper procedures for safely sharing roadways with motor vehicles.
The Senate committee’s changes also align the bill with its companion legislation, Senate Bill No. 4146, which was amended and reported on the same day.
