(1) The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall jointly develop and maintain a required curriculum as specified in RCW 28A.220.035 . The department shall furnish to each qualifying applicant for an instructor's license or a driver training school license a copy of such curriculum.
(2) In addition to information on the safe, lawful, and responsible operation of motor vehicles on the state's highways, the required curriculum shall include information on:
(a) Intermediate driver's license issuance, passenger and driving restrictions and sanctions for violating the restrictions, and the effect of traffic violations and collisions on the driving privileges;
(b) The effects of alcohol and drug use on motor vehicle operators, including information on drug and alcohol related traffic injury and mortality rates in the state of Washington and the current penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
(c) Motorcycle awareness, approved by the director, to ensure new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with motorcyclists;
(d) Bicycle safety, to ensure that operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with bicyclists;
(e) Pedestrian safety, to ensure that operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with pedestrians; and
(f) Commercial vehicle, bus, and other large vehicle awareness, to ensure new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of sharing the road with large vehicles.
(3) Should the director be presented with acceptable proof that any licensed instructor or driver training school is not showing proper diligence in teaching the required curriculum, the instructor or school shall be required to appear before the director and show cause why the license of the instructor or school should not be revoked for such negligence. If the director does not accept such reasons as may be offered, the director may revoke the license of the instructor or school, or both.
Effective date — 2023 c 32: "This act takes effect April 1, 2024." [ 2023 c 32 s 2 .]
Findings — Intent — Effective date — 2017 c 197: See notes following RCW 28A.220.020 .
Effective date — 2010 1st sp.s. c 26; 2010 1st sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 43.03.027 .
Findings — 2008 c 125: "The legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the state of Washington to encourage the safe and efficient use of the roads by all citizens, regardless of mode of transportation. In furtherance of this policy, the legislature further finds and declares that driver training programs should enhance the driver training curriculum in order to emphasize the importance of safely sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians." [ 2008 c 125 s 1 .]
Short title — 2008 c 125: "This act may be known and cited as the Matthew "Tatsuo" Nakata act." [ 2008 c 125 s 2 .]
Effective date — 2006 c 219: See note following RCW 46.82.285 .
(1) The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall jointly develop and maintain a required curriculum as specified in RCW 28A.220.035 . The department shall furnish to each qualifying applicant for an instructor's license or a driver training school license a copy of such curriculum.
(2) In addition to information on the safe, lawful, and responsible operation of motor vehicles on the state's highways, the required curriculum shall include information on:
(a) Intermediate driver's license issuance, passenger and driving restrictions and sanctions for violating the restrictions, and the effect of traffic violations and collisions on the driving privileges;
(b) The effects of alcohol and drug use on motor vehicle operators, including information on drug and alcohol related traffic injury and mortality rates in the state of Washington and the current penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
(c) Motorcycle awareness, approved by the director, to ensure new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with motorcyclists;
(d) Bicycle safety, to ensure that operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with bicyclists;
(e) Pedestrian safety, to ensure that operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with pedestrians;
(f) Commercial vehicle, bus, and other large vehicle awareness, to ensure new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of sharing the road with large vehicles; and
(g) Work zone and first responder safety awareness, to ensure new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of sharing the road with workers in roadway work zones and first responder vehicles and personnel.
(3) Should the director be presented with acceptable proof that any licensed instructor or driver training school is not showing proper diligence in teaching the required curriculum, the instructor or school shall be required to appear before the director and show cause why the license of the instructor or school should not be revoked for such negligence. If the director does not accept such reasons as may be offered, the director may revoke the license of the instructor or school, or both.
Effective date — 2025 c 299 s 6: "Section 6 of this act takes effect January 1, 2031." [ 2025 c 299 s 25 .]
Findings — Intent — 2025 c 299: See note following RCW 46.20.1191 .
Effective date — 2023 c 32: "This act takes effect April 1, 2024." [ 2023 c 32 s 2 .]
Findings — Intent — Effective date — 2017 c 197: See notes following RCW 28A.220.020 .
Effective date — 2010 1st sp.s. c 26; 2010 1st sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 43.03.027 .
Findings — 2008 c 125: "The legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the state of Washington to encourage the safe and efficient use of the roads by all citizens, regardless of mode of transportation. In furtherance of this policy, the legislature further finds and declares that driver training programs should enhance the driver training curriculum in order to emphasize the importance of safely sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians." [ 2008 c 125 s 1 .]
Short title — 2008 c 125: "This act may be known and cited as the Matthew "Tatsuo" Nakata act." [ 2008 c 125 s 2 .]
Effective date — 2006 c 219: See note following RCW 46.82.285 .