Vehicle Laws - Motor Vehicle Administration - 3-Hour Roadway Safety Driving Education Program - Requirements
Summary
SB471 revises Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration requirements for a 3-hour driver education course, renaming and broadening it from an alcohol-and-drug-focused program to a “Roadway Safety Driving Education Program.” The bill requires the MVA to establish this program for certain driver’s license applicants and holders, including individuals who are eligible to obtain a license without first holding a learner’s permit but have never previously been licensed. It also keeps the program available as a condition that may be imposed by the MVA, a court, or a probation or health department officer in connection with moving violations or license reinstatement.
The bill expands the required instructional topics beyond impaired driving and drug/alcohol sanctions to include roadway safety subjects such as signs, signals, and pavement markings; dangerous driving behaviors; work zone safety; and Maryland’s driving record and points system. It also updates the rules for private and local-government providers that may offer equivalent approved programs, and directs the MVA to adopt regulations for certifying private entities to provide the new program. The act takes effect October 1, 2025.
Impact
SB471 amends Transportation Article §§ 16-105(f), 16-212, and 16-212.1 to replace references to an alcohol and drug education program with a broader roadway safety driving education program. The practical effect is to expand the educational content required for certain first-time license applicants and for individuals ordered into driver education-related programs, while preserving the MVA’s authority to set fees, approve private providers, and waive attendance for approved alternative programs. It also aligns the program with the driver education course and gives the MVA authority to regulate certification standards for providers.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. Both recorded floor votes were unanimous, passing 43-0 in the Senate and 132-0 in the House. The absence of committee transcript opposition and the unanimous votes suggest general agreement that the program should be updated and broadened to emphasize roadway safety.
Contention
No major opposition is reflected in the available record. The main policy change is a shift away from a narrowly framed alcohol-and-drug education model toward a broader roadway safety curriculum, which may have been intended to modernize the program and better match current driver education needs. Any potential points of discussion would likely have centered on the scope of required instruction, MVA regulatory authority, and approval of private or local providers, but the voting history shows no evident controversy.