HB153.html

To amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, related to issuance, expiration, and renewal of drivers´ licenses, so as to provide for pedestrian safety procedures to be covered on the driver´s examination and to be included in any manual prepared in preparation for such examination; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

"(a) The department shall examine every applicant for a driver´s license. Such examination shall include a test of the applicant´s eyesight, his or her ability to understand official traffic-control devices, ~~and~~ his or her knowledge of safe driving practices and the traffic laws of this state, and laws related to pedestrian safety and shall also include a comprehensive on-the-road driving test during which the applicant shall be required to fully demonstrate his or her ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle of the type or general class of vehicles he or she desires a license to drive; provided, however, that the on-the-road driving test requirement shall not apply to any applicant for a Class C driver´s license who holds a Class D driver´s license issued on or after January 1, 2002. Any manual prepared in preparation for the examination shall include the material to be covered on the examination. Applicants 18 years of age and older with valid and current licenses issued by another state of the United States or the District of Columbia who surrender their previous licenses to obtain a Georgia license shall be exempt from taking such tests other than tests of eyesight. The examination may also include such further physical and mental examination as the department finds necessary to determine the applicant´s fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways. The commissioner may establish by rules and regulations the type of tests or demonstrations to be made by applicants for any class of license."