U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

49–010 

" ! SENATE 109TH CONGRESS

2nd Session 

REPORT

2006

109–333 

Calendar No. 601 

EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS 

THAT STATES SHOULD REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR DRIVER’S LICENSES TO 

DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO EXERCISE 

GREATLY INCREASED CAUTION WHEN 

DRIVING IN THE PROXIMITY OF A POTENTIALLY VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUAL 

R E P O R T 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND 

TRANSPORTATION 

ON

S. Con. Res. 71 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2006.—Ordered to be printed 


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(II) 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

TED STEVENS, Alaska, Chairman 

DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii, Co-Chairman 

JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona 

CONRAD BURNS, Montana 

TRENT LOTT, Mississippi 

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas 

OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine 

GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon 

JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada 

GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia 

JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire 

JIM DEMINT, South Carolina 

DAVID VITTER, Louisiana 

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia 

JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts 

BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota 

BARBARA BOXER, California 

BILL NELSON, Florida 

MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

FRANK LAUTENBERG, New Jersey 

E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska 

MARK PRYOR, Arkansas 

LISA SUTHERLAND, Staff Director 

CHRISTINE KURTH, Deputy Staff Director 

KENNETH NAHIGIAN, Chief Counsel 

MARGARET CUMMISKY, Democratic Staff Director and Chief Counsel 

SAMUEL WHITEHORN, Democratic Deputy Staff Director and General Counsel 

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Calendar No. 601 

109TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2nd Session 109–333 

EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT STATES SHOULD REQUIRE 

CANDIDATES FOR DRIVER’S LICENSES TO DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY 

TO EXERCISE GREATLY INCREASED CAUTION WHEN DRIVING IN THE 

PROXIMITY OF A POTENTIALLY VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUAL 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2006.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. STEVENS, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. Con. Res. 71] 

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 

which was referred the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 71) expressing the sense of Congress that States should require candidates for driver’s licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise 

greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that 

the concurrent resolution be agreed to. 

PURPOSE OF THE RESOLUTION

The purpose of S. Con. Res. 71 is to express the sense of the Congress that States should require candidates for driver’s licenses to 

demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when 

driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual. 

BACKGROUND AND NEEDS

S. Con. Res. 71 was introduced by Senator Akaka on December 

15, 2005. The cosponsors are Senators DeWine, Inouye, Johnson, 

Landrieu, Salazar, Schumer, Stevens, and Thune. Each year, careless drivers cause personal injury and death to visually impaired 

individuals and their guide dogs. To reduce these accidents, the 

resolution urges states to adopt the requirement that candidates 

for driver’s licenses demonstrate an ability to drive with increased 

caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual. 

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SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS

S. Con. Res. 71 finds that many visually impaired people travel 

about their communities without personal assistance and that 

many visually impaired people and guide dogs suffer injury and 

death each year as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle. 

Therefore, the resolution expresses the sense of Congress that 

States should require candidates for driver’s licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual. 

The resolution encourages states to teach candidates for driver’s licenses to associate guide dogs and white canes with visually impaired pedestrians. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On July 19, 2006, the resolution was ordered to be reported favorably without amendment from the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation by voice vote. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

With respect to the requirements of paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI 

of the Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, S. Con. Res. 71 is a sense of the Congress resolution and therefore does not have the force of law. As 

such, there is no cost associated with this legislation for fiscal year 

2007, nor for any fiscal year thereafter. 

REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

Because S. Con. Res. 71 does not create any new programs, the 

legislation will have no additional regulatory impact, and will result in no additional reporting requirements. The legislation will 

have no further effect on the number or types of individuals and 

businesses regulated, the economic impact of such regulation, the 

personal privacy of affected individuals, or the paperwork required 

from such individuals and businesses. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the resolution as 

reported would make no change to existing law. 

Æ 

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