An Act to Provide Traffic Safety Education in Schools
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0730
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, ANKELES, CARNEY, ARFORD, BELL

Legislative Document
No. 730
S.P. 288
In Senate, February 16, 2023
An Act to Provide Traffic Safety Education in Schools
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative ANKELES of Brunswick and
Senator: CARNEY of Cumberland, Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, BELL of 
Yarmouth.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 224 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 224
TRAFFIC SAFETY EDUCATION
§6701.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1.  Micromobility device.  "Micromobility device" means any small, low-speed, 
human-powered or electric-powered transportation device, including a bicycle, scooter, 
skateboard, electric-assisted bicycle, electric scooter or e-scooter, electric skateboard and 
other small, lightweight, wheeled device that has a top speed of 28 miles per hour or less.  
"Micromobility device" does not include any transportation device powered by an internal 
combustion engine. 
2.  Traffic safety education.  "Traffic safety education" means education designed to 
provide instruction regarding traffic safety laws and rules, including best practices for users 
of public and private ways, including motor vehicle operators, pedestrians, bicyclists, 
micromobility device operators and other vulnerable users, as that term is defined in Title 
29-A, section 101, subsection 91-A.
§6702.  Traffic safety education required
A school administrative unit shall provide at least one hour of age-appropriate traffic 
safety education annually to students in grades 2 to 12.  The traffic safety education must 
meet the minimum requirements specified in section 6703. 
§6703.  Traffic safety education program minimum requirements
A traffic safety education program, referred to in this chapter as "the program," offered 
by a school administrative unit must meet, at a minimum, the following requirements 
adjusted as appropriate for each grade to which the traffic safety education is provided.
1.  Pedestrian instruction.  The program must provide instruction on traffic laws and 
rules applicable to pedestrians and safe pedestrian use of public and private ways, 
including:
A.  Use of sidewalks and crosswalks;
B.  Travel on the shoulders of public ways, including direction of travel;
C.  Entering, exiting and crossing public and private ways; and
D.  Conspicuity.
2.  Bicyclist instruction.  The program must provide instruction on traffic laws and 
rules applicable to bicyclists and safe bicycle operation on public and private ways, 
including:
A.  Helmet requirements and use;
B.  Conspicuity, lighting and reflector use;
C.  Hand signals and use;
D.  The meaning of and the proper response to traffic control devices as defined in Title 
29-A, section 101, subsection 84;
E.  Travel on public ways, including direction of travel; and
F.  Entering, exiting and crossing public and private ways.
3.  Micromobility device instruction.  The program must provide instruction on best 
practices and any laws applicable to micromobility device operators on public and private 
ways, including instruction that micromobility device operators should operate as bicyclists 
when on public ways as described in Title 29-A, chapters 19 and 20.
4.  Motorist instruction.  The program must provide instruction on traffic laws and 
rules applicable to motor vehicle operators and passengers in motor vehicles, including:
A.  Awareness of, operating around and safely passing pedestrians, bicyclists and other 
vulnerable users of public and private ways;
B.  Prohibitions against distracted driving;
C.  Prohibitions against operating under the influence of intoxicating liquor and drugs; 
and
D.  Speed limits.
§6704.  Limits on instruction
The program is not intended to supplant a driver education course offered pursuant to 
chapter 316 and may not include any practical instruction in the operation of a motor 
vehicle.  The program may include so-called "in the field" sessions on foot or while riding 
bicycles.
§6705.  Contract with 3rd party
A school administrative unit may contract with a 3rd party to provide traffic safety 
education.
SUMMARY
The purpose of this bill is to provide students in Maine with traffic safety education 
from an early age with the goal of teaching students safe practices and respect for all users 
of the road in order to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and make 
Maine's roadways safer and more enjoyable for all users.
This bill requires all school administrative units to provide age-appropriate traffic 
safety education annually to students in grades 2 to 12.  The traffic safety education 
program must provide, at a minimum, instruction on the laws and rules regarding the use 
of public and private ways by motor vehicle operators, passengers in motor vehicles, 
pedestrians, bicyclists, micromobility device operators and other vulnerable users.  A 
school administrative unit may contract with a 3rd party to provide the traffic safety 
education.