(a) Every vehicle used in a secondary school driver education program shall be:
- (1) Maintained in safe operating condition in accordance with law;
- (2) Marked as required by section 14-292 of the Connecticut General Statutes for the purpose of instructing a student in the operation of a motor vehicle;
- (3) A dual control vehicle;
- (4) Equipped with at least three (3) mirrors which give the operator thereof a clear reflected view of the highway directly to the rear, on a line parallel to the left side of the vehicle body, and on a line parallel to the right side of the vehicle body. In addition to the driver's rear view mirror, each vehicle shall also be equipped with a second rear view mirror mounted to give an instructor seated in the right front passenger's seat a clear view of the rear zone. Such second rear view mirror may be mounted in a temporary manner;
- (5) Equipped with seat safety belts for each person in the vehicle, which shall be used by all occupants during driver instruction;
- (b) Every vehicle shall have its headlights or running lights turned on when being used to provide behind-the-wheel instruction.
- (c) Every vehicle used in a driver education program shall be registered in accordance with law, and have minimum liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage for each vehicle of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage. In lieu of an insurance policy, proof of self-insurance may be accepted by the commissioner.
- (d) No vehicle for which the insurance required by subsection (c) of this section has been canceled or reduced shall be used for behind-the-wheel instruction or examination of students.
- (e) A secondary school shall notify the commissioner immediately and in writing when a vehicle owned or leased by a secondary school is out of service and no longer used for behind-the-wheel instruction or driver testing.
(Effective April 30, 1997; Amended March 8, 2012)