1. A. The state board [department] or its designated representative shall adopt and promulgate minimum standards for approved driver-education and motorcycle driver-education courses taught in any school in the state.
2. B. A driver-education or motorcycle driver-education course shall provide to students legally entitled to operate the type of motor vehicle involved, classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel or on-the-motorcycle training in the safe operation of the motor vehicle.
3. C. An approved driver-education or motorcycle driver-education course is a course of instruction certified by the state superintendent [secretary] as meeting the minimum standards for such a driver-education course adopted by the state board [department] or its designated representative.

History: 1953 Comp., § 77-11-7, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 16, § 186; 1973, ch. 381, § 4.

ANNOTATIONS

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.

Laws 2004, ch. 25, § 27, provided that all references to the superintendent of public instruction shall be deemed references to the secretary of public education and all references to the former state board of education or state department of education shall be deemed references to the public education department. See 9-24-15 NMSA 1978.

Cross references. — For designation of the public education department as the sole educational agency of state for administration or supervision of state plan established for funds received pursuant to federal statute relating to school lunch programs, see 22-9-2 NMSA 1978.

22-13-12. Approved driver-education courses. (Effective January 1, 2027.)

A. The department or its designated representative shall adopt and promulgate minimum standards for approved driver-education and motorcycle driver-education courses taught in any school in the state, which shall include at least three hours of education and training on driving with vulnerable road users.

B. A driver-education or motorcycle driver-education course shall provide to students legally entitled to operate the type of motor vehicle involved classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel or on-the-motorcycle training in the safe operation of the motor vehicle.

C. An approved driver-education or motorcycle driver-education course is a course of instruction certified by the secretary as meeting the minimum standards for a driver-education course adopted by the department or its designated representative.

D. As used in this section, "vulnerable road user" includes:

(a) a pedestrian, including a person engaged in work or in the provision of emergency services upon or along a roadway;

(b) a person riding or leading an animal; or

(c) a person lawfully operating or riding a bicycle, tricycle or other pedal-powered vehicle, a farm tractor or similar vehicle designed primarily for farm use, a skateboard, a scooter, a moped, a motorcycle, roller skates, inline skates, an animal-drawn wheeled vehicle, an electric personal assistive mobility device, a wheelchair or another similar means of transportation in which the person is not surrounded by a shell of protection such as that which a car or truck provides.

History: 1953 Comp., § 77-11-7, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 16, § 186; 1973, ch. 381, § 4; 2026, ch. 57, § 1.

The 2026 amendment, effective January 1, 2027, defined "vulnerable road user" as used in this section, and required driver education courses to include at least three hours of education and training on driving with vulnerable road users, in Subsection A, after "in the state" added "which shall include at least three hours of education and training on driving with vulnerable road users"; and added Subsection D.