Governor signs bill requiring student drivers to take course on bicyclist and pedestrian safety

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed into law a bill requiring student drivers to take at least three hours of training on “vulnerable road users,” such as bicyclists, pedestrians and emergency service providers.

Senate Bill 73 will take effect on Jan. 1.

Main bill sponsor Sen. Heather Berghmans, D-Albuquerque, said she got the idea for the legislation after meeting with Melinda Montoya, the Journal reported. Montoya is the mother of the late teen Kayla VanLandingham, who was killed in July while riding her bicycle home in Northeast Albuquerque.

In a message sent to the Senate on Monday, Lujan Grisham said while SB 73 “is a good start to achieving safer roads,” more needs to be done.

Citing data that New Mexico ranks 10th in traffic fatalities in the United States, “with almost 40% of those fatalities involving a vulnerable road user,” the governor said, “it seems that existing drivers are the problem — not future drivers.”

“I encourage the Legislature to attack this problem more comprehensively next session, as it is a matter of life and death,” Lujan Grisham said. “Future legislation could include more requirements around renewing a license, raising the minimum age of those eligible to receive a license, or harsher penalties around distracted or reckless driving. There are many possibilities.

“The bottom line is more needs to be done to limit the loss of life on the road in New Mexico.”

Montoya said in a text that she agreed with the governor’s sentiment.

“We need to do more and I hope that we are able to bring more accountability and safer streets to New Mexico come next session,” she said. “We need to start working now to develop partners to get it moving.”

Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.