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*sb0068*
SENATE BILL 68
R4 6lr0792
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Charles
Requested: September 6, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 16, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Driver’s Licenses – Driver Skills Examination – Motorcycle Safety Awareness 2
(D. Torch Road Safety Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to include certain 4
questions related to motorcycle safety awareness on the driver skills examination 5
required for the issuance of a driver’s license; and generally relating to dr iver skills 6
examinations. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 16–110 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
Preamble 13
WHEREAS, The Maryland General Assembly honors the life and legacy of Donnell 14
“Torch” Floyd Jr.; now, therefore, 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Transportation 18
2 SENATE BILL 68
16–110. 1
(a) The Administration shall: 2
(1) Establish qualifications for the safe operation of the various classes, 3
types, sizes, or combinations of vehicles; and 4
(2) Examine each applicant to determine the applicant’s qualifications for 5
the license class applied for. 6
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the Administration shall examine 7
each applicant for an original driver’s license or for a class of driver’s license higher than 8
that which the applicant currently holds. 9
(c) (1) The examination shall include: 10
[(1)] (I) A test of the applicant’s: 11
[(i)] 1. Vision; 12
[(ii)] 2. Ability to read and understand highway signs regulating, 13
warning, and directing traffic; and 14
[(iii)] 3. Knowledge of the traffic laws of this State and safe driving 15
practices; 16
[(2)] (II) A demonstration of the applicant’s ability to exercise reasonable 17
control in driving a motor vehicle; and 18
[(3)] (III) Any other additional physical or mental examination that the 19
Administration considers necessary to determine an applicant’s fitness to drive a motor 20
vehicle safely. 21
(2) (I) 1. THE POOL OF QUESTIONS FR OM WHICH THE 22
EXAMINATION REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N DRAWS SHALL INCLUDE AT 23
LEAST FIVE QUESTIONS RELATED TO MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS. 24
2. AT LEAST ONE QUESTION RELATED TO MOTORCYCLE 25
SAFETY AWARENESS SHALL APPEAR ON THE EXAMINATION. 26
(II) THE QUESTIONS REQUIRE D BY THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL 27
ADDRESS: 28
1. VISIBILITY OF MOTORCYCLES; 29
SENATE BILL 68 3
2. PROPER LANE POSITIONING AROUND MOTORCYCLES; 1
3. SAFE FOLLOWING DISTAN CES AROUND 2
MOTORCYCLES; 3
4. PREVENTING CRASHES WITH MOTORCYCLES; AND 4
5. ANY OTHER TOPIC RELAT ED TO MOTORCYCLE 5
SAFETY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DEEMS RELEVANT. 6
(d) If an applicant is qualified to take the required examinations for the license 7
applied for, the applicant shall appe ar in person for examination at any one of the places 8
in this State that the Administration has designated for this purpose. 9
(e) (1) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, for a required 10
driver skills examination or driver road examination, each applicant shall provide a motor 11
vehicle of a type appropriate to test the applicant’s ability to drive all vehicles that may be 12
driven under the license class applied for. 13
(ii) An applicant may not use an autocycle to test the applicant’s 14
ability to drive under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. 15
(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, when 16
the holder of a learner’s instructional permit appears for the driving test, the permit holder 17
shall be accompanied by an individual qualified under § 16 –105 of this subtitle to 18
accompany the holder of a learner’s permit while driving on a highway. That individual 19
shall have his driver’s license with him. 20
(3) The holder of a Class M (motorcycle) learner’s instructional permit may: 21
(i) Transport a motorcycle to the driving test by truck or other 22
vehicle unaccompanied by another individual, if the permit holder is licensed to drive the 23
truck or other vehicle; or 24
(ii) Be accompanied by a person transporting a motorcycle to the test 25
by truck or other vehicle, if that person is licensed to drive the truck or other vehicle. 26
(4) The holder of a learner’s instructional permit may be driven to the 27
examination station and to the starting point where the examiner begins t he test by any 28
individual authorized to drive the class of vehicle in which the test is being given. That 29
individual shall have a valid driver’s license in the individual’s possession. 30
(f) If the applicant does not pass the examination for the license class applied for, 31
the Administration may issue the applicant any license of a lower class for which the 32
applicant qualifies. 33
4 SENATE BILL 68
(g) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, the Administration may 1
waive any driver’s license examination provided for under this title if the applicant: 2
(1) Holds a valid driver’s license issued under this subtitle; 3
(2) Is applying for a Class M license and has successfully completed the 4
Administration approved basic motorcycle safety course; or 5
(3) Holds a valid license from: 6
(i) Another state; 7
(ii) A territory or possession of the United States, the District of 8
Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; or 9
(iii) A province or territory of Canada. 10
(h) The Administration may not waive a vision examination required under this 11
section unless the applicant: 12
(1) Is applying for a corrected driver’s license under § 16 –114.1 of this 13
subtitle; and 14
(2) Has passed a vision examination acceptable to the Administration 15
within the last 12 months. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2026. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.