NY A01788

Amends the reckless driving statute (VTL § 1212) to create a rebuttable presumption that drivers who cause physical injury, serious physical injury, or death while violating traffic laws were operating recklessly and acted with criminal negligence

Elevates reckless driving that causes injury when committed with criminal negligence from an unclassified misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor, and eliminates judicial requirements for finding "gross deviation" or additional "aggravating factors"

Repeals the existing "failure to exercise due care" provisions (VTL § 1146) that imposed separate penalties up to $750 fines and 15 days imprisonment for drivers who injure pedestrians or bicyclists

Mandates a new "Reckless Driving and Vehicular Violence" awareness component in the pre-licensing course, covering traffic laws related to pedestrians and bicyclists, distracted driving dangers, and consequences of vehicular crimes causing injury or death

Requires drivers convicted of reckless driving to complete a motor vehicle accident prevention course, and adds reckless driving awareness to insurance-approved defensive driving courses that qualify for premium reductions