The bureau shall have the following powers and duties:

A. organize, plan and conduct a statewide program of activities designed to prevent accidents and to reduce the incidence of DWI in New Mexico;

B. coordinate activities and programs of the departments, divisions and agencies of this state now engaged in promoting traffic safety;

C. provide accident prevention information and publicity to all appropriate media of information and develop other means of public information;

D. cooperate with all public and private agencies and organizations interested in the promotion of traffic safety and accident prevention;

E. serve as a clearinghouse for all traffic safety materials and information used throughout this state;

F. cooperate in promoting research, special studies and analysis of problems concerning the safety and welfare of the citizens of New Mexico;

G. cooperate fully with national safety organizations in bringing about greater effectiveness in nationwide accident prevention activities and programs;

H. make studies and suitable recommendations, through the chief and the secretary of transportation, to the legislature concerning safety regulations and laws;

I. prepare and submit each year a written report to the governor concerning the activities of the bureau and activities concerning assistance to local organizations and officials;

J. institute and administer a statewide motorcycle training program funded as provided for in Section 66-10-10 NMSA 1978;

K. institute and administer an accident prevention course for elderly drivers as provided for in Section 59A-32-14 NMSA 1978;

L. cooperate with the public education department to develop a regulatory framework for instructional and administrative processes, including licensure requirements for instructors, and a curriculum for instruction in defensive driving with a DWI education and prevention component to be offered statewide in secondary schools as an elective;

M. institute and administer a DWI prevention and education program for elementary and secondary school students, funded as provided for in Section 66-5-35 NMSA 1978;

N. include at least two hours of DWI prevention and education training in all driver education courses approved by the bureau; and

O. include a DWI recidivism prevention component in all driver rehabilitation programs for alcohol or drugs approved by the bureau.

History: 1953 Comp., § 64-7-506, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 493; 1987, ch. 268, § 31; 1989, ch. 164, § 2; 1993, ch. 68, § 44; 2007, ch. 201, § 1.

The 2007 amendment, effective June 15, 2007, added Subsection O.

The 1993 amendment, effective July 1, 1993, inserted present Subsection L and redesignated former Subsections L and M as present Subsections M and N.

The 1989 amendment, effective June 16, 1989, substituted "secretary of highway and transportation" for "secretary of the state highway and transportation department" in Subsection H and added Subsections J to L.

The 1987 amendment, effective July 1, 1987, in Subsection H inserted "state highway and" preceding "transportation" and made minor changes in language and punctuation throughout the section.