§ 58-31-52. State motor vehicle safety program.
§58‑31‑52. State motor vehicle safety program.
(a) Findings, Policy,and Purpose. Motor vehicle accidents exact a terrible toll of human tragedyand suffering as well as national resources within the United States. The sameis true, on a smaller scale, within North Carolina State government. Every yearState employees or members of the general public are killed or injured, and asignificant portion of the State's financial resources is expended as a directresult of accidents involving State‑owned vehicles. Accordingly, it isNorth Carolina policy that the State‑owned motor vehicle fleet andvehicles used on behalf of the State be operated and maintained in such amanner as to minimize deaths, injuries, and costs. The purpose of this sectionis to direct the Commissioner of Insurance to develop a program to providepolicy, requirements, procedures, technical information, and standards foradministering a State vehicle safety program which will apply to all Statepersonnel involved in the administration and operation of vehicles on behalf ofthe State.
(b) The Commissionershall develop and adopt a State motor vehicle safety program to assure thatState‑owned motor vehicles are operated and maintained in a safe manner.
(c) In developing theprogram, the Commissioner shall include the following:
(1) Basic criteriaconcerning qualifications, screening, and education of drivers.
(2) Required andprohibited driving practices.
(3) Safety maintenancerequirements.
(4) Accident reportingand review procedures.
(d) The requirementsand procedures established under the program apply to all agencies and personsoperating vehicles on behalf of the State, unless specifically exempted by theCommissioner. Agencies may adopt more stringent requirements and procedures thanthose adopted by the Commissioner under this section. The administration of theprogram in each agency is the responsibility of each agency head or thatperson's designee.
(e) The provisions ofChapter 150B of the General Statutes do not apply to the program developed andadopted under this section. (1995, c. 517, s. 15.)