Sec. 7.2. Definitions

For the purpose of this Part, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) New driver.

Every person who makes application for an original driving license, except a person for whom the requirement of a road test prior to issuance of such license is waived in accordance with Part 8 of this Title.

(b) Approved school.

The Department of Motor Vehicles or any person, agency, licensed driving school, or municipality which is approved by the commissioner, or an accredited secondary school or college which is approved by the Commissioner of Education for the purpose of conducting a course of classroom driver training and highway safety or participation in a research study program required by the commissioner for the issuance of a license to a new driver.

(c) Approved course.

A classroom training course in driver training and highway safety, conducted by an approved school, or by participation in a research study program which meets standards established by the commissioner.

(d) Qualified instructor.

A person who has been issued a driver education instructor' s certificate (form MV-283) or a drivers' school instructor's certificate (form MV-524) endorsed for classroom instruction, or a designee approved by the commissioner.

(e) Course completion certificate (form MV-278).

A certificate provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles and issued by an approved school which indicates that the person named thereon completed an approved course or has participated in a research study program within the past year. A student certificate (form MV-285), issued upon the successful completion of an approved high school or college driver education course, completed within the past two years, shall be acceptable in lieu of a course completion certificate.

(f) Research study program.

A research study program shall be an experimental alternative to the three-hour prelicensing course provided for in this Part. Such programs may consist of varying types and lengths of training and education established by the commissioner, or may act as a control in the experimental environment. Such alternatives shall be established and evaluated by the commissioner. In addition, such program will function as a method of measuring the continuing effectiveness of the prelicensing program, and for making such changes as would be necessary to ensure the greatest possible program effectiveness in terms of new driver safety and education.