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Traffic Safety Task Force

MINUTES OF THE

TRAFFIC SAFETY TASK FORCE

        
June 16, 1998 - 1:30 p.m. - 403 State Capitol


Members Present:
    Sen. Robert Montgomery,
        Co-Chair
    Rep. Wayne A. Harper,
        Co-Chair
    Sen. Millie M. Peterson
    Rep. Patrice Arent
    Mr. K. Craig Allred
    Mr. Walter Borla
    Mr. Patrick Casaday
    Ms. Laura Drew
    Ms. Rolayne Fairclough
    Dr. Thomas Metcalf
    Mr. David K. Miles
    Ms. Linda Plouzek    
    Dr. Steve Ronnenkamp


Members Absent:
    Mr. Beau Babka
    Mr. Bill Barnes
    Mr. Rod Betit
    Mr. David Creer
    Mr. Aaron D. Kennard

Staff Present:
    Benjamin N. Christensen,
        Research Analyst
    Dee S Larsen,
        Associate General Counsel
    Junie G. Anderson,
        Legislative Secretary

Note:    A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.     Task Force Business - Chair Montgomery called the meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. Task force members introduced themselves and the future task force meeting schedule was discussed.

    Sen. Peterson suggested that legislators attending the site visits in Garfield and Kane Counties in September research information from those areas and bring it back to the task force.

     MOTION: Rep. Arent moved that the chairs schedule eight meetings of the task force. The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Mr. Casaday moved to schedule the next meeting of the task force on June 29, at 1:30 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Rep. Arent moved that the eight meetings of the task force be scheduled on June 16, June 29, July 28, August 25, September 8, October 13, October 27, and November 10, at 1:30 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

2.     Task Force Duties and Background - Mr. Dee Larsen, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (OLRGC), explained the provisions of 1998 H.B. 410, "Traffic Safety Task Force," which created the duties of the task force.

3.      Discussion of Key Issues and Approaches - Rep. Arent suggested that staff contact several

groups in the state, relative to public and traffic safety, and gather information as to previous action taken by their organizations and recommendations for future action to improve public safety.

    Mr. Casaday recommended that traffic management programs from other states be considered and Ms. Plouzek recommended a review of the state of Maryland's pedestrian-safety devices.

    Mr. Allred spoke about engineering and behavioral problems relating to traffic safety. He distributed handouts titled, "Utah Crash Summary," and "Utah Highway Safety Evaluation FY 1997," and discussed the crash summary report. A fact sheet from the Department of Health titled, "Standard Seat Belt Law," was also distributed. Mr. Allred also suggested that seat belt and occupant safety issues be considered a high priority. Mr. Borla recommended that educating the public be considered a top priority.

    Ms. Drew suggested that community councils be contacted for input on programs currently being utilized to manage traffic safety problems and also to receive recommendations to resolve future problems of the same.

     MOTION: Dr. Metcalf moved that staff collate information received from various Utah organizations that are working on ways to resolve traffic safety problems and to report the information to the task force at the next meeting. The motion passed unanimously.


    Chair Harper recommended that task force members study the circumstances contributing to crashes on page 21 of the Utah Crash Summary handout.

    Mr. Tim Cosgrove, Primary Children's Medical Center, recommended that child car seat issues be considered a high priority.

    Mr. Larry Cook, Utah Codes, University of Utah, offered to furnish data information from his office.

    Officer Michael Leary, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, offered to provide citation information data to staff.

    Chair Montgomery requested that task force members study the handouts provided during the meeting and deliver information to staff by Monday, June 22, identifying organizations that can provide input relating to traffic safety issues

4.    Other Task Force Business -
    
5.    Adjourn -

    MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously at 3:28 p.m.

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