Utah Legislature 81013TST

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Traffic Safety Task Force

MINUTES OF THE
TRAFFIC SAFETY TASK FORCE
        October 13, 1998 - 1:00 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. Beau Babka
    Ms. Laura Drew
    Ms. Rolayne Fairclough
    Dr. Thomas Metcalf
    Ms. Linda Plouzek

Members Absent:
    Mr. Rod Betit
    Mr. Walter Borla
    Mr. Aaron D. Kennard
    Mr. David K. Miles

Members Excused:
    Mr. Bill Barnes
    Mr. Patrick Casaday
    Mr. David Creer
    Dr. Steve Ronnenkamp

Staff Present:
    Mr. Benjamin N. Christensen,
        Research Analyst
    Mr. Dee S Larsen,
        Associate General Counsel
    Ms. 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 Harper called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m.

     MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to approve the minutes of the September 8, 1998 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

2.    Driver Education and Graduated Driver Licensing Issues - Mr. Benjamin Christensen distributed a graph titled "Graduated Driver Licensing Proposal," which showed the provisions requested by the task force and current statutes. He also discussed the current graduated driver licensing proposals made by the task force, Rep. Marda Dillree, Rep. Don Bush, and Sen. Scott Howell. He referred to a chart he distributed titled "Driver Education and Graduated Driver Licensing Proposals" which compared each proposal.

    Rep. Dillree, Rep. Bush, and Sen. Howell each discussed his or her proposal and the reasons for each respective approach.

    Rep. Dillree also informed the task force of her potential legislation which would require that anyone under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt in a motor vehicle.
     MOTION: Ms. Fairclough moved to amend the draft legislation titled "Graduating Driver Licensing" to include: (a) a requirement of 50 hours of driving time, 10 hours of which must be at night; and (b) restricting the passengers for a young driver prior to age 16 years 9 months to immediate family members, unless the driver is accompanied by a licensed adult over the age of 21. The motion passed, with Rep. Harper voting in opposition to the motion. Sen. Peterson was absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Mr. Allred moved to amend page 2, line 25 of the draft legislation titled "Graduating Driver Licensing" to delete "17" and insert "18". The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

    Ms. Gail Johnson, Utah State Office of Education, expressed concerns about combining the current driving permits and not having the public school instructors administer the driving tests.

     MOTION: Mr. Allred moved to approve the draft legislation titled "Graduating Driver Licensing" as a task force bill. The motion passed unanimously.

    Mr. David Beach, Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division, responded to questions related to the potential fiscal impact of the draft legislation.

3.    Pedestrian Safety Issues - Mr. Dee Larsen explained that agenda items 3 and 4 are essentially combined.

4.    Coordinating Councils - Mr. Larsen furnished background information on the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee that was repealed several years ago. He said that the committee was under the direction of the governor. He explained and distributed draft legislation titled "Traffic Safety Coordinating Council" that had been requested by the task force.

     MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved that the coordinating council include a member designated by the Division of Aging Services to represent senior citizens. The motion passed unanimously. Sen. Montgomery was absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Ms. Fairclough moved to include a member designated by the Department of Human Services to represent disabled citizens. The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Mr. Allred moved to include a member represented by the Utah Department of Health. The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to include a member from the Society of Professional Engineers, who is a practicing traffic or transportation engineer, to represent the private sector. The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Mr. Allred moved to approve the draft legislation titled "Traffic Safety Coordinating Council" as amended as a task force bill. The motion passed unanimously.

    Rep. Arent expressed concern about the issue of road conditions and the effect of the conditions on pedestrians. Mr. Larsen clarified some issues of concern.

5.    Other Task Force Business - Sen. Peterson suggested that current statutes for senior drivers be studied and discussed at the October 27 meeting of the task force.

    A booklet prepared by Julie Eldridge, Senior Planner, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Weber State University, titled "Bicycle & Pedestrian Planning Guide for Utah," was distributed.

    Mr. Christensen reminded the task force that the Pedestrian Safety Road Show will take place on October 15.

    Ms. Tammy Diaz, Utah citizen, distributed a newsletter produced by the Brain Injury Association of Utah, Inc. She also distributed a letter she wrote that included a challenge for task force members to park their cars for two weeks, become a pedestrian, and take public transportation.

6.    Adjourn -

     MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously at 3:24 p.m. Ms. Plouzek was absent for the vote.

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