3/15/07-Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed a bill into law that includes several provisions intended to make the state's roadways safer. A provision to boost vehicles speeds, however, was left out.
The new law, previously SB17, creates a new category of tickets for "careless" driving. Any person found guilty of two or more moving violations or one moving violation while being distracted by one or more activities not related to the operation of the vehicle would be considered to be driving carelessly.
The bill lists five examples of distracting activities while driving. They include using cell phones, eating or drinking.
To be ticketed for careless driving, motorists would have to be stopped for another traffic offense.
The bill went through several revisions as it traveled through the statehouse. One provision that was included in the original bill called for allowing speed limits to be increased by 5 mph on state highways and interstates for all vehicles. The provision was stripped from the bill once it advanced to the House.
Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, sought to allow truckers and others traveling on rural interstates and other limited access routes would be cleared to drive 80 miles per hour - up from the current 75 mph limit. The speed limit along urban interstates and other roads would have increased from 65 mph to 70 mph.
Other parts of the bill that were approved include a provision intended to combat aggressive driving on multi-lane highways by keeping most motorists out of the far left-hand lane. Large trucks already are restricted to the right lanes of highways with at least three lanes in the same direction.
The change to state law requires vehicles traveling in the left lane to move right, when practical, when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle. It also requires that people traveling on highways adopt a two-second rule.
Jenkins wrote in the bill that drivers must "follow at a distance so that at least two seconds elapse before reaching the location of the vehicle directly in front of the operator's vehicle."
It also requires that drivers preparing to turn right or left must signal their intentions for at least two seconds. Until now, state law required a three-second heads up for other drivers.

2/22/07-The Legislature has approved a bill that no longer includes a provision to allow drivers to travel faster. It does include several other highway-safety related provisions.
A House-Senate conference committee reached agreement on the bill clearing the way for it to head to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
As introduced in the Senate the bill allowed speed limits to be increased by 5 mph on state highways and interstates for all vehicles. The provision was stripped from the bill - SB17 - in the House.
Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, the bill sponsor, sought to allow truckers and others traveling on rural interstates and other limited access routes would be cleared to drive 80 miles per hour - up from the current 75 mph limit. The speed limit along urban interstates and other roads would have increased from 65 mph to 70 mph.
Another provision that was removed would have created a new category of tickets for "careless" driving.
However, the Senate wanted the careless driving provision included. As a result, the conference committee reached agreement to reinsert the provision.
Any person found guilty of two or more moving violations or one moving violation while being distracted by one or more activities not related to the operation of the vehicle would be considered to be driving carelessly.
The bill lists five examples of distracting activities while driving. They include using cell phones, eating or drinking.
To be ticketed for careless driving, motorists would have to be stopped for another traffic offense.
Other parts of the bill include a provision that is intended to combat aggressive driving on multi-lane highways by keeping most motorists out of the far left-hand lane. Large trucks already are restricted to the right lanes of highways with at least three lanes in the same direction.
The proposed change to state law would require vehicles traveling in the left lane to move right, when practical, when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle.
The bill also would require that people traveling on highways adopt a two-second rule.
Jenkins wrote in the bill that drivers must "follow at a distance so that at least two seconds elapse before reaching the location of the vehicle directly in front of the operator's vehicle."
It also would require that drivers preparing to turn right or left must signal their intentions for at least two seconds. Existing law requires a three-second heads up for other drivers.
For bill status, call (801) 538-1035.

2/16/07-The House stripped a provision from a Senate-approved bill that originally would have allowed speed limits to be increased by 5 mph on state highways and interstates for all vehicles.
Sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, SB17 sought to allow truckers and others traveling on rural interstates and other limited access routes would be cleared to drive 80 miles per hour - up from the current 75 mph limit. The speed limit along urban interstates and other roads would have increased from 65 mph to 70 mph.
Another provision removed from the bill was intended to address the increasing problem of distracted driving. It would have created a new category of tickets for "careless" driving.
Any person found guilty of two or more moving violations or one moving violation while being distracted by one or more activities not related to the operation of the vehicle would have been considered to be driving carelessly.
The bill listed five examples of distracting activities while driving. They included using cell phones, eating or drinking.
Other parts of the bill that remain intact include a provision that is intended to combat aggressive driving on multi-lane highways by keeping most motorists out of the far left-hand lane. Large trucks already are restricted to the right lanes of highways with at least three lanes in the same direction.
The proposed change to state law would require vehicles traveling in the left lane to move right, when practical, when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle.
The bill also would require that people traveling on highways adopt a two-second rule.
Jenkins wrote in the bill that drivers must "follow at a distance so that at least two seconds elapse before reaching the location of the vehicle directly in front of the operator's vehicle."
It also would require that drivers preparing to turn right or left must signal their intentions for at least two seconds. Existing law requires a three-second heads up for other drivers.
The measure has been forwarded to a House-Senate conference committee to work out differences.
Jenkins said he has no plans to revive the speed limit provision.
For bill status, call (801) 538-1035.

1/29/07-The Senate voted 19-9 to approve a bill that includes provisions to allow drivers to travel faster and more safely. It has been forwarded to the House for further consideration.
Sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, SB17 would increase the speed limits by 5 mph on state highways and interstates.
Truckers and others traveling on rural interstates and other limited access routes would be cleared to drive 80 miles per hour - up from the current 75 mph limit. The speed limit along urban interstates and other roads would increase from 65 mph to 70 mph.
Another provision in the bill is intended to combat aggressive driving on multi-lane highways by keeping most motorists out of the far left-hand lane. Large trucks already are restricted to the right lanes of highways with at least three lanes in the same direction.
The proposed change to state law would require vehicles traveling in the left lane to move right, when practical, when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle.
The bill also would require that people traveling on highways adopt a two-second rule.
Jenkins wrote in the bill that drivers must "follow at a distance so that at least two seconds elapse before reaching the location of the vehicle directly in front of the operator's vehicle."
It also would require that drivers preparing to turn right or left must signal their intentions for at least two seconds. Existing law requires a three-second heads up for other drivers.
One other provision in the bill is intended to address the increasing problem of distracted driving. It would create a new category of tickets for "careless" driving.
Any person found guilty of two or more moving violations or one moving violation while being distracted by one or more activities not related to the operation of the vehicle would be considered to be driving carelessly.
The bill lists five examples of distracting activities while driving. They include using cell phones, eating, drinking or applying makeup while driving.
For bill status, call (801) 538-1035.

1/18/07-The Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee approved a bill that includes provisions to allow drivers to travel faster and more safely.
Sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, SB17 would increase the speed limits by 5 mph on state highways and interstates.
Truckers and others traveling on rural interstates and other limited access routes would be cleared to drive 80 miles per hour - up from the current 75 mph limit. The speed limit along urban interstates and other roads would increase from 65 mph to 70 mph.
Another provision in the bill is intended to combat aggressive driving on multi-lane highways by keeping most motorists out of the far left-hand lane. Large trucks already are restricted to the right lanes of highways with at least three lanes in the same direction.
The proposed change to state law would require vehicles traveling in the left lane to move right, when practical, when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle.
The bill also would require that people traveling on highways adopt a two-second rule.
Jenkins wrote in the bill that drivers must "follow at a distance so that at least two seconds elapse before reaching the location of the vehicle directly in front of the operator's vehicle."
It also would require that drivers preparing to turn right or left must signal their intentions for at least two seconds. Existing law requires a three-second heads up for other drivers.
One other provision in the bill is intended to address the increasing problem of distracted driving. It would create a new category of tickets for "careless" driving.
Any person found guilty of two or more moving violations or one moving violation while being distracted by one or more activities not related to the operation of the vehicle would be considered to be driving carelessly.
The bill lists five examples of distracting activities while driving. They include using cell phones, eating, drinking or applying makeup while driving.
The bill has been forwarded to the Senate floor for consideration. For Senate bill status, call (801) 538-1035.

1/12/07-Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, has offered a bill that includes provisions to allow drivers to travel faster and more safely.
SB17 would increase the speed limits by 5 mph on state highways and interstates.
Truckers and others traveling on rural interstates and other limited access routes would be cleared to drive 80 miles per hour - up from the current 75 mph limit. The speed limit along urban interstates and other roads would increase from 65 mph to 70 mph.
Another provision in the bill is intended to combat aggressive driving on multi-lane highways by keeping most motorists out of the far left-hand lane. Large trucks already are restricted to the right lanes of highways with at least three lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction.
The proposed change to state law would require vehicles traveling in the left lane to move right, when practical, when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle.
The bill also would require that people traveling on highways adopt a two-second rule.
Jenkins wrote in the bill that drivers must "follow at a distance so that at least two seconds elapse before reaching the location of the vehicle directly in front of the operator's vehicle."
It also would require that drivers preparing to turn right or left must signal their intentions for at least two seconds. Existing law requires a three-second heads up for other drivers.
One other provision in the bill is intended to address the increasing problem of distracted driving. It would create a new category of tickets for "careless" driving.
Any person found guilty of two or more moving violations or one moving violation while being distracted by one or more activities not related to the operation of the vehicle would be considered to be driving carelessly.
The bill lists five examples of distracting activities while driving. They include using cell phones, eating, drinking or applying makeup.
The bill is awaiting assignment to a committee. For Senate bill status, call (801) 538-1035.