Driver’s tests may include questions on train safety

By Lee Davidson

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Feb 21 2013 10:48 am • Last Updated Feb 21 2013 11:08 pm

The Senate on Thursday endorsed a call for including questions about safety around trains on driver license tests for new drivers.

It voted unanimously to pass SJR8, and sent it to the House.

Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, a former member of the board of the Utah Transit Authority, said too many accidents have been occurring in recent years around TRAX, the FrontRunner commuter rail and other trains — so it is worth requiring new drivers to study rules for train crossings, and rules of behavior around train stations.

"We hope to build a culture of safety," she said.

In 2011 and 2012, UTA reported a total of 45 major incidents with TRAX and FrontRunner, including 13 fatalities and 26 injuries. Nineteen of those accidents were trains hitting cars.

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