(Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo) Legislation that cleared the Legislature means questions about driving near trains should end up on tests for new drivers. In this file photo from February, UTA crews clear an SUV that was hit in a TRAX accident near 5900 South 300 West.

Want a driver’s license? Study rail safety, too

The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Feb 28 2013 12:52 pm • Last Updated Mar 04 2013 08:48 pm

SJR8 • The House gave final approval to a call for including questions about safety around trains on driver license tests for new drivers.

It passed SJR8 on a 61-4 vote. The legislation previously passed the Senate unanimously. Joint resolutions that call for, but do not mandate, action are not sent to the governor for his signature.

The resolution’s sponsor, Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, a former member of the Utah Transit Authority board, said she pushed the resolution because too many accidents have been occurring in recent years around TRAX, FrontRunner commuter rail and other trains.

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.

Lee Davidson

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