Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 56 First Substitute (2018GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Harper, W.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/19/2018

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines "connected platooning system";
• provides an exemption to a minimum following distance requirement for the operator of a vehicle that is part of a connected platooning system; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

VEHICLE PLATOONING AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
House Sponsor: 
Kay J. Christofferson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions of the Traffic Code related to safe following distance.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines "connected platooning system";
▸ provides an exemption to a minimum following distance requirement for the
operator of a vehicle that is part of a connected platooning system; and
▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
41-6a-711
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapters 277 and 412
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
41-6a-711
 is amended to read:
41-6a-711.
Following another vehicle -- Safe distance -- Exceptions -- Penalty.
(1) As used in this section, "connected platooning system" means a system that uses
vehicle-to-vehicle communication to electronically coordinate the speed and braking of a lead
vehicle with the speed and braking of one or more following vehicles.
[
(1)
] 
(2)
 The operator of a vehicle:
(a) may not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having
regard for the:
(i) speed of the vehicles;
(ii) traffic upon the highway; and
(iii) condition of the highway; and
(b) shall 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.
[
(2)
] 
(3)
 Subsection [
(1)
] 
(2)
(b) does not apply to:
(a) funeral processions or to congested traffic conditions resulting in prevailing vehicle
speeds of less than 35 miles per hour; or
[
(b) a connected vehicle technology testing program that uses networked wireless
communication among vehicles, infrastructure, or communication devices that is:
]
[
(i) approved by the Department of Transportation in consultation with the Department
of Public Safety; and
]
[
(ii) conducted outside of an urbanized boundary as defined by the United States
Census Bureau.
]
[
(3) The Department of Transportation shall report the results of the testing program
conducted under Subsection (2)(b) to the Transportation Interim Committee by no later than
October 30 of any year that a testing program is conducted.
]
(b) the operator of a vehicle that is:
(i) part of a connected platooning system; and
(ii) not the lead vehicle.
(4) A violation of Subsection [
(1)
] 
(2)
 is an infraction.