1     
CONNECTED VEHICLE TESTING

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: John Knotwell

5     
Senate Sponsor: Aaron Osmond

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Act by authorizing the Department of
10     Transportation to conduct a connected vehicle technology testing program.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     authorizes the Department of Transportation to conduct a connected vehicle
14     technology testing program outside of an urbanized boundary as defined by the
15     United States Census Bureau;
16          ▸     requires the Department of Transportation to report the results of the testing
17     program to the Transportation Interim Committee by no later than October 30 in any
18     year that a testing program is conducted; and
19          ▸     makes technical corrections.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          41-6a-711, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 52
27     

28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29          Section 1. Section 41-6a-711 is amended to read:

30          41-6a-711. Following another vehicle -- Safe distance -- Exceptions.
31          (1) The operator of a vehicle:
32          (a) may not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having
33     regard for the:
34          (i) speed of the vehicles;
35          (ii) traffic upon the highway; and
36          (iii) condition of the highway; and
37          (b) shall follow at a distance so that at least two seconds elapse before reaching the
38     location of the vehicle directly in front of the operator's vehicle.
39          (2) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to:
40          (a) funeral processions or to congested traffic conditions resulting in prevailing vehicle
41     speeds of less than 35 miles per hour[.]; or
42          (b) a connected vehicle technology testing program that uses networked wireless
43     communication among vehicles, infrastructure, or communication devices that is:
44          (i) approved by the Department of Transportation in consultation with the Department
45     of Public Safety; and
46          (ii) conducted outside of an urbanized boundary as defined by the United States Census
47     Bureau.
48          (3) The Department of Transportation shall report the results of the testing program
49     conducted under Subsection (2)(b) to the Transportation Interim Committee by no later than
50     October 30 of any year that a testing program is conducted.