City of Lawrence
Traffic Safety Commission
May 1, 2006 Minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT: John Ziegelmeyer, Jr., Chair, David Hamby, Vice-Chair, Carol Bowen, Robert Hagen, Richard Heckler and Jim Woods.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Caroljean Brune and Paul Graves.
STAFF PRESENT: David Woosley, Public Works Department; Mark Bradford, Fire & Medical Department; Scott Miller, Legal Department.
Chair John Ziegelmeyer, Jr. called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room in City Hall.
ITEM NO. 1:
Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, April 3, 2006.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING, April 3, 2006; THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0-1 (Woods).
Commissioner Heckler arrived.
ITEM NO. 2:
Consider request from Crown Chevrolet-Toyota-Scion to implement protected-permissive left-turn phasing for Iowa Street at 34th Street.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Commission Hagen asked if the other intersections in the area at 31st and 33rd protected left; Woosley advised that they were.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked what it would cost to make the change; Woosley advised that it would be less than $1,000.
Commissioner Bowen asked why the signal was designed this way; Woosley advised that when it was installed, it was the first signal entering the city from a high-speed roadway and it is the city’s practice to provide permitted only left-turns in such cases.
Miles Schnaer, President of Crown Automotive: I made the request to create an easier way to access our property for employees and customers; many people are currently running the red light, a negative situation; we would like to present a positive situation; it would be to everyone’s benefit to have an easier way in.
Commissioner Woods asked if there was a particular time Schnaer noticed people running the red; Schnaer advised that it occurred at all times of the day.
Commissioner Woods advised that he watched the intersection this afternoon and never saw anyone run the red.
Commissioner Hagen: My inclination would be to go along with the request since there is a specific standard for when it becomes dangerous and not acceptable.
Commissioner Bowen: I can understand why it would be frustrating and it would be nice if people could just turn when they see no one, on the other hand, do we really want to risk 4 to 6 broadside crashes on a highway, so that people don’t have to wait.
Commissioner Hamby: There is a potential for additional crashes, but if people are running the red now, in some situations you would have a larger risk. Another solution would be to take the signal off coordination with the other signals along Iowa, but that is not desirable.
Commissioner Bowen asked what the speed limit was; Woosley advised it is 45mph.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, RECOMMENDING THAT PROTECTED-PERMISSIVE PHASING BE IMPLEMENTED ON IOWA STREET AT 34TH STREET ON A TRIAL BASIS UNTIL THE INTERSECTION MEETS THE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA FOR PROTECTED ONLY PHASING; THE MOTION CARRIED 5-1 (Bowen; because of the risks and high speed).
ITEM NO. 3:
Consider an ordinance establishing an additional fine for a person who commits an act of inattentive driving while using a wireless communication device.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Scott Miller presented a short description of the proposed ordinance.
Bob Lewis, 1201 W. 22nd Terrace: I would like to withhold comment until after Item #4.
Mike Sweeten, MV Transportation: If cell phones are the target, then the ordinance should specify cell phones; we use radios to communicate for public services as do other public service providers.
Scott Miller advised that the ordinance was written to cover cell phones as well as text-messaging devices or lap-top computers while driving, however, exceptions can be provided in the ordinance as well.
Commissioner Hagen: This is going to become more of a problem instead of less than a problem; I’d be more comfortable if this was handled on a state level, but I don’t think that is going to happen.
Commissioner Hagen: I like that this is tied to inattentive driving.
Commissioner Bowen: I don’t think this ordinance addresses the concern; unless there is an accident, this wouldn’t apply.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer: I think this is a start; I don’t think we have the resources for an outright ban in the city.
Commissioner Heckler: I don’t see how this is much good at all until someone has an accident.
Commissioner Hagen: I see it as a small step in the right direction.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HECKLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, RECOMMENDING THAT AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AN ADDITIONAL FINE FOR A PERSON WHO COMMITS AN ACT OF INATTENTIVE DRIVING WHILE USING A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE NOT BE APPROVED; THE MOTION FAILED 3-3 (Hagen, Hamby, Ziegelmeyer: the ordinance would be a good first step).
ITEM NO. 4:
Consider an ordinance prohibiting the use of wireless communication devices by inexperienced drivers during the operation of motor vehicles.
Scott Miller presented a brief description of the proposed ordinance.
Bob Lewis, 1201 W. 22nd Terrace: I encourage you to approve this ordinance, but to delete the words inexperienced drivers; if someone is distracted by a cell phone, it doesn’t matter how old they are.
Mike Sweeten, MV Transportation: As a public transportation professional and father of a teenage driver, I support the requested change to the proposed ordinance.
Paul Atchley, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Kansas: I spoke with you in November, but there has been a lot of research released since then; with the prevalence of cell phones increasing, they have become the number one threat to drivers on the road; they are the number one reason for distractions.
Commissioner Bowen: I think we should accept the ordinance, but delete “young and inexperienced.”
Commissioner Heckler: We should delete the age specific part.
Commissioner Hamby: Since the publicity was about young and inexperienced drivers, I think we should table this item and put it on next month’s agenda with appropriate changes.
Commissioner Woods: I would support the second part of the ordinance, but not the first; with learner’s permits would be a good place to start.
Commissioner Hamby: The whole concept of a cell phone conversation takes your mind off what you are doing.
Commissioner Hamby: Don’t we want to provide exceptions for emergency personnel and others?
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HECKLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, TO TABLE THIS ITEM AND REQUEST THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT REVISE THE ORDINANCE BY DELETING INEXPERIENCED AND ADDING APPROPRIATE EXECPTIONS; THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HECKLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, TO ALSO TABLE ITEM 3 UNTIL ITEM 4 IS BROUGHT BACK; THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
ITEM NO. 5:
Public Comment.
None.
ITEM NO. 6:
Commission items:
City policy on employee operation of city vehicles.
David Woosley reviewed the policy as published in the new city employee handbook.
The commission decided that the new wording addressed the concern of commission members.
ITEM NO. 7:
Miscellaneous.
The commission acknowledged receipt of the Pedestrian Advisory Sub-committee Minutes dated 16 March 2006.
The commission acknowledged receipt of the ATTENDANCE SUMMARY for the period May 2005-April 2006.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 P.M.
The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, June 5, 2006.
Respectfully submitted,
David E. Woosley, P.E.
Transportation/Traffic Engineer