I am very glad I wrote and sent this "Utah Road Rage Prevention Strategy" brainstorming letter today to Utah State Representative Paul A. Cutler:
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "John McMillan" <mcmillanj@att.net>
To: "Paul A. Cutler" <pcutler@le.utah.gov>, "Mike Schultz" <mikeschultz@le.utah.gov>, "Mike Weichers" <mweichers@ch.utah.gov>, "Gay Lynn Bennion" <glbennion@le.utah.gov>, "Cameron Roden" <croden@utah.gov>, "Utah Transit Authority" <llasker@rideuta.com>, "ryanwilcox@le.utah.gov" <ryanwilcox@le.utah.gov>, "mgwynn@le.utah.gov" <mgwynn@le.utah.gov>, "mballard@le.utah.gov" <mballard@le.utah.gov>, "jeffersonmoss@le.utah.gov" <jeffersonmoss@le.utah.gov>, "jburton@le.utah.gov" <jburton@le.utah.gov>, "khall@le.utah.gov" <khall@le.utah.gov>, "shollins@le.utah.gov" <shollins@le.utah.gov>, "shayes@le.utah.gov" <shayes@le.utah.gov>, "Salt Lake County (UT) District Attorney 2022" <districtattorney@slco.org>, "Utah Peace Officers Association 2022" <homeupoa@gmail.com>, "tlee@le.utah.gov" <tlee@le.utah.gov>, "karilisonbee@le.utah.gov" <karilisonbee@le.utah.gov>, "astoddard@le.utah.gov" <astoddard@le.utah.gov>, "swhyte@le.utah.gov" <swhyte@le.utah.gov>, "dowens@le.utah.gov" <dowens@le.utah.gov>, "Joe Dougherty (DHHS)" <joedougherty@utah.gov>, "kcullimore@le.utah.gov" <kcullimore@le.utah.gov>, "mkennedy@le.utah.gov" <mkennedy@le.utah.gov>, "lescamilla@le.utah.gov" <lescamilla@le.utah.gov>, "dipson@le.utah.gov" <dipson@le.utah.gov>, "tweiler@le.utah.gov" <tweiler@le.utah.gov>, "vpeterson@le.utah.gov" <vpeterson@le.utah.gov>, "mollysween@weber.edu" <mollysween@weber.edu>, "christinewatkins@le.utah.gov" <christinewatkins@le.utah.gov>, "markwheatley@le.utah.gov" <markwheatley@le.utah.gov>, "jeffersonmoss@le.utah.gov" <jeffersonmoss@le.utah.gov>, "Joel Briscoe" <jbriscoe@le.utah.gov>, "Jplumb" <jplumb@le.utah.gov>, "Angela Romero" <angelaromero@le.utah.gov>, "newsmedia@ldschurch.org" <newsmedia@ldschurch.org>, "Deseret News 2022" <dnweb@deseretnews.com>, "Fox News SLC 2022" <news@fox13now.com>, "University of Utah Student Newspaper 2022" <press@chronicle.utah.edu>, "Him-roi" <him-roi@umail.utah.edu>, "contactus@imail.org" <contactus@imail.org>, "Utah Restaurant Association 2022" <info@utahrestaurantassociation.org>, "jsweeney@sltrib.com" <jsweeney@sltrib.com>, "Jennifer Gardiner" <jgardiner@abc4.com>, "nbauer@abc4.com" <nbauer@abc4.com>, "Cameron Roden" <croden@utah.gov>, "dps-victimservices@utah.gov" <dps-victimservices@utah.gov>, "dpscontact@utah.gov" <dpscontact@utah.gov>, "Attorney General of Utah" <uag@utah.gov>, "Office of Gov. Spencer Cox" <govcomm@utah.gov>, "Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson 2021" <beckiepage@utah.gov>, "Utah Public Radio 2022" <tom.williams@usu.edu>, "Utah State University Provost 2022" <provost@usu.edu>, "Utah State Univ Communications 2022" <ucom@usu.edu>, "Schools Utah Webmaster" <webmaster@schools.utah.gov>, "ryan.vogel@uvu.edu" <ryan.vogel@uvu.edu>, "Utah Transit Authority" <rideuta@public.govdelivery.com>, "media@utahsafetycouncil.org" <media@utahsafetycouncil.org>, "johnw@utahsafetycouncil.org" <johnw@utahsafetycouncil.org>, "bcrockett@utahsafetycouncil.org" <bcrockett@utahsafetycouncil.org>, "American Health Insurance Providers 2022" <ahip@ahip.org>
Cc: "Utah Republican Party" <info@utgop.org>, "Utah Democrats" <mail@utdem.org>, "Utah Democratic Party Officials" <mail@utdemocrats.org>, "Utah Chiefs of Police Assn 2021" <vshupe@utahchiefs.org>, "Utah Apartment Association 2022" <info@uaahq.org>, "People Against Violent Crime 2020" <pavc@peopleagainstviolentcrime.org>, "Crimevictims GV" <crimevictims@utah.gov>, "Utah Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse 2021" <info@capsa.org>, "Aaafoundation Info" <info@aaafoundation.org>, "AAA MountainWest" <aaamembersupport@norcal.aaa.com>, "Utah Apartment Association 2022" <info@uaahq.org>, "Utah Medical Association 2021" <info@utahmed.org>, "Adult Protective UT Supvr Chad Hansen" <cbhanse@utah.gov>, "Utah Press Assn Director Brian Allfrey 2022" <ballfrey@utahpress.com>, "news@ksl.com" <news@ksl.com>, "CBS News '60 Minutes' Editors and Reporters" <60m@cbsnews.com>, "Utahia Info" <info@utahia.org>, "Mayor Wilson" <mayor@slco.org>, "County Council Member Bradshaw" <arbradshaw@slco.org>, "llstringham@slco.org" <llstringham@slco.org>, "suharrison@slco.org" <suharrison@slco.org>, "ana.valdemoros@slcgov.com" <ana.valdemoros@slcgov.com>, "mike.brown" <mike.brown@slcgov.com>, "slcpdpr@slcgov.com" <slcpdpr@slcgov.com>, "chad.atkinson" <chad.atkinson@slcgov.com>, "Drew Hadley" <drew.hadley@slcgov.com>, "todd.mitchell" <todd.mitchell@slcgov.com>, "Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall 2021" <mayor@slcgov.com>, "Salt Lake City (UT) City Council" <council.comments@slcgov.com>, "utahdistrict02@gmail.com" <utahdistrict02@gmail.com>, "Internships" <internships@romney.senate.gov>, "Joel_wellum" <joel_wellum@lee.senate.gov>, "ktrichards@utah.gov" <ktrichards@utah.gov>, "vinguyen@utah.gov" <vinguyen@utah.gov>, "nsearle@utah.gov" <nsearle@utah.gov>, "rziebarth@utah.gov" <rziebarth@utah.gov>, "mvwilliams@utah.gov" <mvwilliams@utah.gov>, "ryan.bartlett@schools.utah.gov" <ryan.bartlett@schools.utah.gov>, "mbarraza@utah.gov" <mbarraza@utah.gov>, "California Crime Prevention Officers Assn 2022" <info@ccpoa.us>, "slsheriffpio@slco.org" <slsheriffpio@slco.org>, "mayor@murray.utah.gov" <mayor@murray.utah.gov>, "Rori Andreason" <randreason@midvale.com>, "byu-info@byu.edu" <byu-info@byu.edu>, "sociology@byu.edu" <sociology@byu.edu>
Sent: Mon, Dec 11, 2023 at 9:35 PM
Subject: More ideas for proposed 'UT Road Rage Prevention Act'
December 11, 2023
Dear Utah State Legislature State Representative Paul Cutler,
Thank you again for your friendly December 6, 2023, written invitation to me that I offer you public support for a very effective statewide Road Rage Prevention strategy for our entire great state of Utah.
Some additional "Utah Road Rage Crimes"-related observations and opinions of mine include the following:
---Installation of additional and improved lighting along streets and outdoor public sidewalks, including new lighting that is partly or primarily solar-energy-powered or wind-powered or otherwise conserves energy, can help to reduce the number of Road Rage incidents in Utah.
I feel sure that many of the Road Rage crimes that occur in Utah are triggered by collisions between motor vehicles, or collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians, that occur partly or primarily because inadequate street lighting or the absence of any street lights in that area made it virtually impossible for motorists or pedestrians to clearly see the vehicles or pedestrians or the road or sidewalk.
----I also feel sure that if the Utah State Legislature mandates that each and every commercial building and each and every home or apartment complex or government building anywhere in Utah must have on permanent display in front of that building in large glow-in-the-dark numbers and large glow-in-the-dark letters the specific and exact street address and city or town or village and zip code where that building is situated---with that information on display being provided both in the English language and in the Spanish language--- this can significantly reduce the number of Road Rage crimes that occur here in Utah.
That proposed new legal requirement by the Utah Legislature will also foster a significant increase in total annual sales and total annual net profits for thousands of businesses throughout our state---a strengthening of our state's economy and accompanying increase in per-capita financial earnings of Utahns that promotes statewide harmony and helps deter Road Rage incidents in our state.
At present, new residents of Utah, tourists, and job-related corporate-sponsored visitors to Utah are often annoyed and angered by the chaos they get mired in from their inability to identify the full street address, if any, on display in front of many of the commercial buildings or homes located on the same block with one another in a city in Utah.
It is often very frustrating and dismaying to new residents and visitors in Utah when they observe that a significant percentage (possibly 20 to 25 percent or more?) of the business properties and homes in Salt Lake County, for instance, DO NOT DISPLAY ANY street address for themselves in front of their building.
The angry and confused motorists and angry and bewildered pedestrians who feel lost as they drive or walk in Utah without knowing their exact location are at increased risk of being hit by, or colliding with, another motorist, an electric bike rider driving illegally and at a high velocity on a public sidewalk, a Scooter rider, a bicyclist, a skateboard rider, or a roller skater. Those chaos-induced collisions also increase the risk of Road Rage or Sidewalk Rage fistfights erupting on roadways and outdoor public sidewalks here in Utah.
I am also confident that a state law requiring all businesses and homes in Utah to display their exact and full street address on the front of their building will help deter Road Rage incidents and other criminal activities.
A new state law of that type can make it much easier for respective 911 callers to immediately state to a 911 Dispatcher the exact street address, if applicable, where the caller observed a Road Rage Crime or other crime that allegedly occurred in Utah. This will save Utahn taxpayers millions of dollars per year by reducing total response time needed by police in reaching crime scenes after receiving crime tips from a private citizen and by reducing the total amount of time needed by police in Utah to solve crime cases in our state.
--I am convinced that if the Utah Legislature is willing to approve funding for improved traffic engineering and traffic design at traffic intersections here in Salt Lake County, this can help significantly reduce the number of Road Rage-related incidents and injuries involving pedestrians and motorists in our state.
At present, conflicts between pedestrians attempting to promptly cross "Gargantuan-In-Width" streets of the Salt Lake City area in the approved crosswalk and very impatient motorists often oblivious to the presence of those pedestrians, are alarmingly frequent on a year-round basis in Salt Lake City and other cities of Salt Lake County.
These conflicts are aggravated by an insufficient amount of allotted time that is available to pedestrians for walking across the street in the approved crosswalk area in compliance with time limits cited by the electronic pedestrian traffic signals.
The inadequate amount of "crosswalk-crossing authorized time duration" that is offered for pedestrians in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County is distressingly and painfully apparent to any pedestrian having to walk over Utah Transit Authority (UTA) train tracks in order to cross the street in the approved crosswalk.
A dramatic example of this indignity and increased injury risk that Utahn pedestrians are needlessly subjected to can be found at 400 South and South Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City.
Northbound pedestrians traveling on foot after they had exited a UTA train on the outdoor platform of the Courthouse Station at 450 South Main Street in Salt Lake City face two separate train tracks situated parallel to each other in front of those pedestrians as they attempt to walk toward the northeastern side of 400 South and Main Street---an area where the "Apollo" hamburger chain restaurant is located.
Those northbound pedestrians are somehow expected by UTA to twice glance eastward and westward in order to identify any and all UTA trains traveling in either direction during the same time period when those pedestrians are also attempting to cross the designated crosswalk within the allotted total number of seconds that UTA's electronic pedestrian traffic signal offers.
The additional time needed by pedestrians results in motorists who are attempting to drive through that crosswalk, such as by turning from 400 South onto Main Street, exhibiting annoyance and anger toward pedestrians whom those motorists label as "annoying slowpokes" and "nuisances".
---I maintain that apparently substandard traffic engineering at many of the street intersections in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, Utah, makes it very hazardous for pedestrians to cross streets in the approved crosswalks during the allotted multi-second time period.
All too often I myself as a pedestrian have to look backward over my shoulder as I cross a street---such as when I walk directly westward from the southeastern side of the intersection of South State Street and 500 South in this state-capital city. I am repeatedly looking to my right and backward in order to see whether a motorist is turning left from 500 South onto State Street and might hit me unless I quickly get out of the area in the crosswalk toward which the driver's vehicle appears to be headed. I am always very aware that my looking backward while I cross the southern side of that intersection puts me at risk of losing my balance and falling while I am still walking in the crosswalk.
---Many of the motorists of Salt Lake County, Utah, exhibit hostility toward and honk at pedestrians. This is apparently prompted in part by those motorists' perception that "many of the pedestrians in Salt Lake County are homeless persons, unemployed persons, drug addicts, alcoholics, chain smokers, and 'bums' who cost local taxpayers lots of money through social services provided to them by the City of Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County Government."
Possibly some television or radio public service announcements profiling individual adult pedestrians in Utah who are each civil and law-abiding, polite, disease-free, conscientious, permanently alcohol-free, tobacco-free, facially cleanshaven, tattoo-less, non-profane, and industrious might help to address this "Bad PR" problem facing many pedestrians in our state.
State Representative Cutler, I would also like to point out that many Utahn motorists are infuriated by the motorists on Utahn roadways who subject everyone within 500 feet of them to flagrantly offensive and toxic dark billowing smoke from the exhaust pipe of their own vehicle.
The shared disgust and indignation in Utah by motorists and by pedestrians who feel abused by "that heavy polluter" also increases the risk of a Road Rage-related incident occurring in which other drivers or pedestrians might physically attack the "Heavy Polluter Motorist" when his car is stopped at a traffic light or immediately after he has parked his vehicle in a public parking lot in Utah.
Thank you again, Rep. Cutler, for your recent request to me that I offer you my own support for an effective statewide "Utah Road Rage Prevention Policy" for our entire state.
I hope this follow-up letter from me is helpful to you.
Sincerely and Best Wishes,
former Texas DPS full-time staff member John Kevin McMillan, 535 South 200 East, Apt. 912, Ninth Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.
My cell phone: (512) 993-7305.
My home phone: (801) 355-0850.
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Androi
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