STAND. COM. REP. NO.  472

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 32

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 32 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CROSSWALK SAFETY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase pedestrian safety by clarifying when a pedestrian is considered to be crossing a roadway under the Statewide Traffic Code.  Specifically, this measure stipulates that a pedestrian is considered to be within an intersection or adjacent crosswalk when any part or extension of the pedestrian, including the pedestrian's body, wheelchair, cane, crutch, or bicycle, is beyond the curb or the edge of the roadway while the pedestrian is intending to proceed across the intersection or roadway.

 

     The Honolulu Police Department testified in support of this measure.

 

     Although the Statewide Traffic Code contains provisions relating to a pedestrians' right-of-way in crosswalks, a number of pedestrians crossing the street continue to be injured or killed each year.  While both inattentive drivers and pedestrians share some of the blame, drivers have the greater potential to cause injury with their vehicles.  Your Committee finds that clarifying a driver's duty to stop and yield the right of way for a pedestrian by specifying when a pedestrian is considered to be crossing a roadway will help county police departments better enforce pedestrian safety laws and will make Hawaii's streets safer for everyone.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 32 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair