THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

173

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to Vision Zero.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Vision Zero is a traffic safety program that seeks to end traffic deaths and serious injuries.  The legislature further finds that in 2019, the State enacted Act 134, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, which required the department of transportation and the county transportation departments to adopt Vision Zero policies, and the state highway safety council to develop an action plan to reduce traffic fatalities to zero.  This Act will move the State towards the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by setting criteria and deadlines for implementation of a Vision Zero program.

     The legislature additionally finds that the Vision Zero idea originated in Sweden, which adopted Vision Zero as a national policy in 1997, and that in 2000, the State of Washington became the first in the United States to adopt the program and to set an aggressive goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.  Washington reported that it averaged twenty-two fewer traffic fatalities and eighty fewer serious injuries each year from 2002 to 2011.  The legislature also finds that many of the country's large cities, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C., and certain states, including Maryland, North Carolina, and North Dakota, have adopted Vision Zero or similar programs.  The Federal Highway Administration is also committed to eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries, adopting a policy called "toward zero deaths".

     The purpose of this Act is to require the department of transportation and the county transportation departments  to implement a Vision Zero program.

     SECTION 2.  Section 286-7.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§286-7.5[]]  Vision Zero.  (a)  The department of transportation and the county transportation departments shall [adopt] implement a Vision Zero [policy that seeks to prevent and ultimately] program by July 1, 2024.

     (b)  The goal of the Vision Zero program shall be to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Hawaii by 2045 through a combination of engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency response strategies that focus on equity.

     (c)  The department of transportation, in conjunction with the counties, shall take the necessary steps to implement the program.

     (d)  The director of transportation may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the purposes of this section.

     (e)  No later than forty days prior to the convening of each regular session, the department of transportation shall submit a report to the legislature, including any proposed legislation, on the progress made toward the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Vision Zero

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Transportation and the counties to implement a Vision Zero program in Hawaii by 7/1/2024.  Establishes a goal of no traffic fatalities or serious injuries by 2045.

 

 

 

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