Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2336 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that all drivers under age eighteen are accompanied by an adult when driving at night between the hours of ten and four.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Transportation, Department of Education, Department of Health, Honolulu Police Department, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Testimony in opposition was received from the Public Defender.

This measure recognizes and addresses the fact that young drivers are not as capable and experienced in driving, particularly at night. Being licensed does not detract from that fact.

Your Committee believes that this measure would also curb drag racing and driving under the influence among persons under eighteen. Your Committee is particularly concerned about the number of deaths, seventeen in the first eight months of 2001, attributable to accidents resulting from excessive speed. Young drivers are particularly vulnerable to poor driving habits, due to their relative immaturity and inexperience behind the wheel.

It is not the intent of your Committee to cause undue hardship to youth who drive at night. The restricted hours of 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. seem reasonable, since youths should be home in bed between those hours. Indeed, most adults are also probably at home. All your Committee asks is that a licensed driver who is at least twenty-one years old accompany the youth within those times.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical changes for proper drafting style, and by changing "earliest" to "latest" in reference to the occurrence of specified conditions that trigger eligibility to drive after a suspension or revocation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2336, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2336, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.