Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2176 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that a moped operator or rider under age eighteen is required to wear a safety helmet, and to raise the age to under eighteen for required use of a bicycle helmet.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, ThinkFirst, The Queen's Medical Center, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Brain Injury Association of Hawaii, and two individuals.

Nearly half of the severe injuries resulting from bicycle crashes nationwide are diagnosed as traumatic brain injury. Older children are more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury, likely from decreased helmet usage. Bicycle safety helmets reduce the risk of head injury by as much as eighty-five per cent and the risk of brain injury by as much as eighty-eight per cent. Seventy-five per cent of the bicycle-related fatalities among children could have been prevented by a bicycle safety helmet.

Your Committee finds that there is grief to the loved ones of an accident victim when the inevitable thought of whether a safety helmet would have saved their loved one enters their minds. The use of a safety helmet very well could have saved that life, as statistics show that more likely than not, safety helmets save lives. Mandating the wearing of safety helmets when riding or operating these vehicles is a relatively small sacrifice of personal liberty to help prevent tragedies to families and our community.

Your Committee concurs with the testimony of the Department of Transportation that "studies have shown that helmet use will reduce the risk of head injuries and brain injuries and will cut down the high medical costs associated with those injuries."

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. 2176 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.