Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1901 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase pedestrian safety by establishing a two-year pedestrian flag pilot project within the Department of Transportation (DOT) that will provide flags at crosswalks for pedestrians to use when crossing the street.

Mililani Neighborhood Board No. 25 and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. DOT testified that it did not support this measure.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that in 2005, Hawaii recorded 36 pedestrian fatalities, 13 of which occurred while the pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk. These recent increases in pedestrian fatalities have prompted the Legislature to search for innovative ways to enhance pedestrian safety, such as a pedestrian flag project. While your Committee understands the cost implications such a project may have, the safety of Hawaii's pedestrians is of the utmost concern.

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. 1901 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.