THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	98
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY FUNCTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

     WHEREAS, the State's worsening transportation problems are imposing substantial costs on the State's residents and businesses; and

     WHEREAS, the frequency and severity of traffic accidents and pedestrian accidents cause public concern over whether the State can do more to prevent accidents; and

     WHEREAS, recently reported news in the Honolulu Advertiser indicate that the Department of Transportation tightly restricts access to its massive data in fear of sensitive data being used in lawsuits against the State for hazardous road conditions, including dangerous pedestrian crosswalks; and

     WHEREAS, it is the obligation of the State to provide for highway and pedestrian safety to the greatest possible extent for the health and well-being of all the State's residents; and

     WHEREAS, section 26-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides that the Department of Transportation has the responsibility to plan, develop, promote, and coordinate various transportation management programs, which includes traffic safety; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation should be collecting traffic safety information, including but not limited to, traffic accident location, frequency, and severity; pedestrian accident frequency and location; speed limit violations; and traffic signal light timing; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a performance audit of the traffic safety function of the Department of Transportation to determine how traffic safety information is collected and used, and to make recommendations on improving the traffic safety functions of the Department, including pedestrian safety; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit also address concerns of how the Department of Transportation collects traffic safety information, including but not limited to, information concerning vehicular accidents and road safety, and whether such information is transmitted to the Governor and the Legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and the Director of Transportation.

Report Title: 

Auditor Study; Traffic Safety Information