STAND. COM. REP. NO. 101

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1048

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1048 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to enhance traffic safety statewide by requiring that, whenever construction or repair work that requires the use of steel plates is performed on a public highway by the State, a political subdivision, or a private contractor, motorists be warned with appropriate signage of the presence of steel plates in the roadway.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Street Bikers United Hawaii, the Maui Chapter of Street Bikers United Hawaii, and the Oahu Chapter of Street Bikers United Hawaii.

     Your Committees find that steel plates placed in the roadway during construction or repairs can pose a threat to motorists and their vehicles.  Steel plates can be hazardous because of the raised edge presented to oncoming traffic.  They can also be dangerous for motorcyclists even in the best weather and are especially hazardous for motorcyclists in wet conditions.

     The State lacks a uniform policy to warn motorists of the presence of steel plates in the roadway during construction or repairs.  While the Department of Transportation adheres to the standards of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices, these standards do not address the use of steel plates.  The County of Maui has recently adopted a policy requiring the use of signs to warn motorists whenever steel plates are used.  However, the County of Hawaii has no policy requiring placement of warning signage, the County of Kauai believes that existing road construction signage is sufficient, and the City and County of Honolulu allows contractors to determine what signage is necessary.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1048 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair