STAND. COM. REP. NO. 150

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 782

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 782 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO USE OF SAFETY HELMETS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require all moped drivers to wear safety helmets while operating a moped.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Health (DOH), and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.  Testimony in opposition was received from Street Bikers United Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that helmet use while driving a moped significantly reduces the likelihood of serious or fatal injuries.  Drivers of mopeds are particularly vulnerable to head injuries in accidents.  Head injuries commonly result in permanent injury or death or in profound and disabling physical and mental effects which can be costly.  Unhelmeted moped riders of all ages are at risk for head injury, a leading cause of death and disability in moped crashes.  According to the DOH, an average of five moped riders are killed each year in Hawaii, and another 266 are involved in major crashes.  From 2001 to 2005, twenty-four riders who did not wear helmets were killed and nearly two-thirds of the 250 other injuries sustained a traumatic brain injury.  Of the moped drivers admitted to Queen's Medical Center, traumatic brain injury was nearly twice as likely among those not wearing helmets compared to those wearing helmets.

     The intent of this measure is to protect the health and safety of a population susceptible to avoidable crippling injuries.  Act 63, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, required drivers of mopeds who are less than eighteen years of age to wear a safety helmet while driving.  Your Committee believes that all persons, not just those who are under the age of eighteen, should be required to wear a safety helmet when operating a moped.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 782 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair