SCR100.DOC

WHEREAS, while the preservation and recording of evidence in traffic accidents, especially those involving fatalities, is critical, the efficient management of traffic accident investigations is also of critical importance to the traveling public; and

WHEREAS, accident investigations in Hawaii proceed at a slower pace than in many comparable metropolitan areas in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the average length of time for road closures in Hawaii ranges from two to four hours for major traffic accidents and to more than eight hours when a fatality occurs; and

WHEREAS, in contrast, the average duration for road closures in California ranges from thirty minutes for major collisions to sixty minutes for fatal accidents; and

WHEREAS, the Honolulu Police Department has commented publicly in the recent past that it has implemented accident investigation teams similar to those used on the mainland, trained its investigations officers in a similar manner and has used the same modern high definition digital surveying and scanning equipment to record and reconstruct accident scenes, while acting with due diligence to preserve evidence; and

WHEREAS, the Honolulu Police Department has further publicly commented that, while striving to balance shorter road closure times with complete and thorough traffic accident investigations, it is no longer requiring a traffic investigation to be conducted in an accident resulting in critical injuries or death if the accident involves only one car and one driver; and

WHEREAS, the Honolulu Police Department has indicated that it is attempting to better coordinate the actions of accident responders such as towing companies, the Honolulu Fire Department, and the Medical Examiner, including providing a police escort for the Medical Examiner to reach the accident scene; and

WHEREAS, by conducting post-accident reviews of each road closure, the Honolulu Police Department has concluded that the average road closure time of almost four hours on Oahu before August, 2008, has been reduced to just under three hours after August, 2008; and

WHEREAS, although average road closure times have been reduced, there is clearly more room for improvement; and

WHEREAS, since the island of Oahu experiences the greatest traffic volume in the State, road closures on Oahu due to accidents affect the most people; and

WHEREAS, it is apparent that certain factors may affect road closure times, such as the geographic layout of Oahu's major highways, the lack of adequate alternate bypass roads, the degree of coordination with various relevant entities such as state and municipal highway crews, warning to motorists of road closures, and the lack of a dedicated traffic television or radio channel; and

WHEREAS, prolonged road closures in the State hurt the public and the State's economy because students cannot get to and from school, workers cannot get to and from work, businesses cannot receive or deliver products necessary to do business, and road closures may even contribute to secondary accidents that cause further delays; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Transportation is requested to examine ways to reduce highway road closure times on Oahu due to investigation of traffic accidents; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to identify all relevant factors that may influence the duration of road closures that apply to the island of Oahu, such as the layout of major highways and the existence and layout of alternate bypass routes, population, agency coordination, use of media including a dedicated traffic channel, and any other relevant factors, and examine and analyze traffic investigation policies and procedures in mainland jurisdictions that are affected by comparable factors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit its findings and recommendations on how to reduce road closure times due to traffic accident investigations, including any necessary proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation and the Police Chief, Medical Examiner, and Director of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Transportation Study; Road Closures Due to Traffic Accidents

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	100
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII