STAND. COM. REP. NO.  529

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1190

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1190 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to enhance traffic safety and assist police in expediting the investigation of fatal traffic accidents by requiring the police departments of each county to:

(1)  Identify the roadways, or class of roadways, most critical to the free movement of persons and commerce; and

(2)  Establish protocols necessary to coordinate major accident investigations with law enforcement and other authorities having jurisdiction over the location of a major traffic accident.

     Two individuals testified in support of this bill.

     Major accidents, especially ones that include fatalities, often result in the conducting of on-site investigations of the accident.  These on-site investigations and their resulting lane closures can last for several hours and cause numerous problems for commuters, with recent traffic-incident investigations having caused delays lasting from two to eight hours.  Coordinating major accident investigations between law enforcement and other agencies, including the medical examiner's office in cases of fatal traffic accidents, may help alleviate this problem and allow for the speedier restoration of normal traffic flow.

     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. 1190 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair