STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1315

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 43

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 43 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATION OF HAWAII'S DRIVERS REGARDING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO BLIND PEDESTRIANS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to express strong support for the education of Hawaii's drivers regarding their responsibilities to blind pedestrians.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Human Services, and three individuals.

     Act 75, Session Laws of Hawaii 1972, specifically established the responsibilities of drivers toward blind pedestrians, yet thirty-nine years later, none of Hawaii's counties have included questions about these responsibilities on driver's licensing examinations.  In 2010, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 10 and Senate Resolution No. 20 requested improvements in public awareness with regard to drivers' responsibilities to blind pedestrians.  These resolutions called for the inclusion of questions regarding drivers' responsibilities to blind pedestrians on all state drivers' license examinations.  These resolutions also requested the Department of Education to discuss responsibilities toward blind pedestrians in its drivers' education program.  However, neither measure was heard, and your Committees find a persisting need for drivers' education and increased awareness regarding blind pedestrians.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 43, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair