STAND. COM. REP. NO. 189

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 4

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 4 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all front and back seat passengers to be restrained by a seat belt assembly or child passenger restraint while the motor vehicle is being operating upon any public highway.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Honolulu Police Department, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, State Farm, and the State Highway Safety Council.

     Your Committee finds that there is a need for all motor vehicle occupants to be restrained by a seat belt or child passenger restraint while riding in a motor vehicle being operated on any public roadway.  Seat belt restraints for all occupants increases the safety of all motor vehicle occupants by as much as forty-five percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Seat belts are one of the most effective safety features and have saved the lives of thousands of motor vehicle occupants.

     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. 4 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