HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2495
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to crosswalks.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that pedestrian safety is of the utmost importance for the State's residents.  While the modern convenience of the automobile has rendered commuting life much easier, the accidents and fatalities that have occurred due to such vehicles cannot be ignored.  Failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections has caused fatal accidents that could have been avoided.

     The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded 4,743 pedestrian fatalities and an estimated 76,000 pedestrian injuries in 2012.  On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every seven minutes in traffic crashes, with seventy per cent of pedestrian fatalities occurring at non-intersections and nearly ninety per cent during normal weather conditions.  This number increased from 4,432 in 2011 and 4,280 in 2010.  In Hawaii, twenty-six pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2012, accounting for 20.6 per cent of all traffic fatalities in the State. 

     The legislature further finds that blinking crossing signals installed at the deadliest and most accident prone pedestrian crosswalks would provide greater public safety and significantly save lives.  The United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has determined that rectangular rapid flash beacons, a type of blinking crossing signal, can enhance safety by reducing crashes between vehicles and pedestrians at unsignalized intersections and mid-block pedestrian crossings by increasing driver awareness of potential pedestrian conflicts.  Furthermore, according to a study done in St. Petersburg, Florida, installation of rectangular rapid-flashing beacons increased vehicle yields to pedestrians up to eighty per cent.  These systems have already been installed and are in use on some of the military bases in that state.

     Furthermore, safety at crosswalks is consistent with Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe, King Kamehameha I's law of the splintered paddle, which is established under article IX, section 10, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii:

"Let every elderly person, woman and child lie by the roadside in safety – [this] shall be a unique and living symbol of the State's concern for public safety."

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of transportation for immediate action to make crosswalks and roadways safer for pedestrians by:

(1) Conducting a study to identify the crosswalks not at intersections that have had the most fatalities and pedestrian injuries in the State; and

(2) Installing rectangular rapid flash beacons at each of those crosswalks in the State, beginning with the most dangerous crosswalks.

     SECTION 2.  The department of transportation shall conduct a study to identify the crosswalks not at intersections that have the most fatalities and pedestrian injuries in the State.  The crosswalks shall be ranked in order of priority based on the rate of fatalities and pedestrian injuries.

     SECTION 3.  The department of transportation shall install rectangular rapid flash beacons at each crosswalk not at an intersection in the State that has had a fatality or pedestrian injury.  The installations shall be in order of priority based on the rankings determined by the study.

     For the purposes of this Act, "rectangular rapid flash beacon" shall be defined as user-actuated amber light emitting diodes that supplement warning signs at unsignalized intersections or mid-block crosswalks that can be activated by pedestrians manually by push button or passively by a pedestrian detection system.  Rectangular rapid flash beacons shall include a light emitting diode rapid-flash system, stutter flash, or light emitting diode beacon.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for installation of rectangular rapid flash beacons at crosswalks not at intersections in the State that have had a fatality or pedestrian injury.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Crosswalks; Pedestrian Safety; Appropriation.

Description:

Appropriates funds to the department of transportation for conducting a study to identify crosswalks where pedestrian fatalities and injuries have occurred and requires the installation of rectangular rapid flash beacons, in order of priority based on the rankings determined by the study.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.