STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3812

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 30

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Energy, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 30 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INCLUDE THE "DUTCH REACH" OR FAR-HAND METHOD IN DRIVER'S EDUCATION CURRICULA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce the number of bicycle riders injured by drivers and passengers negligently exiting their vehicles by urging the Department of Transportation to include the "Dutch Reach" in driver's education curricula.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Bicycling League, Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawai‘i, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that bicycling is a mode of transportation that is good for the health and good for the environment. However, careless drivers can sometimes pose a safety risk to bicyclists, even after parking their vehicles. Drivers who open their doors quickly without being aware of their surroundings might open their doors into the path of an oncoming bicyclist, which can severely injure or kill the bicyclist. These types of accidents, known as doorings, account for up to twenty percent of the most common accidents between bicyclists and vehicles in major cities.

Your Committee further finds that the occurrence of doorings can be reduced if drivers are more cautious when they open their doors. One way to improve safety is to use the Dutch Reach, also known as the far hand method. The Dutch Reach involves using the far-side hand to open the door, which forces one's torso and head to swivel and allows for an unobstructed view backwards to watch for oncoming bicyclists and traffic. Your Committee believes that widespread use of the Dutch Reach will reduce the number of dooring accidents and improve overall bicycle safety, and urges the Dutch Reach be included in driver's education courses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Energy that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 30, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 30, S.D. 1.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair