STAND. COM. REP. NO. 120

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 693

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 693 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE TRAFFIC CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify what pedestrians are required to do when in a crosswalk while a countdown timer is operating.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that existing law regarding pedestrian-control signals has not been updated to match the signals currently being used in Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that there is confusion regarding when it is safe for a pedestrian to cross the street due to the multiple types of signals that are being utilized in Hawaii. Some signals don't have any indication how long a pedestrian has to safely cross the street, such as a "Don't Walk" message, a raised palm, or a flashing countdown timer. Your Committee also finds that in some cases, a signal will have an upraised palm and a countdown timer. Your Committee believes that this measure will provide consistency with the meaning of the flashing palm or "Don't Walk" indications, thereby improving pedestrian safety.

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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 693, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 693, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair