STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1713

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

 

RE:   H.R. No. 130

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

 

Madame:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.R. No. 130 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS REQUIRING PEDESTRIANS TO WEAR REFLECTIVE GEAR BETWEEN THE HOURS OF DUSK AND DAWN,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to implement regulations requiring pedestrians to wear reflective gear between the hours of dusk and dawn.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Get Fit Kauai; Hawai‘i Bicycling League; and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu; and Life of the Land.

 

     Your Committee finds that the City and County of Honolulu has experienced a rise in motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians, with a notable increase in incidents occurring during low-visibility hours between dusk and dawn.  Research has shown that wearing reflective gear significantly enhances pedestrian visibility, giving drivers more time to react and prevent accidents.  However, your Committee does not want to put the onus on pedestrians alone to ensure that drivers are paying attention.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Urging the City and County of Honolulu to encourage, rather than require, pedestrians to wear reflective gear;

 

     (2)  Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 130, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 130, H.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair