STAND. COM. REP. NO. 253

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 312

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 312 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUDIBLE VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to protect the State's residents from disruptive noise pollution and utilize safer vehicular reversing practices by requiring the use of broadband reversing alarms instead of tonal alarms, for certain vehicles, by January 1, 2028.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that to reverse urban noise pollution caused by reversing alarms of commercial and construction vehicles, and to ensure safer reversing, it is necessary to transition to newer technology for audible reverse warning systems. Most audible reverse warning systems use a tonal sound over a single frequency while broadband alarms use a pulsed acoustic signal comprising a range frequences. Your Committee further finds that studies indicate that broadband sound reversing alarms outperform traditional tonal sound alarms in various categories. Your Committee also finds that broadband sound is both better in preventing workplace fatalities and reducing noise pollution. This measure will protect residents from disruptive noise pollution and ensure safer vehicular reversing practices.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 312 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

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CHRIS LEE, Chair