STAND. COM. REP. 2062

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2533

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2533 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require bicycle riders of all ages to wear bicycle helmets.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, The Queen's Medical Center, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and one individual. Testimony in opposition was received from one individual.

Current law only requires persons under the age of sixteen to wear a bicycle helmet. This measure removes that age limitation.

According to testimony, past studies show that wearing a bicycle helmet is the best protection against head injuries. Of the eleven bicycle fatalities in Hawaii from 2001 to 2002, eight of them or seventy-three per cent were not wearing helmets. It is estimated that statewide over 225 people are admitted to hospitals for bicycle related injuries. This represents in excess of four preventable injuries per week in our community. The gruesome picture is made more pathetic by the knowledge that permanent brain injury, or even death, could have been avoided by wearing a bicycle helmet, which can be bought for as little as ten dollars.

Your Committee notes that motorcycle riders are not required to wear helmets. Your Committee acknowledges this inconsistency but notes that the issue of helmets for motorcycles is not before your Committee.

Your Committee has amended this measure by increasing the mandatory helmet age to under eighteen, clarifying that the helmet must meet safety standards in addition to being tested, and by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment. Your Committee desires this measure to be as congruent as possible with the motorcycles helmet law by requiring all persons under the age of eighteen to wear bicycle helmets.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2533, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2533, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair