STAND. COM. REP. NO.  122-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2404

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2404 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DRIVER LICENSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to make permanent the statutory requirements for provisional driver's licenses for persons between ages 16 and 18, including, among other things, conditions under which:

 

     (1)  A provisional driver is authorized to transport passengers under the age of 18;

 

     (2)  A licensed parent or guardian must occupy the passenger seat; and

 

     (3)  The provisional driver may drive to and from a place of employment or a school-authorized activity between 11:00am and 5:00pm without a licensed parent or guardian.

 

     The Department of Transportation (DOT), City and County of Honolulu, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii, and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company testified in support of this bill.

 

     Research, studies, and statistics show that young, novice drivers have an extremely high crash risk with factors such as inexperience and immaturity being major contributors.  This is especially true at night.  According to DOT, since Act 72, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, went into effect, requiring provisional driver's licenses for persons under the age of 18, the number of crashes involving 16 year olds decreased 27 percent (66 fewer crashes).  For 17 year olds, the number of crashes decreased 14 percent (52 fewer crashes).  Restrictions imposed for driving between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. have resulted in 19 fewer crashes at night involving 16 and 17 year olds each year.

 

     Most importantly, there has been a 60 percent reduction in the number of deaths among teens as a result of traffic collisions:

 

     (1)  For 16 year olds, from five down to two deaths; and

 

     (2)  For 17 year olds, from ten down to four deaths.

 

     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 H.B. No. 2404 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair