STAND. COM. REP. NO.182

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 315

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 315 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all drivers under age eighteen to be accompanied by a licensed driver over the age of twenty-one when driving between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., subject to exceptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, the Police Department of the City and County of Honolulu, the Hawaii Insurers Council, State Farm, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Hawaii (MADD), and three MADD – Hawaii Youth in Action members. The Hawaii Motorcycle Dealers Association submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. The Department of Transportation submitted testimony taking no position on this measure.

Your Committee finds that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers, and that this age group is most at risk when driving at night. By requiring young drivers to be accompanied by an adult when driving at night, your Committee finds that they will be more cautious and attentive, and that fewer accidents will result.

Therefore, your Committee continues to support this measure, as it did during the 2002 Regular Session. Although this measure will restrict teens' freedom somewhat when driving at night, that price is small compared to the number of lives that will ultimately be saved.

This measure contains exceptions to allow teens to drive alone at night under certain circumstances, and your Committee amended those provisions to remove the exception for drivers with only a temporary instruction permit. Your Committee believes that it is appropriate to require drivers with only a temporary instruction permit to always be accompanied at night, with no exceptions.

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. 315, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 315, 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