STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1367

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.R. No. 110

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.R. No. 110 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO STUDY THE MINIMUM SOUND LEVEL NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT BLIND PEDESTRIANS CAN HEAR HYBRID AND OTHER "SILENT" VEHICLES IN ALL PHASES OF THEIR OPERATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this resolution is to increase safety for disabled pedestrians by requesting the Department of Transportation (DOT) to study the minimum sound level necessary to ensure that blind pedestrians can hear hybrid and other "silent" vehicles in all phases of their operation.

 

     The Disability and Communication Access Board, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  DOT opposed this measure.

 

     Hybrid vehicles, as well as other electric vehicles, are often called "silent" vehicles because when they are operated in certain modes their vehicles become virtually silent.  Although this is a benefit for many who are concerned with increased noise being emitted from automobiles, it can be a hazard for disabled pedestrians, particularly the blind, who rely on vehicular noise to safely walk on roadways and cross streets.  Establishing minimum sound levels to be emitted from these vehicles will increase pedestrian safety, especially for blind pedestrians, and allow these individuals to continue to travel independently.

 

     However, your Committee understands the concerns raised by DOT that the more appropriate agencies to direct this measure to would be the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as these agencies develop the vehicle standards that automobile manufacturers must abide by.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its title to read: "REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, ALONG WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TO STUDY THE MINIMUM SOUND LEVEL NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT BLIND PEDESTRIANS CAN HEAR HYBRID AND OTHER "SILENT" VEHICLES IN ALL PHASES OF THEIR OPERATION";

 

     (2)  Changing all references to DOT to the EPA and USDOT;

 

     (3)  Clarifying that EPA and USDOT are requested to recommend minimum sound standards to vehicles sold in, and licensed to travel on the roads of, the United State and not just Hawaii;

 

     (4)  Deleting the requirement that DOT submit a report to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and

 

     (5)  Changing the recipients of certified copies of this measure from the Director of DOT to the Director of EPA and USDOT.

 

Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for 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. 110, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Health in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 110, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair