HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2607

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO DRIVER LICENSING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that young drivers, ages 16 and 17 years, have been overrepresented in motor vehicle traffic fatalities and injuries.  Since January 9, 2006, when Act 72, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, the driver licensing law creating the provisional license requirement for young drivers took effect, the number of young licensees has decreased by 10 per cent from 2005 to 2006 and by 4 per cent from 2006 to 2007.  The average per cent of drivers in this age group involved in motor vehicle collisions from 2003 through 2005 was 3.98 per cent as compared to the post-provisional license period of 2006 – 2007 of 3.30 per cent, a .68 per cent decrease.  The traffic fatalities for the 16 and 17-year old group also had a significant decrease.  In the pre-provisional years 2003-2005, there were 15 traffic fatalities as compared to the post-provisional years 2006-2007 of 4 fatalities.  This represented   a 73 per cent reduction in traffic fatalities in this age group.

     The legislature finds that the provisional requirements of driver licensing has made a significant change in young drivers 16 and 17 years.  By changing the age at which a young driver may obtain a driver's license and giving the young driver more education about driving and imposing more restrictions on driving, the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle collision has been reduced, thereby saving more lives.  It is evident that the provisional licensing tier has made a significant difference in saving the life of the young driver.  It not only formed an acceptable behavior of driving among this age group but reduced the driving risks and deaths of the young in motor vehicle collisions.

     The purpose of this bill is to delete the repeal provisions of Act 72, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, and make the provisional licensing a permanent requirement.

     SECTION 2.  Act 72, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, is amended by amending section 15 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 15.  This Act shall take effect on January 9, 2006[; provided that on January 9, 2011, this Act shall be repealed and sections 286-102, 286-104, 286-106, 286-108, 286-110, 286-111, 286-112, 286-113, 286-114, and 286-117, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which they read on the day before the effective date of this Act]."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

By Request


 


 

Report Title:

Highway; Safety; Graduated Driver Licensing; Sunset Provision

 

Description:

Delete the sunset provisions of Act 72, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, which established provisional licenses for 16 and 17-year old drivers and continue the graduated driver licensing (GDL) program that will reduce the amount of traffic fatalities among the young drivers (16 and 17-year old).

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.