STAND. COM. REP. NO.  528

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1169

 

 

 

 

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.B. No. 1169 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to increase highway safety by making it mandatory for an operator of a moped or motor scooter, and any passenger on a motor scooter, to wear a safety helmet with a chin strap while riding on any highway.

 

     The Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, Brain Injury Association of Hawaii, Mothers Against Drunk Driving HAWAII, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  Street Bikers United and concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.

 

     The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that a person operating a motor scooter or moped without a safety helmet is 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury if involved in an accident.  Thus, safety helmets are the most effective means of reducing head injuries caused by these accidents.  Head injuries not only affect the injured rider but also have a tremendous impact on the finances of the rider's family and an impact on the entire healthcare system.  Medicare, Medicaid, and Hawaii's Quest programs are estimated to incur an average of 22.5 percent of the charges for head injuries related to moped, motor scooter, and motorcycle crashes.  By requiring the use of helmets on moped and motor scooter riders, not only will there be positive fiscal implications, but lives may be saved.

 

     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. 1169 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