STAND. COM. REP. NO. 663

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 151

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 151 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE TRAFFIC CODE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to replace the term "accident" with "collision" for the purposes of certain provisions of the statewide traffic code.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Bicycling League, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Blue Zones Project.

 

     Your Committee finds that the use of the term "accident" when referring to a traffic collision or incident is outdated.  The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) replaced the term "accident" with "collision" in their policies, procedures, and report writing more than a decade ago.  Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has encouraged everyone to use the term "collision" instead of "accident" when referring to incidents of vehicular collision.  This measure amends the statewide traffic code to replace "accident" with "collision" to bring Hawaii statutes in line with the NHTSA and HPD policies and provide consistency and clarity.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 151 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair