This is a summary of the House Committee on Transportation bills that are still "alive" after the first lateral deadline. Highway safety continues to be one of our most important issues at this session of the legislature. Among our bills relating to safety were bills which requires all passengers in vehicles over the age of four to wear seat belts, requires vehicles approaching crosswalks from either direction to stop when a pedestrian enters the crosswalk, requires bicycle riders under the age of 18 to wear safety helmets, and permits the police to arrest drivers speeding in excess of 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.

Drivers, whose driving skills are impaired by the use of alcohol or drugs, continue to pose a threat to the lives of themselves and others, as they continue to operate vehicles after becoming impaired. In response, we passed "driving under the influence" (DUI) bills which increase penalties for repeat violators, suspends the license and requires community service for a minor who violates liquor laws, doubles the penalties for DUI if driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .17 or more, expands the definition of DUI "drugs" to include drugs that are required to contain a warning label by the Food and Drug Administration, and allows the police to choose the type of test (blood or urine) to be administered to measure the extent of drug or alcohol impairment.

We also have not neglected the environmental concerns of our residents and visitors, as reflected in bills to ensure that highway and bridge designers consider historic and scenic values, and community desires, as well as safety and mobility, in constructing new facilities, and reconstructing, repairing, and maintaining present highways and bridges. We also voted to allow flashing lights, rather than audible beeping sounds, be used by reversing large vehicles from midnight to 5:30 a.m., and to allow counties to set higher fees to remove derelict and abandoned vehicles from along the highways.

These bills, as well as many others that protect the safety and well being of Hawaii residents, are still active for consideration by the Legislature. For your convenience, the various measures by bill numbers, separated by subject matter, are listed.