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New Hawaii driving laws: everyone in the car buckles up

by Big Island Video News
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STORY SUMMARY

HONOLULU, Hawaii – Everyone in a car travelling Hawaii’s roads must now wear a seat belt, and all islands are now legally unified when it comes to using mobile electronic devices. On Monday afternoon, Governor Neil Abercrombie approved two significant traffic safety bills that the state says will save lives and reduce serious injuries from […]

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Gov signs bills in Honolulu, courtesy Hawaii Office of the Governor

HONOLULU, Hawaii – Everyone in a car travelling Hawaii’s roads must now wear a seat belt, and all islands are now legally unified when it comes to using mobile electronic devices.

On Monday afternoon, Governor Neil Abercrombie approved two significant traffic safety bills that the state says will save lives and reduce serious injuries from motor vehicle crashes.

In the presence of state transportation and health officials, county police departments and traffic safety advocates, Abercrombie signed into law Senate Bill 4, relating to “Motor Vehicles” and House Bill 980, relating to “Highway Safety”. The ceremony – live-streamed online – was held in conjunction with the Department of Transportation’s launch of the annual “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign.

NeilAbercrombie2Neil Abercrombie, Governor

“Hawaii is putting safety first on our roadways with the enactment of our state’s universal seat belt law; this measure closes the gap in protecting all passengers riding in a motor vehicle. In addition, the enactment of Hawaii’s distracted driving law establishes consistency across the state for the usage of mobile electronic devices while driving, simplifying enforcement and likewise making our highways and roadways safer.”

The Office of the Governor described the two bills and provided quotes in a media release.

 

Senate Bill 4, relating to “Motor Vehicles” – Enacted as Act 73, this measure requires all front seat and back seat occupants to buckle up, effective immediately. Adults and children must use their seat belts and child restraints at all times. Unrestrained back seat passengers were more than three times as likely to have injuries that were fatal or required hospitalization compared to restrained back seat passengers, based on DOH’s analysis of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) records. Additionally, among back seat passengers who were treated for injuries by EMS, average medical charges were nearly tripled among those who did not use seat belts ($11,043), compared to restrained passengers ($3,817).
Loretta FuddyLoretta Fuddy, DOH director

“The Department of Health is pleased to see rates of passenger-related injuries going down based on high levels of seat belt use among front seat passengers. We anticipate that we’ll see further reductions in injuries and death with the passage of this law for back seat passenger.”

 

House Bill 980, relating to “Highway Safety” – Enacted today as Act 74, this measure is effective July 1, 2013. While all counties have some form of a distracted driving ordinance in place, this measure establishes a state law that creates consistent requirements across all counties for the use of mobile electronic devices while driving and will simplify enforcement. Crash data from the DOT shows that during 2007, 32 percent (2,871 of the 8,770 collisions) were attributed to inattention to driving.
Glenn OkimotoGlenn Okimoto, DOT director

“People are injured or dying each year simply because they were not paying attention to the road. The possibility of causing a crash that could ruin lives is just too great. We are focusing on changing the behaviors of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness and education – the same activities that have helped curb impaired driving and increased seat belt use. Our goal is to help drivers understand that texting, cell phone use, and other distractions behind the wheel can have dangerous consequences.”

State officials say that during the national Click It or Ticket mobilization from May 20 to June 2 and throughout the year, police statewide will be continuing strict enforcement of the state seat belt and child passenger restraint laws.

LOCAL TWEETS

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