HCR 136: URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ENCOURAGE PEDESTRIANS TO WEAR REFLECTIVE GEAR BETWEEN THE HOURS OF DUSK AND DAWN.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ENCOURAGE PEDESTRIANS TO WEAR REFLECTIVE GEAR BETWEEN THE HOURS OF DUSK AND DAWN.

     WHEREAS, Oahu is seeing a rise in motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians; and

     WHEREAS, in 2024, the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Department responded to over one hundred thirty pedestrian cases, representing a thirteen per cent increase from 2023; and

     WHEREAS, streets and roadways are particularly dangerous between dusk and dawn due to the reduced visibility; and

     WHEREAS, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association report, in 2022, approximately two hundred seventy fatal pedestrian crashes occurred during dawn or dusk; and

     WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation finds that wearing reflective material that is visible from both the front and back is the most effective way to increase conspicuity and improve safety; and

     WHEREAS, reflective gear makes pedestrians noticeable to drivers under reduced visibility conditions between dusk and dawn, increasing the time to react and avoid accidents; and

     WHEREAS, military bases on the island of Oahu have already adopted regulations that require everyone to wear reflective gear whenever outside walking or running during the hours of darkness, referring to the period between evening colors and morning colors; and

WHEREAS, in a township in the state of Ohio, it is considered a minor misdemeanor for an individual to walk or run in any public street or highway from dusk to dawn without adequate reflective clothing; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the City and County of Honolulu is urged to encourage pedestrians to wear reflective gear between the hours of dusk and dawn; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu and Department of Transportation are urged to work collaboratively to identify and clearly designate areas of high risk to pedestrian safety and erect signage warning drivers of the presence of pedestrians and encouraging pedestrians to wear reflective gear between dusk and dawn; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu and Department of Transportation are urged to create and implement a public education campaign pertaining to pedestrian safety and any ordinances that are adopted as a result of this measure; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council, and Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

Pedestrian; Safety; Reflective Gear; Transportation

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the City and County of Honolulu to implement regulations requiring pedestrians to wear reflective Gear between the hours of dusk and dawn.

     WHEREAS, Oahu is seeing a rise in motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians; and

     WHEREAS, in 2024, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services responded to over 130 pedestrian cases, representing a thirteen per cent increase from 2023; and

     WHEREAS, streets and roadways are particularly dangerous between dusk and dawn due to the reduced visibility; and

     WHEREAS, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association report, in 2022 approximately two hundred seventy fatal pedestrian crashes occurred during dawn or dusk; and

     WHEREAS, the Federal Department of Transportation finds that wearing reflective material that is visible from both the front and back is the most effective way to increase conspicuity and improve safety; and

     WHEREAS, reflective gear makes pedestrians noticeable to drivers under reduced visibility conditions between dusk and dawn, increasing the time to react and avoid accidents; and

     WHEREAS, military bases on the island of Oahu have already adopted regulations that require everyone to wear reflective gear whenever outside walking or running during the hours of darkness, referring to the period between evening colors and morning colors; and

WHEREAS, in a township in the state of Ohio, it is considered a minor misdemeanor for an individual to walk or run in any public street or highway from dusk to dawn without adequate reflective clothing; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the City and County of Honolulu is urged to implement regulations requiring pedestrians to wear reflective gear between the hours of dusk and dawn; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu and Department of Transportation are urged to work collaboratively to identify and clearly designate areas of high risk to pedestrian safety, erect signage warning drivers of pedestrian presence, and post regulations requiring pedestrians to wear reflective gear between dusk and dawn; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu and Department of Transportation are urged to create and implement a public education campaign pertaining to pedestrian safety and any regulations that are implemented as a result of this Resolution; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council, and Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

Pedestrian; Safety; Reflective Gear; Transportation

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1714

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 136

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 136 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS REQUIRING PEDESTRIANS TO WEAR REFLECTIVE GEAR BETWEEN THE HOURS OF DUSK AND DAWN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to implement regulations requiring pedestrians to wear reflective gear between the hours of dusk and dawn.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Get Fit Kauai; Hawai‘i Bicycling League; and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu; and Life of the Land.

     Your Committee finds that the City and County of Honolulu has experienced a rise in motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians, with a notable increase in incidents occurring during low-visibility hours between dusk and dawn.  Research has shown that wearing reflective gear significantly enhances pedestrian visibility, giving drivers more time to react and prevent accidents.  However, your Committee does not want to put the onus on pedestrians alone to ensure that drivers are paying attention.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Urging the City and County of Honolulu to encourage, rather than require, pedestrians to wear reflective gear;

     (2)  Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 136, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 136, H.D. 1.

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