New Measure Calls for More Research
HONOLULU (April 11, 2008) — Hawaii may call on the board of education to study seat belts, following a school bus crash that left no students seriously injured.
On Wednesday, the state finance committee unanimously passed, HR 62 HD2, requesting a report to the legislature with recommendations for seat belt policy. The resolution is a significantly modified version of an earlier resolution, HR 62 HD, which had urged the board of education to purchase or lease only buses that have seat belts and seat backs of at least 24 inches. Neither resolution specified whether the seat belts should be three-point, lap-shoulder belts or lap-only belts.
The measure’s sponsor and vice chair of the finance committee, Rep. Marilyn B. Lee, said the committee made the change after last Thursday’s crash involving a Kahuku High School sports activity bus because legislators felt there was not enough information about seat belt policy and effectiveness.
Last week, the Red Raider high school girl’s water polo team was heading to a scrimmage in Waikane when the driver swerved to avoid stopped traffic. The bus then slid into a ditch and toppled onto its right side and into a steam.
Rep. Lee said a report may prepare the legislature to introduce a “tougher bill” for seat belts next session.
Speaking before the finance committee’s meeting, State Director of Transportation Aaron Kimura expressed some of the same concerns about a lack of information about seat belts, particularly their performance in side impact crashes like the one last week.
“If someone would come up with an extensive test in all angles and cases, I think everyone would have a clearer vision of how to decide if this is the way to go,” Kimura said.
Board of Education spokesman Sandy Goya said the board supports the resolution. While the board will not receive additional funding for the study, Rep. Lee said she felt confident that the board could still write the report.
The measure was expected to go up for vote before the house in the next few days. At least nine measures related to seat belts on school buses were introduced this session. All came prior to the Kahuku High crash. To pass the request for research, both the house and senate will need to approve the measure before the legislative session closes in three weeks.
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