Bill Text: HI SB953 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 953 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To The Statewide Traffic Code.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-24 - Referred to TRS, JDC. [SB953 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB953-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	953
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE TRAFFIC CODE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that section 291C-33, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to pedestrian-control signals, was last substantively amended in 1981. This section needs to be updated to include countdown signals and to clarify what a pedestrian must do in response to a countdown signal or flashing upraised hand signal. Countdown signals, often accompanied by a flashing upraised hand signal, show pedestrians how many seconds are left to cross the street before the pedestrian signal changes from a flashing Don't Walk or upraised palm signal to a steady Don't Walk or upraised palm signal.

The purpose of this Act is to clarify section 291C-33, Hawaii Revised Statutes, regarding the countdown pedestrian-control signals.

SECTION 2. Section 291C-33, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§291C-33 Pedestrian-control signals. Whenever special pedestrian-control signals, exhibiting the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" [or], the symbols of a walking person or an upraised palm, or a countdown signal are in place [~~such~~], the signals shall indicate as follows:

(1) Walk or Walking Person. Pedestrians facing [~~such~~] the signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles[.];

(2) Don't Walk or Upraised Palm. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of [~~such~~] the signal, whether flashing or steady, but any pedestrian who has partially completed the pedestrian's crossing on the Walk or Walking Person signal shall complete the crossing to a sidewalk or safety island while the Don't Walk or Upraised Palm signal is showing[.]; and

(3) Countdown Signal. Pedestrians facing the signal may begin crossing or proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of the countdown signal after the countdown has commenced unless the pedestrian can complete the crossing to a sidewalk or safety island with reasonable effort, without jogging or running, before the countdown reaches "0"."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Pedestrian Control Signals; Countdown Signal

Description:

Clarifies what pedestrians are required to do in a crosswalk in response to a countdown signal.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.