Latest news with #HB958
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hawaii traffic deaths up 51% from same time last year
HONOLULU (KHON2) — It's been a deadly year on Hawaii roadways with the state seeing a 51% increase in fatalities compared to this time last year, and experts warn the deadliest days are ahead. Four hospitalized after head-on crash on Maui's Hana Hwy From January 1, 2025 to May 2, 2025 there have been 50 deaths on Hawaii roads; compared to 33 the same time in 2024. On Friday, four people were hospitalized on Maui after police said a truck was overtaking vehicles and collided head-on to a car of visitors from Idaho. Maui Police said one person sustained life-threatening injuries. 'It's just reckless, aggressive behavior,' said former Maui Police traffic Commander William Hankins. Officials said it's going to get worse with the 100 deadliest days of summer, or the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day, approaching. 'With the summer months and people traveling, you're going to have more deaths, I'm talking double, triple fatalities where one car crash kills two or three people, it's coming,' the former commander said based on experience. He said it's due to more people on the road, more parties, and more drivers in a hurry. 'And now you add e-bikes into the equation when there's already a large number of cars and it's the same thing with pedestrians, they just don't mix,' he continued. 'People are too oblivious to what's going on around them to pay attention about other people on the road.'Also on Friday, a 12-year-old and 13-year-old were taken to the hospital after a vehicle hit them while they were riding their e-bike in Waianae. Officials said the two boys were not wearing helmets at the time. 'It's going to continue happening and I couldn't think of a better time than now to put forth this bill,' said Rep. Darius Kila (D) who is the House Transportation Committee Chair. Rep. Kila introduced HB958 that defines what a legal e-bike is by class and what is considered an illegal high speed electric device. 'If you're bike doesn't classify as a Class 1, 2, or 3 it will be a high speed electric device at 750 watts or more your device would be subject to impounding by local law enforcement and you won't get the vehicle back,' he explained. He said the high speed bikes were never designed to be on public roads. Car fire on H1 snarls traffic Saturday afternoon If signed off by the governor, moped riders will also be required to wear helmets and all e-bikes will have to be registered. Another bill sent over to Governor Green's desk would impose strict penalties on excessive speeding. 'Speeding endangers a lot of people's lives, and in some cases unfortunately it can kill people,' explained Sen. Brandon Elefante (D) who introduced SB97 after concerns from community members about excessive speeding on roads. Excessive speeding if defined as driving 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, or exceeding 80 miles per hour. If SB97 is signed off by the Governor, three violations within five years could mean jail time or having your vehicle taken away. 'For three violations in a five year period, it could be removal of license, fines, an educational course, minimum jail time, and potential of forfeiture of the vehicle,' he explained. He said it would be up to the judge's discretion but the bill is aimed at keeping dangerous drivers off the roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found nearly half of fatalities in Hawaii were speed related based on data from 2013 to 2022. From November 2024 to January 2025, Honolulu Police made 57 excessive speeding arrests. Sen. Elefante said it will be another tool for prosecutors and police to go after repeat offenders. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Governor Green has until the end of June to announce any bills he plans to veto or has to sign off on bills to become law by July 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Lawmakers take aim on e-bikes following ‘egregious civil disobedience,' in Ewa Beach
EWA BEACH, Hawaii (KHON2) — Several lawmakers said they were disturbed with the behaviors seen during Saturday night's bike brawl in Ewa Beach. One lawmaker wants to ensure Honolulu police go after the person in charge of the bike event. HPD searching for man who allegedly tried to murder wife Honolulu Police said on March 24 that officers have spoken to The Bike Factory's Kapolei and Honolulu stores following a night of chaos in Ewa Beach Saturday, where one teen was arrested and another man was taken to the hospital in serious condition. 'I'm not happy with what happened in my beautiful community,' said Sen. Kurt Fevella. 'I will tell you right now, I'm not going to just sit down and let this happen and then not have a reaction.' Fevella said he received numerous calls following the chaotic bike rideout event and said he was outraged when he had heard the Bike Factory owner blamed police for what unfolded.'I think that he needs to be accountable for what had happened, but he wants to blame HPD, and they were serving and protecting my community,' Fevella added. KHON2 spoke with the owner of Bike Factory on March 23 who told us he hosts monthly rideout events across the island and it's meant to be beneficial for the community and they cannot control who attends the event. The owner was out of the country this weekend. 'So, I'm writing a letter to Steve Alm, our prosecuting attorney, to the Chief of Police, the major from the district eight, to find out what is the legal ramifications for an organized business that organized something where people got hurt, property damage, all of these things, and see what kind of legal action that we as legislators, lawmakers, at city council, can come together so that this will never happen again, because this is not a joke,' Fevella added. HPD enforces e-bike regulations, Kailua riders cited The state Transportation Committee chairs said they were disappointed when they saw the videos over the weekend. 'I was disappointed because these are young children that will one day become adults and this is the way that they are addressing law enforcement? Nobody should ever be talked to or threatened like that in that shape, former or manner, and so I want to thank our first responders for upholding all the pieces of laws that were being violated,' said Rep. Darius Kila, House Transportation Committee Chair. He said they will be pushing for clearer e-bikes laws, including HB 958, which prohibits 16-year-olds and younger from riding Class 3 e-bikes which can essentially go as fast as motorcycles. It would also put the burden of responsibility on the purchaser and seller of e-bikes to know the rules of the roadway, and will lay the foundation for future e-bike laws. 7yo girl dies after e-bike crash in Ewa Beach 'I know very full well that these 13-year-olds are not able to get a vehicle or this bike that's that expensive without help from a parent,' Kila added. 'My plea is, our parents have to know where their kids are at. Do they not have any shame for the way that they interacted with our law enforcement? I get it, we can always disagree, but that was like the most egregious form of civil disobedience that I've seen in a long time.' He called HB 958 'overarching omnibus regulation to stop what happened this weekend from ever happening again, and if it does happen, they will face their consequences set forth by law enforcement.' 'Of course, not all e-bike riders are bad riders, just like anybody who drives a car or just walks are all bad people. It's how we do it,' said Sen. Chris Lee, Senate Transportation Committee chair. 'When people do things like this and blatantly try to break the law and cause problems, you know, it makes everybody look bad, and it does reinforce the very point that there ought to be some really basic safety regulations that keep people safe on streets,' Lee added. He says another measure would require Class 3 e-bikes to be treated like riding a motorcycle requiring a license, insurance and abide by the basic rules of the road. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
E-bike bills advance at City Council, Legislature
The popularity of electric bicycles in Hawaii is undeniable. E-bike riders, frequently children, can often be seen zooming along public streets, sidewalks, parks and thoroughfares. Sometimes they pop wheelies as they whiz past pedestrians or as they intermingle with motorists operating much larger vehicles on island roadways. Many young riders sometimes pack another on a single e-bike. Many underage e-bikers also can be seen without helmets. Fast-moving e-bikes include more serious dangers too, including injury and death, frequently impacting younger riders. The City and County of Honolulu recently reported the alarming trend of 180 e-bike crashes in the first nine months of 2024. The state Department of Health asserts the average number of reported e-bike incidents statewide more than doubled from an average of 10 per month in 2022 to 24 per month in 2024. Oahu experienced a nearly threefold increase, from an average of seven per month in 2022 to 19 per month in 2024, the data indicates. Oahu also accounted for 75 % of the statewide e-bike incidents, with most of the injured patients—65 %—transported by city Emergency Medical Services ambulances to local hospitals, according to DOH. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Helmet usage among e-bike riders has steadily declined too, during the study period, from 51 % in 2022 to 29 % in 2024, the data shows. Under Hawaii law, all kids under age 16 must wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. A person must be at least 15 years old to ride a 'low-speed electric bicycle ' registered to an adult household member. To prevent further injuries or fatalities, the Honolulu City Council and the state Legislature have either adopted or advanced new legislation dealing with stricter e-bike regulations. At the state Capitol on Friday, Rep. Darius K. Kila (D, Honokai Hale-Nanakuli-Maili ) highlighted two e-bike bills that have passed out of the House Committee on Transportation but await further committee reviews. House Bill 184 would require operators of low-speed e-bikes to possess a valid driver's license, instruction permit or provisional license. Likewise, HB 958 would require all e-bikes to be operated only with all wheels on the ground at all times, with certain exceptions. HB 958 would also prohibit a person riding a Class 3 e-bike—one equipped with a motor that ceases to provide assistance when it reaches a speed of 28 mph—on a sidewalk. And the same bill would prohibit a person from operating a bicycle or electric foot scooter under the age of 18 without a helmet. 'As chair of the House Committee on Transportation and as the area representative of an infrastructure-impacted community on Oahu, I remain committed to improving the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of Hawaii's roadways, ' Kila said in a statement. 'Advancing these measures out of our committee is a crucial step in addressing concerns surrounding road safety, vehicle regulations, and the evolving landscape of transportation technology, ' he added. 'Additionally, we are establishing regulations for electric bicycles to promote responsible use while encouraging sustainable transportation options.' The Council has also acted on greater e-bike regulation in Honolulu. During its Jan. 29 meeting, the panel voted unanimously to adopt Bill 52, which now requires helmets for those who ride e-bikes and seeks to stop unsafe riding practices while operating the machines. The bill currently awaits the mayor's potential approval. If approved, the measure will prohibit 'the operation of bicycles equipped with motors exceeding 750 watts from being operating on 'any public street, highway, alley, path, or trail, including a bikeway.'' The measure also prohibits wheelies. Bill 52 states e-bikes must be 'operated with the bicycle's wheels facing forward and in contact with the ground, and with the operator seated with one leg on each side of the seat, with exceptions for brief instances caused by road surface or other circumstances beyond the operator's control.' It also prohibits an individual from operating an e-bike in 'an unsafe manner, ' or while engaging in exhibition driving on any public street, highway, alley, path, trail, or other public right-of-way, with 'exceptions for exhibition riding as part of a parade, tournament, or other activity permitted by the city.' Before the Council's vote, Eduardo Hernandez, appearing on behalf of the Hawaii Bicycling League, testified in full support of Bill 52. 'This bill helps to strengthen the environment for safer, more sustainable and more affordable transportation, ' he said. 'And it sends a strong message to state lawmakers, transportation stakeholders and the public that we are continuing to examine statutes and regulations and make updates to reflect emerging technologies that are increasingly popular with consumers.' Hernandez noted Bill 52's primary focus was on e-bikes powered by motors exceeding 750 watts. 'And that had not been clear in statute, ' he said. 'Those types of devices lead to a lot of injury because of their high speed.' Kaneohe resident Donald Sakamoto testified that as a blind person he wished Bill 52 included requirements for 'some kind of bell or noise ' to be installed on e-bikes. 'Because as a blind individual … it's very difficult to hear these vehicles, ' he said. 'The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland advocated (for ) automobiles to have sound—even electric vehicles—so that we can hear them.' Sakamoto urged the Council to amend the bill to include similar language for e-bike riders to have audible bells on their machines. 'Because once they get their license for the (e-bike ) and buy it, who reads the manual ?' he added. At the meeting, Council member Augie Tulba queried the Honolulu Police Department on whether Bill 52 will actually help police 'crack down on illegal behavior like wheelies.' Maj. James Slater, with HPD's Traffic Division, said current city laws allow for such actions. 'When I was District 6 commander in Waikiki, we made some headlines on HPD cracking down on e-bikes, ' he said, adding those efforts solely applied to e-bikes. 'I think there's a misconception that when you see these things that look like dirt bikes popping wheelies on the roadway (at ) high speeds, those are not e-bikes. 'Those are electronic dirt bikes or electric motorcycles, ' Slater explained. 'So they would be subject to other statutory (laws ), which we are able to enforce and remove from the streets.' Tulba also asked whether the helmet provision of Bill 52 helps HPD with e-bike enforcement too. 'Yes, ' Slater replied. 'It's an extra tool.' Tulba later said, 'As we all know, e-bikes have been a huge concern in all of our communities for some time. 'Although this bill does not address everything we are hoping to fix, with regards to e-bikes, I believe this gets us closer to our goal of safe streets for all, ' he said.
