HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1740

BYRepresentatives Prince, Unsoeld, Silver, Hankins, Lewis, Patrick, Dellwo, Brough, Sanders, Doty, Rayburn and Ferguson

Providing for informational highway signs and traffic fatality markers.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Doty, Fisher, Fox, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Jacobsen, Jones, Meyers, Schmidt, D. Sommers, Sutherland, Todd, Vekich, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION FEBRUARY 4, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Student Highway Safety Committee at WSU has been actively pursuing the establishment of a highway fatality signing program.

About 50 years ago, several states began to install white crosses along the highway where fatal accidents occurred.  These crosses were donated and installed by service organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in an effort to alert motorists of fatal accident locations and to reduce highway deaths.  State highway agencies permitted the service organizations to install the crosses on highway right-of-way.  The marking programs slowly began to disappear due to either disinterest or the enactment of the Federal Highway Beautification Act in October, 1965.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Department of Transportation (DOT) is directed to conduct a four-year demonstration project on highway fatality markers.  The markers may be installed along SR 26 between Colfax and Vantage, and SR 195 between Pullman and Colfax.  The markers are installed as close as possible to the highway right-of-way without obstructing the view of the motoring public.

A "highway fatality marker" is a sign designed by the DOT that is placed at or near the location of a traffic fatality.  Each marker represents the loss of one life.

Local governmental agencies, and private individuals and groups located within the demonstration area may apply to the DOT for a permit to erect a fatality marker.  The application contains a consent statement from the owner of the land upon which the proposed marker is to be placed.

An applicant with an approved permit is responsible for the erection and maintenance of the marker as specified in the permit.  Markers which are illegally erected are to be immediately removed by the permittee.  A family member of the deceased may request removal of a marker.

The DOT is directed to confer with agencies and individuals within the demonstration area when developing administrative rules for the marker program.  Upon request, the Department will provide information on the location of fatal accidents in the demonstration area.

The expiration date of the marker program is December 31, 1992.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill created a statewide program; erection and maintenance was the responsibility of the Department; the name of the deceased could be printed on the marker; and provisions were made for informational signs.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Gail Biggers, Student Highway Safety Committee (SHSC); Rich Boerner, SHSC; Chris Johnson, SHSC; KayDee Catlin, SHSC; Mark Ufkes, Washington State University graduate; Jon Yrjanson, SHSC; Sandi Williams; Future Farmers of America; Jenny Bryan, WSU student; Captain Rick Jensen, Washington State Patrol.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The driver's awareness is increased, thereby heightening the driver's sense of caution.  Younger drivers are involved in more accidents and need to be made more aware of high accident areas, particularly near a college campus.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.