SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 5502

               As Passed Senate, March 13, 1995

Title:  An act relating to service and delivery vehicles.

Brief Description:  Requiring safety equipment on certain service and delivery vehicles.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Rinehart, Owen, Prince and Fairley).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/7/95, 3/2/95 [DPS, DNP].

Passed Senate, 3/13/95, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5502 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Fairley, Haugen, Kohl, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Sellar and Wood.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Morton.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

Background:  All vehicles are required to be equipped with a mirror mounted on the left side of the vehicle that reflects a view of the highway for at least 200 feet.   There is no federal requirement for the installation or placement of an additional mirror(s) on the left side of the vehicle designed to aid the driver in viewing the  blind spot.   Convex mirrors are currently being sold that are attached to the existing mirror, or mounted above, below or to the side of the mirror.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Licensing, Traffic Safety Commission, Washington State Patrol and other organizations, as determined by the Senate Transportation Committee, are directed to distribute information on the use of an additional mirror on the top rear side of service delivery trucks and vans as a safety tool.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The use of mirrors and backup beepers may prevent another tragic accident in which a small child was killed by a delivery van that was backing up.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Rinehart, prime sponsor; Dee Norton; Jackie Norton; PRO WITH CONCERNS: Larry Stevens, WA Automotive Wholesalers Assn.; David Adair, Lake City Auto Parts; Roland Thompson, Allied Newspapers of WA.