SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5502

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Transportation, March 2, 1995

Title:  An act relating to service and delivery vehicles.

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

Sponsors:  Senators Rinehart, Owen, Prince and Fairley.

Brief History:

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

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.

An "audible warning device" is a back-up beeper that is activated when a truck is placed in reverse.  The beeper is activated either manually or automatically, and the decibel level varies from model to model.  By federal standards, an audible warning device is required only on heavy-duty construction vehicles.  By Department of Labor and Industries' rule, the beeper is required on all vehicles operating on a construction site (except pickup trucks).

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Cube vans, panel delivery trucks or vans, cargo vans, commercial vans, walk-in delivery vans and parcel delivery vans used in the delivery of goods or services, with a length of 18 feet or less from the rear view mirror to the back of the vehicle must be equipped with a mirror mounted on the driver's top rear side of the vehicle that reflects the back of the vehicle.  These vehicles are also required to be equipped with an audible backup device (backup beeper).

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Equipment requirements apply to delivery vans rather than all motor vehicles.

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.