HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5727

             As Reported By House Committee On:

               Transportation Policy & Budget

Title:  An act relating to rearview mirrors on trucks.

Brief Description:  Requiring rearview mirrors on certain delivery trucks.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Wood, Haugen, Jacobsen, Hargrove, Finkbeiner, Deccio, Heavey, Goings, McAuliffe, Patterson, Prentice, Winsley, Kohl and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation Policy & Budget:  4/1/97, 4/7/97 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY & BUDGET

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Hankins, Vice Chairman; Mielke, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Blalock, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Buck; Cairnes; Chandler; Constantine; DeBolt; Gardner; Hatfield; Johnson; Murray; O'Brien; Ogden; Radcliff; Robertson; Romero; Scott; Skinner; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Jeff Doyle (786-7322).

Background:  The state has the ability to adopt certain motor vehicle safety standards so long as the standards are at least as stringent as federal law, and so long as the federal government has not preempted state regulation of the subject matter.

Currently, there is no requirement under either federal or state law that delivery trucks be equipped with rear "crossview" mirrors.  These mirrors better enable the driver of a truck to see objects directly behind the vehicle.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Washington State Patrol (WSP), in consultation with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, is directed to test safety devices to prevent truck backing accidents, and make recommendations to the Legislature concerning the adoption of state equipment standards.  The WSP is directed to give specific consideration to the use of rear cross-view mirrors.  The WSP may incorporate the research and analysis currently being conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The requirement that rear cross-view mirrors be installed on trucks is deleted.  The WSP is directed to conduct an analysis of various safety devices and to make recommendations to the Legislature.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  These mirrors, which cost only $50, eliminate a serious hazard for drivers who must back up blindly.  This is the most cost-effective solution to save children=s lives.

Testimony Against:  The federal government is currently testing such equipment, and the state should wait for new federal standards before requiring trucks to install these mirrors.

Testified:  Dee Norton (pro); Cameron Norton (pro); Jana Norton (pro); Jackie Norton (pro); Gerry McIlhargey, Sensiz Technologies, Inc. (con); Steve Lind, Washington Traffic Safety Commission (pro); Larry Pursley, Washington Trucking Association (con); Doug Baker, United Parcel Service (con); Mike Ryherd, Teamsters (pro); and Albert Alvarez, Housing Authorities Risk Retention Pool (pro).