Hawaii drivers must slow down near stopped vehicles displaying warning signals, and pickup drivers cannot carry children under sixteen in truck beds unless an exception applies.
Drivers approaching a stopped vehicle with warning signals must slow down and change lanes when possible and safe. Otherwise, they must continue at a safe speed and stop if necessary.
Pickup drivers cannot carry children under sixteen in truck beds. Exceptions cover life-threatening emergencies, permitted parades and similar events, state-regulated public-serving businesses, farm-worker transport, and official emergency response and military vehicles.
Breaking the stopped-vehicle rule is a violation when nobody is hurt or killed. If injury or death is attributable to the driver, applicable negligent injury or homicide charges apply instead.
Approaching drivers must slow down and change to an adjacent lane when possible and safe. The rule covers drivers approaching a stationary vehicle anywhere on the roadway or shoulder. The stopped vehicle must have reasonable warning signals, such as hazard lights, flares, or cones. If changing lanes is impossible or unsafe, drivers must continue at a safe speed and stop completely if necessary. The driving rule took effect upon approval on June 5, 2026.
Pickup drivers cannot carry passengers under sixteen in the truck bed unless an exception applies. Covered pickups have a front cab and an open cargo bed with sides and a tailgate, with a maximum rated total weight of 11,000 pounds or less. Exceptions cover emergencies threatening the passenger's life and legally permitted parades, caravans, or exhibitions. The section also exempts state-regulated businesses serving the public and their workers doing that business, farm-worker transport, emergency response vehicles on official duty, and military vehicles in official operations. The pickup passenger rules took effect upon approval on June 5, 2026.
Drivers who break the stopped-vehicle rule face different charges depending on whether injury or death results. These charging rules apply to drivers who break the duty to slow down and safely pass a stopped vehicle displaying warning signals. If injury or death occurs and is attributable to the driver, the driver must instead face the applicable negligent injury or negligent homicide charge. Breaking this rule does not trigger section 287-20's separate requirement to furnish proof of financial responsibility. These charging rules took effect upon approval on June 5, 2026.
No hearings or votes scheduled.