Forty-three (43) pedestrians were killed in Hawai’i in 2018 — 27 in O’ahu. Only 38 people were killed in a vehicle accident. Motorists have air bags, steel frames, seat belts and safety glass. Pedestrians have nothing.
A 53-year-old Kailua woman died after she was struck by a pickup truck while crossing a street in Kaneohe Thursday, June 27th. Police said the woman was crossing Alaloa Street in a MARKED CROSSWALK when she was struck by a GMC pickup truck operated by a 54-year-old Honolulu man at about 12:05 p.m.
By comparison, people express much fear about shark attacks. There has been ONE death from a shark in four years. Three attacks in 2018. Four attacks and one fatality 2019. Motorists are more dangerous than sharks.
Solutions? Slow down drivers? No, of course not. Elected officials drive. Primarily middle class and poor people walk and take Da Bus. Punish the pedestrians; punish the most vulnerable victims, such as the 53-year-old woman.
The best solution for busy and wide intersections as there are in Honolulu and most major cities it to separate traffic. Currently it is mixed. When vehicles go north-to-south, for example, pedestrians do as well. But this causes problems when motorists turn. If there are pedestrians, traffic comes to a stop and blocks vehicles to the rear.
Pedestrians and vehicles do not belong in the intersection at the same time. Stop all foot traffic, let motorist do their thing. Then stop motorists, and pedestrians can cross — and in all directions — even diagonally. It is far more efficient and safe. There are a number of examples in Waikiki.
Hawai’i is an unfriendly place for pedestrians.
Looking at energy consumption by sector, transpiration (blue) is the largest category. People love their cars. Freeways are packed. Congestion is high. Parking impossible. Bus lines are efficient. But prestigious elected officials do not prefer public transpiration.
Motorists race from light to light. This isn’t a casual Caribbean or Mexican vacation spot. Drivers are in a hurry. The rail project is badly needed, yet it’s one of the more controversial topics.
Only a small percent will actually use the rail — a significantly large number will benefit as there will be fewer drivers on roads. People don’t think about the rail this way. The G.E.T. is about a nickel per dollar higher on O’ahu to pay for the rail. People complain all the time.
Pedestrian Penalty
If one is not standing at an intersection, they have five seconds to get to the pedestrian cross walk before the countdown timer begins. Once the 30-second (or less) timer begins, one can be fined $130 for stepping onto the street. If one has three (3) grams or less of cannabis, they could receive a similar fine.
Stepping late onto a crosswalk — $130 fine; carrying a bit of pakalolo — $130 fine. E Komo Mai, Hawai’i. Lot of kooks here.
SB693: RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE TRAFFIC CODE. Countdown timer. If the pedestrian-control signal is equipped with a countdown timer, no pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal once the countdown begins, but any pedestrian who has partially completed the pedestrian’s crossing when the countdown begins shall complete the crossing to a sidewalk or safety island before the countdown timer ends.
Even Honolulu police believe this is a stupid policy. But stupid is what Hawai’i government does best. If government applied the same logic to motorists, they would issue a $130 fine to any driver who entered an intersection after the traffic light turned yellow. Makes no sense, does it? Neither does this pedestrian amendment. Silly rabbits here!
“Could we [cite someone]? Yes, we could. Did we? Nah, not really. Not realistically. And honestly, under the new statute we probably wouldn’t cite people, either. We kind of try to use some common sense. If they’re still in the intersection when the red hand goes on, then we probably would cite them then.”
Honolulu Police Capt. Ben Moszkowicz, Traffic Division
Be safe out there. If you’re going to get fined, get caught with some pakalolo!
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