STAYING SAFE IN THE STREETS
Pedestrians at
risk on busy roads
The police department looks
By Rod Ohira
for ways to make motorists and
people on foot more aware
Star-BulletinLaura Lee knows that using a crosswalk isn't enough to guarantee safe passage across today's wider, more congested roadways.
"Crosswalks don't mean anything to some drivers," says Lee, a 78-year-old Liliha resident. "Even if a car stops when you're crossing, you still have to watch for the car in the next lane.
"You just can't take anything for granted."
Statistics show that it's true: A crosswalk is no guarantee of safety.
In 1997, 226 of 646 pedestrian injuries in Hawaii occurred in crosswalks, according to Department of Transportation Traffic Branch statistics.
From 1987 to 1997, 307 pedestrians were killed on Hawaii's roadways, including 73 people who were crossing in a crosswalk.
Thirty-five others were killed while crossing outside a crosswalk, and 55 were crossing where there was no crosswalk.
On Oahu, pedestrians have accounted for six of 16 traffic fatalities this year and 28 percent of 386 roadway deaths since 1994, when Honolulu began tracking pedestrian fatals.
"All it takes is for one person to step out without looking and you have a potentially fatal collision," Capt. Scott Foster of the East Honolulu patrol district said.
"It can happen anywhere. If you're looking for a cause, most likely it's inattentiveness. It could be on the part of the driver, pedestrian or both parties."
Age appears to be a factor, as pedestrian fatalities fall basically into two age groups, older citizens or very young children, say police.
Sixty-three percent of 109 pedestrians killed on Oahu over the past 64 months were 50 years or older, including 49 who were over the age of 70.
Ten of the fatalities during the same period were children under the age of 10, including a 2-year-old Kailua girl this year.
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Ten of the 109 pedestrians killed in Oahu traffic fatalities in
the past 64 months were children under the age of 10.Of the 307 pedestrian fatalities in Hawaii from 1987 through 1997, 122 were people 65 years and older, according state statistics. Thirty-six others were 14 years old or younger.
"Most pedestrian fatalities involve the older generation only because many have the mentality that they can cross wherever and whenever they want," says Sgt. Robert Lung, the Honolulu Police Department's liaison to the state Transportation Department's Safe Community Program for traffic safety.
"The streets now are wider and they (older people) can't walk fast enough to cross. Most fatalities also occur in dark hours, so it helps not to wear dark clothing."
Police Traffic Division Maj. Rafael Fajardo says pedestrians have the right of way but should remain alert to avoid being "dead right."
"We need to change the mind-set of motorists and pedestrians to make them more aware of each other," Fajardo says.
"In Ontario, Canada, pedestrians hold an arm out while crossing and proceed only after making eye contact with the motorists. We're looking at implementing something similar here."
Sgt. Karen Huston, a vehicular homicide investigator, says motorists involved in pedestrian fatals often say they did not see the victim or couldn't stop in time.
"We interpret that as speed or inattentiveness while driving being factors," Huston said. "For pedestrians, they need to check every single lane before proceeding."
Fumiko Okamoto, 79, of Kuliouou says "walk lights" often start blinking, indicating "don't walk" while she's crossing the street.
There's still enough time to finish the crossing but Okamoto says the signal change, warning others not to start crossing, makes her nervous.
"You always have to be alert because you never know if the car that's coming is going to stop," Okamoto says. "I see some people just crossing with the light, not paying attention."
Hajime Torikawa, 86, of Kakaako doesn't venture too far from his home but would rather catch a bus than walk two blocks to a market on Queen Street.
"There's no sidewalks," Torikawa says, pointing to a stretch of Queen Street leading to Hamada Store. "Too many parked cars there, it's dangerous to walk."
Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific medical director Dr. Sungyul "David" Kim says pedestrian or bicycle accidents cause 20 percent of all brain injuries in the United States.
"Some patients may not have any visible physical injuries but there may be a problem later with comprehension," Kim said. "It's a common problem that health-care providers tend to overlook."
Pedestrian safety tips PLAY IT SAFE
Exercise caution at all times.
Source: Honolulu Police Department
