JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Lt. Jeffery Bruchal of HPD's Traffic Division explained new pedestrian laws yesterday in a short news conference on the corner of Dillingham Boulevard and Kohou Street as a pedestrian crossed behind him.

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Pedestrian safety
prioritized

A six-week campaign by police
will enforce new crosswalk and
jaywalking statutes

CORRECTION Friday, August 26, 2005 » A new state pedestrian safety law requires motorists to stop and yield to pedestrians who are in the motorists' half of the roadway or approaching closely from the opposite side of the roadway. Articles that ran on Page A3 on Aug. 13 and 18 incorrectly described the law. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Of the 17 pedestrians killed this year on Oahu, just four were in crosswalks when they died.

Pedestrian fatalities on Oahu Year to date, 2005: 17 Same period in 2004: 14 SOURCE: HPD

And at this time in 2004, three fewer people had been killed while trying to cross Oahu roadways.

The statistics have spurred police to kick off a six-week, Oahu-wide pedestrian safety campaign, which includes a rare crackdown on jaywalkers. Police also pledge to start issuing $97 citations on Sept. 1 for violators of a new pedestrian safety law.

"To both pedestrians and motorists: Be cautious and be careful," traffic police Lt. Jeff Bruchal said yesterday during a news conference.

The safety campaign started islandwide Thursday and will go through Sept. 23, with enforcement concentrated at busy intersections from Kapahulu to Kalihi. After that, police say they will continue to enforce the crosswalk and jaywalking laws, but with fewer officers patrolling the streets.

The campaign comes as many residents are still unclear what the new pedestrian law requires of them. That, Bruchal said, is why police will warn -- but not cite -- violators until the end of the month. Citations for drivers and jaywalkers, who face a $70 fine, will start in September.

The new law says that drivers must yield for any pedestrian who is in their half of the roadway. Drivers must also yield "when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be a danger."

That means that in a five-lane road, the car in the center lane must come to a stop until the pedestrian gets to the other side of the street. Those in the far and near, right and left lanes can go as soon as the pedestrian is in the other half of the roadway.

Bruchal said the law applies to both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

"I believe this law just gives law enforcement a little bit more authority in improving the safety of pedestrians," he said.

Since 2001, 106 pedestrians have died on Oahu roads. Most were seniors, according to police statistics.

In 2004, Hawaii ranked fourth in the nation for its pedestrian fatality rate: 2.65 deaths per 100,000 people. The national average was 1.67, according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

Two years ago, University of Hawaii student Jackie Young was struck by a car and critically injured while trying to cross Waialae Avenue. Ever since, she has been a vocal advocate for more pedestrian safety measures. She said she is happy to see the police are stepping up enforcement.

"I think that's the only thing that's going to get drivers to really pay attention to pedestrians," she said, adding that pedestrians also have a responsibility to pay attention to traffic. But Young is also disappointed with the new pedestrian law.

Drivers should have to stop for pedestrians, regardless of where they are in the crosswalk, she said.

"But then," she added with a laugh, "they would have to change all the traffic signals to be much longer."