Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: About 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, I was traveling on Manoa Road, between Punahou and Lowrey. A car was going about 25 mph, perhaps a little slower, when the ambulance following it decided to cross the double solid line to overtake it. The car in front of me, as well as mine, had to quickly brake as the ambulance zoomed into our lane to get back into his lane. This ambulance did not have any emergency lights flashing. In fact, no lights were on, not even his headlights. I think the driver of this ambulance should not be driving at all! Or have him retake the driving test! Ambulance driver’s
skills questionedAnswer: You didn't ask a question, but we decided to use your complaint to ask what the law is regarding ambulance drivers and situations such as the one you described.
The ambulance was transporting a critical stroke patient to a hospital and the crew member said the siren was on during that time, said Donald Gates, assistant chief for the city Emergency Services Department.
However, the emergency red lights also were required to be on. The law has been reviewed with the crew involved "in regards to the safe operations of an emergency vehicle," he said.
State law allows emergency vehicles, with warning signals on, to exceed the speed limit, go through red lights and, as in the case you witnessed, to cross double solid lines, Gates noted.
However, "should an accident occur, the driver could be held liable," he said. The law allows the driver to proceed with caution, but all traffic laws still apply.
"The siren and red lights do not absolve the driver from responsibility should an accident occur," Gates said.
Q: Can you publish the address for the Christmas card lady again?
A: Here's the information again: Helen Daniels of Kailua, the original "Christmas Card Lady," has retired. Taking her place in using old cards to make scrapbooks for hospitalized children is Cindy Delgado, 47-158 Lile Place, Kaneohe, HI 96744. She said it would help if the cards could be trimmed first.
Call her at 239-1163 for instructions. Delgado was able to make and deliver 20 books to children at Shriners Hospital last year. Accompanying her on her delivery was Helen Daniels.
In search of aloha
I once ran out of gas on an on-ramp to the H-1 freeway. I stopped alongside the road and waited outside my car. I already had contacted my son, so would not have waited long. In the half hour I waited, at least eight cars slowed down or stopped altogether to see if I needed assistance. Now I live in the outskirts of Washington, D.C. Recently, I ran out of gas on the infamous Beltway (eight lanes of traffic). I waited near my car, with a handkerchief tied to the antenna. In the 45 minutes I waited, not one car stopped to offer assistance. Two police cars zoomed past me. A state highway department tow truck finally stopped and helped me. I know, I really need to get a cell phone or stop being so boneheaded as to run out of gas. But do I miss Hawaii? OH, YEAH! -- Patsy Campbell, Fort Meade, Md.
Auwe
To a vendor at the Aloha Stadium swap meet. On Sunday, Aug. 15, I observed and heard you being very rude to a potential customer. Your attitude was atrocious and your words offensive. Perhaps if you were a gentleman, you would have made a large sale. Too bad. -- No name
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