Pedestrians make their own problems
The problem with pedestrians lies with the pedestrians who cross where there are no crosswalks and often do not look both directions before crossing the street.I have had many people walk right in front of my car in crosswalks as if to challenge me. I stop, of course. However, physics does play a role here. If my car were to collide with an individual, my car would win.
As for the jaywalkers, look at the new Ward movie theaters where fences and signs are placed along the way, yet people still cross in the middle of the road.
Another popular accident site is in Waipahu, near the bus stop on Farrington Highway in front of Daiei. The last two fatalities I recall involved elderly men crossing the road from the car dealership to the bus stop. One man was knocked clean out of his sandals. First of all, what the poor deceased did was break the law. Second, you can't run in sandals or flip-flops. If you're going to play dodgeball with a car, you need good shoes.
I grew up in Texas where the car and truck were king. Roads are for cars. Educate pedestrians first before you persecute the drivers.
Robert D. Dunn
"They were thinking of me, I realize this afterwards. Very thoughtful." Hisahiro Yamada [Quotables]
Japanese frequent visitor, after trying to donate $200 to the Honolulu Police Department to make up for two calls he made accidentally to 911 while trying to place international calls. In January, two police officers showed up at Yamada's door to check on him after they received his first 911 "hang-up" call. Yamada misdialed again last month."Don't touch it, don't look at it -- just leave it alone and call us immediately." Boisse Correa
Assistant police chief, on what to do with the explosive Army dog-training device missing from Schofield. Trainers hid the device next to the tailpipe a car; the car's owner, not knowing the bomb was there, drove off some time later. The device apparently fell off the car at some point.
Judge usurped power by setting speed limits
Just when the camera vans and the controversy seemed to have slowed traffic down, a District Court judge publicly declared that he will not accept tickets issued for less than 10 miles over the speed limit.The judge has superseded the Legislature, the City Council and the Departments of Transportation and has singlehandedly raised speed limits from his lofty bench. This is just what the DOT tried to avoid by not announcing speeding thresholds.
Kenneth L. Barker
The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point on issues of public interest. The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed, must include a mailing address and daytime telephone number. Letter guidelines
Letter form: Online form, click here
E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com
Fax: (808) 529-4750
Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813