FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Flowers and balloons memorialized the site at Keawe Street and Ala Moana yesterday where two youths died Sunday in a traffic accident.
Speeding kills most
on Oahu roadwaysA lawmaker calls for stiffer
penalties on reckless drivers
as fatalities climb to more than
double the amount for 2002
More than 80 percent of fatal traffic accidents on Oahu so far this year involved speeding, more than double the amount for all of 2002, police say.
CORRECTION
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003>> Nineteen of 51 fatal crashes from Jan. 1 through Oct. 14, 2002, involved speeding, according to Maj. Bryan Wauke of the Honolulu Police Department's Traffic Division. A story on Page A1 yesterday incorrectly said the numbers were for all of 2002.
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 fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Of 54 fatal crashes this year, 44 involved speeding -- 81.5 percent -- compared with 19 of 51 fatal crashes for all of last year, or 37 percent, according to Maj. Bryan Wauke of the Honolulu Police Department Traffic Division.
"It's really disturbing because it's preventable," said Wauke. "It just seems to be that no matter how many of these crashes occur as a result of speeding or racing, these younger adults seem to engage in that behavior, putting our families at risk."
Accidents in Kakaako and Salt Lake killed three men over the weekend. Police said speed apparently was a factor in both accidents. Racing was also suspected in the Kakaako crash.
While police are continuing to enforce existing laws against speeding and racing, one lawmaker is drafting stricter penalties.
Under state law, a person's vehicle can be forfeited after three racing convictions within a five-year period.
"This law needs to be strengthened so that courts can order the speeder's vehicle forfeited after one conviction," said Rep. Kirk Caldwell, vice chairman of the state House Transportation Committee.
"The whole idea with the forfeiture is that you're separating the speeders from their vehicles. If you give them a chance to do three offenses, you're endangering the public three times before you implement the forfeiture," he said.
Caldwell (D, Manoa) said the forfeiture would apply to racers who own their vehicles.
"If you're driving mom or dad's car who need that car for work, you put them in a difficult financial situation," he said.
State Public Defender Jack Tonaki said his office would have to look at the bill before deciding what action to take. But, he said, a car owner could have received money from parents to buy a vehicle.
"If you buy your kid a car, you should bear some responsibility," Tonaki said.
Creating more stringent laws will not simplify the problem, he said. "I don't think that will act as a deterrent whatsoever," he said, noting movies such as "2 Fast 2 Furious" and retail businesses that sell high-performance parts glorify racing.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Christen Kim, left, and Tracie Han were among those paying their respects yesterday at Keawe Street and Ala Moana.
A 21-year-old Ewa Beach man identified as Arthur Pascual died Saturday morning in Salt Lake after he lost control of his car on Ala Napunani Street and struck a light post near Ala Puaala Place. The following morning, two men, 21-year-old Andrew Ngan and 20-year-old Ryan Kono, died in Kakaako after they crashed at Ala Moana and Keawe Street.
Speeding, racing or driving under the influence of alcohol are senseless behaviors, said HPD's Wauke. He noted that 24 of 54 fatal crashes this year, or 44.5 percent, involved alcohol, compared with 14 of 51, or 27 percent, last year. As of August 2003, 1,458 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, compared with 1,503 motorists for all of last year.
For speeding, a total of 20,302 citations were issued as of July 31, compared with 28,547 citations that were issued for all of last year.
Wauke also pointed out that motorists in their 20s and younger are over-represented in fatal traffic-related collisions.
As of June 2003, motorists between ages 20 and 29 made up 47.5 percent of those involved in fatal crashes. Motorists between ages 15 and 19 account for 15 percent of those in fatal crashes.
Wauke said motorists in their 30s accounted for 15 percent of those involved in fatal crashes.
