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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Cars making U-turn
have right of wayQuestion: I use Acacia Road in Pearl City to go home and notice that at the intersection to get onto Kamehameha Highway, heading west, drivers often are coming from the opposite direction and making U-turns to go to Sam's Club. They cross two lanes of traffic in the process, forcing those of us who are trying to get onto the highway to wait or risk being sideswiped. Is this legal? I am sure this is not the only intersection where this is a problem.
Answer: It may surprise you to learn that, in this case at least, vehicles making the U-turn have the right of way and may make that wide turn into the right lane.
Under the city Traffic Code, "it is permissible to make that turn as long as the light is green and a U-turn is permitted," according to Capt. Randy Macadangdang of the Honolulu Police Department's Pearl City District.
He noted that it's usually difficult for cars making a U-turn to make a tight turn into the far left lane to begin with.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that there is a "yield" sign for drivers coming down Acacia and planning to turn right onto Kamehameha. Those drivers have the "yield" sign, as well as the traffic signal to follow.
"When the light is green, (they) have to yield to oncoming traffic, in particular, the U-turn traffic ... then drive with caution when executing a right turn," Macadangdang said. "If the light is red, (they) have to stop, then proceed with caution."
Auwe
To the owners of a red Plymouth who left their dog inside their car with the windows down only 2 inches on May 17, a very hot day. It's so sad for people to do that to their dogs. -- Pam"We encourage people who see an animal suffering in a hot car to call (the Honolulu Police Department at) 911 immediately," said Jacque Smith, spokeswoman for the Hawaiian Humane Society. "HPD has the authority to run license checks and to break into a vehicle if needed."
Police also will notify the humane society if assistance is needed, she said.
It not only can be very dangerous to leave animals unattended in cars, it also can be considered animal cruelty (Hawaii Revised Statutes, Sec. 711-1109) to keep one in a hot car.
The dangers of leaving children unattended in parked vehicles have been well noted, and it's no different for pets.
In the July 6, 2003, Kokua Line, dealing with children in vehicles, it was noted: "It's not safe to leave children (or pets) with windows slightly open in warm weather because temperatures inside can rise quickly -- 10 to 15 minutes -- to fatal levels."
"There's no sure-fire definition of what's acceptable conditions to leave animals in your vehicle," Smith said. "Shade, car color, sun roof, dog type, length of time that you're leaving your pet -- all play a role in evaluating the conditions."
But cracking the windows is not enough to keep the car cool when it's hot outside. Certain dogs -- snub-nosed, older or overweight -- are also more vulnerable to high temperatures, according to the humane society.
The best bet, Smith said, is to leave your pet at home.
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