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Under the Sun Cynthia Oi |
What do you do
when other drivers
stop at a crosswalk?Faded-blue gym bag slung over his shoulder, a sturdy teenager surveyed the approaching formation of cars and trucks on King Street, waiting for an opening.
The frown on his face evaporated when two thoughtful drivers -- who just so happened to be steering identical champagne-toned compacts -- braked with chorus-line unison in the lanes closest to him.
It was obvious the young guy was an experienced pedestrian. Before stepping off the sidewalk and onto the painted lines of the mid-block crosswalk, he waited a few seconds to make sure the cars were at a complete stop. Treading in front of them, he gave a short wave of thanks to the synchronic drivers as he did to the two other motorists who followed their lead.
With only one more lane to go, though, he let his guard down. Plucking at his sweat-wet T-shirt, he had his eyes on the other side of the road when a clueless woman in another champagne compact came barreling toward him.
Maybe she didn't get that she ought to slow down and consider why four other cars would be stopped at a crosswalk. Maybe she was distracted. Maybe she just didn't see.
Lucky for the teenager, her driving skills exceeded her comprehensive and/or visual abilities. She swerved into the curb space between parked cars, then out again, clipping his bag as she whizzed by.
Shocked and flustered, he stood there for a few moments before hot-footing to the sidewalk where an elderly man who'd witnessed the episode patted him on the shoulder, seeming to soothe him.
The incident was by no means unusual. I'd bet my boss's salary that something like this happens dozens of times on dozens of streets in Hawaii every single day.
Sometimes I think people should have to pass an IQ test before they are given a driver's license, but intelligence doesn't necessarily parallel common sense. Neither does a close call knock in rational behavior.
A few blocks up King Street, the witless woman who almost ran over the teenager continued her idiotic driving. When another motorist flipped on his turn signal -- a rarity nowadays -- and maneuvered into the lane in front of her, she speeded up, even had the gall to lean heavy on the horn.
There's little that responsible citizens can do about these scofflaws. Police officials tell us to get the lunatic's license-plate number, report the incident and they'll investigate, but I doubt the cops can get these irresponsible people off the road. There are probably too many bureaucratic hoops to jump and, as is the case with so many traffic problems, not enough officers to take them on.
Technology today can track cars, record speeds and pinpoint their locations. These systems are used by rental car companies to trace drivers and vehicles so they'll know if you've engaged in prohibited activity, like traveling over the Saddle Road. Some new cars are equipped so that if you lose your keys or if someone steals your wheels, the system can help.
It's not hard to imagine that with a little tweaking, the same technology can be used to monitor driver behavior or used in "national security" surveillance -- if it isn't already being done. (Go ask super-snooper John Ashcroft.) It's also not a stretch that police may someday employ the technology to keep an eye on bad drivers.
Right now, the state and city are in the middle of a program to advise older people about being careful out there, which makes sense since they are more at risk in pedestrian accidents.
The next phase of the program is disturbing. Speakers will be sent to businesses and civic groups to educate drivers on how to avoid running over people. It is a sad statement that some drivers need such enlightenment. I'm all for "awareness" projects but it seems to me that the way to prevent car-human collisions is to slow down, pay attention and stop.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Cynthia Oi has been on the staff of the Star-Bulletin since 1976. She can be reached at: coi@starbulletin.com.