Kokua Line June Watanabe

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HPD offers safety tips for pedestrians

Question: How I can get a copy of the official rules for pedestrians crossing the street?

Answer: The "official rules" or laws can be found in Sections 291C-71 through 291C-79 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The laws themselves are not available in any handy brochure. However, the Honolulu Police Department has safety tips for pedestrians and motorists, including the basic laws for walking and driving along Honolulu streets.

You can pick up a copy at HPD's headquarters, 801 S. Beretania St., 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays-Fridays. Ask for the Community Affairs Division on the first floor.

You can find the tips online at honolulupd.org/community/traffic/pedestrian%202.htm.

Among the pedestrian safety tips:

» Always cross within marked crosswalks or at street corners.

» Look left, right, then left again for vehicular traffic before stepping onto the roadway.

» Yield to any approaching vehicles even if you have the right of way.

» Make eye contact with drivers to ensure that they see you.

» Keep to the right of the crosswalk.

» Walk, never run.

» Obey all traffic signals and use the pedestrian signal button at intersections.

» Cross only when the green "Walk" light is on. Don't begin crossing if the red "Don't Walk" or upraised hand is flashing or steady.

» If buses or other large vehicles are blocking your view, wait for them to pass before crossing.

» Do not walk behind a vehicle that has its reverse lights on.

» Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the roadway so you can see oncoming traffic.

» Stand at least 10 feet away from the curb while waiting at bus stops.

Among the driver safety tips:

» Stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is crossing on your half of the road.

» Stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is approaching from the opposite half of the roadway and is close enough to be in danger.

» Stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk while executing a right or left turn and the pedestrian is in the half of the roadway that your vehicle is entering.

» Look out for pedestrians that might be hidden from view by other vehicles that have stopped.

Auwe

To the person who did not return my 91-year old dad's wooden walking cane that he inadvertently left in his cart after shopping a few weeks ago at Iwilei Costco. The length of the cane was cut to match his height.

We have been checking periodically with Costco, and it has not been turned in. It's not too late to return it and show your aloha spirit! -- Concerned Daughter

On Vacation

Kokua Line will be on vacation, returning Sept. 11.