Call for Swift Action to Reduce Pedestrian Deaths

What happens when there is a menacing threat? A crackdown on security happens which is achieved through increased control. What further restrictions can we place upon the pedestrians to facilitate traffic flow? Crosswalks have already been eliminated or changed locations - along with less bus stops. The city of Honolulu needs to look at traffic engineering changes that can be done to satisfy both contenders who are fighting for the same square footage of earth.

The "No Right On Red" intersection in Chinatown at River Street and Beretainia should be changed to "No Right Turn." Here during peak traffic, autos are unable to turn right more than one automobile per "green" light because so many people are crossing during the green light. The driver compensates by partially entering the intersection so able to complete right turn after light turns red. A defensive reaction at the perceived 'herding" increases heart rate and anxiety for pedestrians.

This problem intersection at River and Beretainia should be tested with a simple "No Right Turn" at anytime or coned during peak traffic times. The two lanes would then be used to make a left turn only. Remove the redundant crosswalk on the bridge side to increase traffic flow turning left. A simple sign may be an inconvenience to some but the greater good would be achieved.

Presently during peak traffic times, the gridlock on River Street goes back to Nimitz and is combined by the many cars idling in queue in bike lane that are waiting to park at full lots on Nimitz. Those who are exiting from Chinatown to make a right turn onto Nimitz must then use the next inner lane to enter traffic to get around those standing cars.

Upstream traffic on the multi-laned Nimitz who are driving towards Chinatown from Waikiki upon seeing a traffic jam begin merging to the left. A chaotic wave of disturbance travels though out the traffic flow when a car swings out past the queued cars one and half or two lanes. Drivers must choose between merging to the left quickly or slow to a dead stop.

Honolulu's high pedestrian rate for 2007 is twice as high as at this same time last year. What changes have occurred to make this happen? Has the unrelenting importation of ever more cars onto an island state finally reached critical mass? Increase in pedestrian deaths nearly doubled after the new pedestrian law went into effect. Could it be that a poorly fashioned law intended for increased safety backfired on legislators?

The law now says that "the driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right of way to pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger."

It's not required to stop for a pedestrian on the sidewalk waiting to cross, only when the person is already inside a crosswalk. A driver should avoid a crash by honking horn and proceeding as if a child were on the roadway. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a safe place and enter oncoming traffic in a haphazard manner. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

The disparate risk for a pedestrian becoming a traffic victim is a function of whether if in an impoverished or wealthy locale. Perhaps the problem is not that the aged aren't "fast enough" to cross but that pensioners generally live within older parts of the city with there is a greater percentage of aged infrastructure.