Owners are right on speed hump issue
Faced with the constant problem of speeders on Nani Kailua Drive, 62 property owners, whose properties touch Nani Kailua Drive, voted on whether to ask the county to install speed humps. Of the 62 property owners, 54 voted in favor of speed humps. Other solutions (four-way stops, roundabouts, flashing speed signs) had been considered, however speed humps were determined to be the most effective and logical solution. With 87 percent of the property owners in favor of speed humps, a traffic engineer was assigned to assess the 0.8-mile long Nani Kailua Drive and determine the number of necessary speed humps and where they should be placed. For speed humps to be most effective, the county tries to space them between 300 to 500 feet apart.
The nine locations designated for the Nani Kailua Drive speed humps were set as close to 500 feet as possible. Now, as the speed humps are about to be installed, people not living on Nani Kailua Drive are protesting the installation of the speed humps. Understandably, people on Hoene Street and Aloha Kona Drive are worried the speeders and construction trucks will divert to their streets to avoid Nani Kailua Drive’s speed humps. Despite their complaints, the only alternative they can suggest is more police enforcement. Unfortunately, the officers are “too busy” to provide effective enforcement.
Property owners on Nani Kailua Drive are fed up with the speeding and have followed the county’s procedures and rules for properly requesting speed humps. The decision on installing speed humps on Nani Kailua Drive is now in the hands of the county director. He can opt to comply with the wishes of the 54 property owners or he can succumb to the complaints of people not owning property on Nani Kailua Drive.
The decision is a tough one as it could have legal ramifications and/or set a precedence. If the director sides with the anti-speed hump group, will the property owners be able to sue the county for lack of action? What if a speeder causes injury or damage after the speed humps request is denied? Would the county be liable? Would a precedent be established where we as Kona residents could protest and stop streets in Hilo from getting speed humps? Could someone in Ka‘u block property owners in Hawi from taking steps to deter speeding in Hawi? You may laugh at these examples, but then again, should someone not living on Nani Kailua Drive get to overrule 87 percent of the property owners?
The property owners on Nani Kailua Drive are just trying to make their street safer. People on Hoene Street and Aloha Kona Drive are welcome to do the same. Speed hump petition forms and the requirements are on the county website.
The Kona Traffic Safety Committee also meets every second Thursday at 5 p.m.
Bradley K. Main
Kailua-Kona