7Enforce the rules
It’s not surprising to hear the county’s grim traffic statistics. I was at a light yesterday where all three cars next to me had out of state license plates — a near daily occurrence. More rats in our finite, infrastructure-lacking island cage, many who think Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway is a freeway. And it’s clearly not just new arrivals and tourists who are pushing the limits. “Hurry up” mainland or Oahu-style driving seems to be rubbing off on what used to be more “go slow” island approach to getting to the next destination.
In any case, it seems there’s never a time when at least one driver isn’t recklessly weaving in and out of traffic at high speed or blasting by at over 60 mph (even in a 35 mph zone), or a driver tailgating so closely that the car in front can barely tell there’s a car behind them. In the end, we’re all at the next traffic light — together again; but that reality doesn’t seem to faze drivers who nail the gas pedal as soon as the light turns green. And speaking of red lights, they seem to be regarded by many as having nothing to do with stopping.
It’s interesting that so many drivers seem unconcerned with breaking the law, getting a ticket, or causing an accident. I optimistically visualize a patrol car appearing, the cops nabbing the craziest of the crazy drivers, and stopping them before someone is killed.
This isn’t about drivers going 5 or even 10 miles per hour over the speed limit or changing lanes a couple of times to get ahead of the crowd. It’s about letting drivers know that there are regularly enforced limits to how far our speeding and reckless driving laws can be pushed — not just by staging drunk driving check points. Consistent enforcement of all traffic laws, especially speeding, traffic signal violations, and other reckless driving might make people think twice before breaking their least favorite driving rule.
Janice Palma-Glennie
Kailua-Kona
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