Honolulu, HI

Making Hawaii a more walkable and bikeable community is definitely going to take a lot of effort. The Honolulu Advertiser just ran a three day special series written by Rob Perez, Advertiser Staff Writer, covering pedestrian traffic safety issues – a hot topic on the table of many of Hawaii’s government agencies.

The series of articles were great at explaining what the issues are and how the city plans of finding solutions for the problem of pedestrian safety but there is still one element that needs to be included – making traffic safety a culture in Hawaii.

There are many ideas on the table for making the safety improvements needed. The City is reviewing ideas that could potentially cost millions to implement. There are also plans next year for legislators to take a look at imposing mandatory sentences for pedestrian deaths. But here’s one idea that needs to also be looked at – changing the culture of pedestrian and driver safety.

The focus of possible solutions seems to be on what improvements the city can make on the roads – building this and that and having stiffer penalties, but what those solutions don’t include is awareness education for Hawaii’s drivers and pedestrians.

We’ve seen pedestrians cross attempt to cross the streets where they shouldn’t be crossing. We’ve also seen drivers speeding through Hawaii’s roadways and we’ve also seen drivers who were oblivious to what was around them. What is the level of traffic safety as a culture then?

Changing the culture of traffic safety is going to be no easy task as well. There’s no doubt that we need to improve the infrastructure of Hawaii’s road, sidewalks and transportation, but we also need start working making safety a culture in the hearts of Hawaii’s people.

1. What about initiating a mandatory driver’s education class on traffic safety awareness that has to be retaken every couple of years as part of obtaining a driver’s license?

2. How’s about creating a public service announcement that talks about pedestrian and driver safety in Hawaii?

3. The Department of Health could jump on this by coming in at the angle of improved health for walkers and bikers.

4. Local businesses and the tourism industry could also get on board with this by coming in at the angle of creating / portraying a more walkable and bikeable community for local residents and non-locals alike.

5. The Board of Education can promote this even more in the schools teaching Hawaii’s children to become safer users of the roadways.

6. Even the media could support changing the face of traffic safety culture in Hawaii by making this issue a part of their local paper.

We’re still going to need legislators and other community leaders making safety culture a priority. We’re still going to have to improve roadways, sidewalks and look at mass transit opportunities, but we’re also going to have to look at how the community can elevate their awareness as a driver and as a pedestrian.

What do you think?

Hawaii traffic safety, walkable bikable communities, traffic safety culture, Hawaii mass transit