State Farm lists worst intersections throughout state

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Hawai'i's five most dangerous intersections include some familiar Honolulu streets with longtime safety problems and a nearly new junction in Kane'ohe.

The list, compiled by State Farm Insurance, the nation's largest auto insurer, lists the corner of King Street and Punahou Street in McCully as the most dangerous in the state. Police said nine major accidents and 26 minor ones have been reported in that area so far this year. A major accident is defined as one causing major injuries and/or more than $3,000 in damage.

The second-most dangerous intersection is the corner of Vineyard Boulevard and Punchbowl Street near downtown. Two major accidents and four minor ones were reported there so far this year.

Rounding out Hawai'i's top five are the Big Island's Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway along the South Kohala Coast and Henry Street in Kailua-Kona; Maui's South Pu'un«n« Avenue and Wakea Street in Kahului; and the intersection of Kahekili Highway and Likelike Highway in Kane'ohe.

The Kahekili-Likelike junction, rebuilt in 1997, has had six major accidents and two minor crashes this year.

No Hawai'i intersections made the national top 10 list.

State Farm put together the list based on claims by its policyholders in 1999 and 2000, the number of crashes at the site, and how many accidents involved injury.

State Farm will offer the city and state up to $20,000 for each of the five intersections to pay for a traffic safety improvement study. A grant was issued for the intersection of Kapi'olani Boulevard and Atkinson Drive in Honolulu, which appeared on State Farm's first list in 1999.

The nation's most dangerous intersection is Flamingo Road at Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines, Fla.