Posted on: Friday, January 25, 2002

Large insurer questions traffic camera system

• Answers to your traffic cam questions

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Traffic camera vendor chief Michael Schlei, left, and Department of Transportation director Brian Minaai listened to questions posed to them by Sen. Sam Slom in a hearing on the traffic camera system yesterday. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The head of one of Hawai'i's largest auto insurance companies yesterday expressed doubt about the state's new traffic enforcement photo system and said his company may not allow the photo citations to affect premiums.

"If photo traffic enforcement reduces injuries and deaths by citing speeders, we will support this program," said Robin Campaniano, president and chief executive officer of AIG Hawai'i. "If, however, this program is merely a means for the state to add revenue, we will join the chorus of voices who have raised objections."

Campaniano, a former state insurance commissioner, said there is a lack of information about how the camera sites are selected.

"We do not support using van cams for raising revenue and placing them in areas where abrupt reductions in speed limits would generate a large number of traffic citations," he said. In that situation AIG would question the validity of the citations and not allow them to affect a driver's insurance rates.

"Thus, we would be supportive of your efforts to remove van cam citations from traffic abstracts," Campaniano said.

Campaniano made his comments during a state Senate briefing in which lawmakers grilled Department of Transportation officials on implementation of the three-year trial program. In addition, DOT officials announced several changes to the program, and a Mainland traffic expert said the presence of the cameras had created a safety hazard that has left him afraid to drive on Hawai'i roads.

"You've got no idea how far down the road you've gone and how much you're on the wrong track," said Nito Quitevis, a former commercial driver, traffic investigator and highway safety instructor in Duluth, Minn.

Quitevis, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, said he was so concerned that he took time out from his annual vacation to Hawai'i to warn lawmakers that the program was causing more problems than it solved.

"Speed doesn't kill," he said. "Distractions do. You've created a situation that's absolutely intolerable. Drivers aren't paying attention to the road; instead they are looking for the cameras. You've taken the most courteous drivers in the country and suddenly elevated road rage to Mainland levels."

Department of Transportation Director Brian Minaai admitted the department already has had to make changes in the 2-month-old program.

The department plans to conduct a review of speed limits on all state roads, concentrate cameras in "critical locations" where multiple crashes or complaints have occurred in the past, limit rush-hour enforcement, tell the public specific locations of the cameras, expand into late-night and weekend hours (when most street racing occurs) and find ways to use the cameras in school zones and residential neighborhoods, Minaai said.

Minaai, however, frustrated some committee members when he said he was not familiar with all the details of the state's contract with camera operator, Affiliated Computer Systems, and the safety statistics that the department has used to justify the program.

"I'm all for safety too, but I'm adamantly against these cameras," Sen. Bob Hogue (R-Windward O'ahu) told Minaai. "I formally ask you to pull the cameras off the Pali and Likelike highways. The only thing they demonstrate is the arrogance of the Department of Transportation."

Campaniano said AIG Hawai'i supports other traffic safety efforts, including reducing hours that young drivers may be on the road, restrictions on cell phone use while driving and the use of automated cameras to monitor red-light runners.

But he was more cautious about the use of cameras to catch speeders.

"Frankly there is a lack of information about the selection of locations of photo enforcement vans," he said. "Put the vans in places and at times that will deter road races. Put them in places where speeding results in serious accidents. Don't place them in areas selected because they are likely to generate greater revenue, where there is little correlation to accidents."

Committee Chairman Cal Kawamoto, a supporter of the photo camera program, said after the hearing that he would introduce a resolution asking DOT officials to conduct a full review of the program and report back to lawmakers 20 days before the end of the current session.

Among the items Kawamoto wants to see studied are the effectiveness of current speed limits, the way the state pays the contractor, the deployment of the vans, ways to maximize police enforcement in the program, the way the courts are handling photo cases and the ultimate goals of the program.

"The bottom line is to make sure the program works," he said. "If it's accomplishing better safety, I don't see any need to get rid of it."

Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Barbers Point, Makaha), the committee's vice chair, is sponsoring one of three bills seeking to repeal the program. Fourteen of the 25 state senators have signed on to the three bills.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann @honoluluadvertiser.com.