Governor proposes stricter road rules

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

In a bid to reduce pedestrian deaths in Hawai'i, most drivers would be required to come to a full stop whenever a walker enters a crosswalk under a bill Gov. Linda Lingle says she will support at the upcoming state Legislature.

"This senseless killing of our elderly and other pedestrians has got to stop," Lingle said at a news conference yesterday. "This is one way we can do that."

Under current law, drivers have to stop only when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk on the driver's half of the road. Lingle's proposal calls for most drivers to stop, no matter where the pedestrian is in the crosswalk.

The only exception would be for people crossing a roadway divided by a medial strip, Lingle said. Drivers in those cases still would be subject to the old rules.

The proposed legislation was one of several bills announced by Lingle, who said she wanted to call attention to traffic safety before the start of the New Year's holiday weekend, traditionally one of the deadliest periods of the year.

Among other traffic safety measures she proposed:

• A graduated license bill for teenage drivers.

• Increased penalties for excessive speeding.

• Tougher penalties for those who buy or give alcohol to those under 21.

• Banning private use of remote-control devices that allow a driver to change a traffic signal from red to green.

Meanwhile, Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa promised vigorous enforcement of the bills if they are passed into law.

"Enough is enough. Something has to be done to cut down on all these accidents," Correa said. "The big thing is enforcement. We're going to put more people in the field and see how we can slow down all these drivers."

Lingle said Hawai'i has ranked among the worst states in the nation in the past few years when it comes to the number of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents. Last year, 24 pedestrians died statewide. This year, there have been 23 fatal pedestrian accidents on O'ahu alone, Correa said.

Part of the problem has been confusion in the law over when drivers must stop for someone in a crosswalk, Lingle said.

"Now, we're telling drivers that as soon as someone steps off the curb, vehicles in either direction must stop. There's no more guesswork about whether they are halfway across the road or not," she said.

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona said two of the bills would crack down on underage drinking, including giving mandatory jail time to anyone caught giving or selling liquor to a minor and automatically suspending the license of minors caught with alcohol.

Several Democratic leaders attended the news conference and promised to work with the Republican Lingle administration to increase traffic safety.

"There are people who say you can't legislate safety. I disagree," said Rep. Kirk Caldwell, D-24 (Manoa). "We've got to take our highways back from those have turned them into lethal weapons."

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