Deadliest driving period begins
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer
Attention, drivers: You're about to enter the danger zone.
The three-month period starting this weekend is the deadliest period for motorists of all ages, both on the Mainland and in Hawai'i, according to a new traffic safety report.
In Hawai'i, traffic accident deaths rise nearly 25 percent in June, July and August compared with the rest of the year, according to an Advertiser review of statewide statistics from 1994 to 2002.
June is by far the deadliest month, with an average of almost 15 deaths statewide per year over the nine-year period.
Police and others in Honolulu blame the summer spike in part on the number of young drivers on the road, graduation parties, more late-night driving and a high number of holidays during the period.
"One big reason might be that there are a lot more young drivers on the road in the summertime, and they tend to stay out later," said Honolulu Police Sgt. Robert Lung. "Those are factors that always pose an extra risk."
On the Mainland, the extra number of miles driven by vacationing families between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends contributes to an annual surge in driving deaths, according to the report released Thursday by the national Drive for Life organization.
Among the findings in the report, titled "Americans Take to the Road: 101 Deadliest Days on the Road and How to Survive Them":
• Of the 25 deadliest days on American roads in the past five years, 20 of them fell during the summer period.
• Teen drivers average 44 percent more hours behind the wheel each week during the summer than the school year; also during the summer, 47 percent of teenagers drive at night compared with 6 percent during the school year.
• American families tend to change their driving habits in the summer, increasing the amount of time with children in the car, traveling longer distances and often driving while fatigued at night.
"I think people get a little more relaxed and a little crazier in the summertime," said 32-year-old Palolo resident Alex Ibi, who says he can remember going on long summer driving trips with his family when he was growing up in Oregon.
"In Hawai'i, you've got more kids out of school and they tend to stay out later. I can remember when I was younger that it was nonstop partying in the summer."
Lung said Honolulu police often increase the number of drunken-driving checkpoints and speeding check programs in the summer.
"We know they're out there, so we have to do more to curb the risky behavior," he said.
In Hawai'i the deadliest month is June, when at least 118 people have been killed in the nine-year period beginning in 1994, according to an analysis of data collected throughout the state. The safest month is September, according to the statistics.
June is also the time when the most accidents involving more than one death are likely to happen. That's like a reflection of a large number of graduation-season-related accidents in the past, Lung said.
Weekends, by far, are the deadliest days of the week. Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays have far more fatalities than the rest of the week, the records show.
Still, it's all the same for Heather Brunk, a 26-year-old 'Ewa Beach resident who says she is too terrified by the behavior she sees on O'ahu roads to even consider applying for a driver's license.
"The drivers on the Mainland are more aggressive, but they know what they're doing," Brunk said. "In Hawai'i, nobody seems to know the rules of the road or bother to follow them. It's not just young people. Everyone seems to lack the experience to drive safely."
Lung said a lot of people in Hawai'i like to blame tourists for the dangerous driving behavior they see, but he's not buying it.
"My experience is that visitors (are) more cautious here because they are driving in a strange place," he said.
On the other hand, many Hawai'i residents may have trouble when they visit the Mainland for vacation because they are not used to the higher speeds and longer distances they have to travel.
Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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| Drive safely
Following are six main factors contributing to summer driving accidents, and how to avoid them. Improper seat-belt use • Put all children under 8 in a child safety seat or a booster seat. • Always use safety belts, even for short trips. • Keep children properly restrained. Alcohol use • Don't drink and drive, even for short distances. • Stay off the road in the wee hours, when most alcohol-related accidents occur. • If you've been drinking, get something to eat. Foods high in protein such as meat, cheese and nuts will aid in slowing the body's absorption of alcohol. FATIGUE • Get enough sleep the night before a long trip. Less than six hours increases your risk of falling asleep at the wheel. • Don't drive straight through on a long trip. Allow time to stop, stretch and eat. • Share the driving and stop for naps. Car maintenance • Never overload your vehicle. • Check your tires before starting out on a trip. • Have your car checked by a mechanic before the summer driving period starts. Speeding • Don't let the car behind pressure you into speeding. Let it pass you. • Slow down when it's raining or if the road is under construction. • Keep pace with the flow of traffic. Driving much slower than the cars around you also increases the chances of being in an accident. Distractions • Ask front-seat passengers to change CDs, wait until you are stopped, or invest in a multi-disc CD changer. • If you must eat in the car, pack finger foods that won 't dribble, drip or leak. Put drinks in spill-proof containers and use a straw. • If a child is crying but OK, turn up the radio, breathe deeply and remember that your job is to focus on driving. Source: National Drive for Life report |
