Posted on: Thursday, April 7, 2005

EDITORIAL
State, city act quickly after traffic fatality

It is a painful tragedy that 15-year-old Nathan (Curry) Ackerman died after being hit by a pickup truck as he crossed Makakilo Drive to catch a school bus in an area where there was no crosswalk.

The state Department of Education, in an encouraging move, responded quickly. The next day, the DOE said it planned to relocate the school bus stop on Makakilo Drive closer to an intersection and was "piloting the placement" of two bus stops on the downhill side of Makakilo Drive.

That sensible approach should also prompt the DOE to study whether there are other potentially dangerous school bus stops throughout the state that might be better placed.

After a decline in 2003, pedestrian deaths rose in 2004. And so far this year, that number is ahead of last year's pace.

Both pedestrians and drivers must be more conscious of safety. Motorists need to slow down and pedestrians need to watch for cars and not assume drivers will see them and react accordingly.

Police say that education and legislation are key to improving safety. And, in turn, police also must beef up enforcement of traffic laws.

This is a major problem that requires all agencies involved to be proactive and collaborative in finding solutions.

In that regard, Mayor Mufi Hannemann this week in a meeting with The Advertiser's editorial board promised that the city also will look at placement of its bus stops to see if any changes were needed to improve pedestrian safety. Although most city bus stops are near intersections, according to Ed Hirata, director of the city Department of Transportation Services, all will be reviewed by the city.

Hannemann should be applauded for his approach; and the DOE, too, did the right thing in reacting promptly.

It's these sorts of approaches that will go a long way toward improving safety in our city.