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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 29, 2005

School-zone scofflaws a threat to kids' safety

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

SCHOOL-ZONE REMINDERS

  • The speed limit in a school zone is usually 25 mph, but can be as low as 15 mph when school is in session.

  • The fine for speeding in a school zone is $277.

  • Pedestrians should always use crosswalks.

    THE HOT SPOTS PROGRAM

    For anyone interested in learning more about Hot Spots or having the program visit their school, call AIG Hawai'i's community relations department at 544-3930.

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    'AINA HAINA — School officials and parents want to remind motorists to slow down when they pass tiny Wailupe Valley Elementary School in 'Aina Haina.

    About 50 students, teachers, parents, police and employees of AIG Hawai'i will be standing on Hind Iuka Drive from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. tomorrow, carrying signs and urging motorists to slow down and watch out for children crossing the street.

    This is the AIG Hawai'i insurance company's third year of helping kids cross streets safely in school zones. Called Hot Spots, the program aims to include everyone in the community. It's been done most recently at Kalihi-waena Elementary, King Intermediate in Kane'ohe, and twice at Kamiloiki Elementary School in Hawai'i Kai. The next Hot Spots will be held at Mauka Lani Elementary School in Makakilo in November.

    Wailupe Valley parent Audrey Akazawa said the school is on a blind curve and cars speed up and down the hill. There have been many near misses involving children crossing the street, she said.

    "The police have put up electronic boards there before, and it didn't slow traffic down," Akazawa said. "We've even thought of putting in speed bumps to slow down traffic.

    "That's my goal, to slow down traffic."

    Hot Spots started in 2002 in response to growing concern over fatalities caused by speeding, according to AIG Hawai'i. Each quarter, with the help of the Ho-nolulu Police Department, AIG Hawai'i identifies five schools with traffic or speeding problems that make them Hot Spots. Then, working with police and the school, AIG coordinates a sign-waving event on the sidewalk outside the school to help raise awareness of the problem.

    As of Sept. 26, there were 60 traffic-related deaths this year, compared to 47 for the year before. Police estimate that 31 of the deaths this year were caused by speeding.

    "We want to make sure our keiki are safe," said Jean Hartmann, Wailupe Valley Elementary School principal.

    Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.