AARP presenting pedestrian safety forum | The Honolulu Advertiser

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AARP presenting pedestrian safety forum | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Updated at 8:17 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, 2007

AARP presenting pedestrian safety forum

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

The American Association of Retired Persons in Hawai'i is presenting three events next week to promote pedestrian safety for kupuna.

Noting that Hawai'i has the highest auto/pedestrian fatality rate in the United States for pedestrians more than 65 years old, AARP is encouraging kupuna to attend a May 9 forum presented by Honolulu police at Mission Memorial Auditorium next to city hall to learn about new crosswalk laws and safe walking tips.

The forum is from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and there's no charge. Call AARP at 843-1906 to sign up.

Nine of O'ahu's 11 pedestrian fatalities this year were 66 years or older.

AARP has scheduled two events for May 10.

The first will involve volunteers teaming up with police to monitor dangerous intersections during morning, lunch and evening rush hour. They will be distributing safety literature and reflective wrist bands to pedestrians and drivers.

Interested participants should call 545-6003 or e-mail jboland@aarp.org for more information.

AARP will also present a candlelight vigil and speakout May 10 at Kawaiaha'o Church, 957 Punchbowl St., from 6 to 8 p.m. to remember pedestrian fatality victims and raise awareness of the declining aloha spirit on local roadways.

Those wishing to attend are asked to call 843-1906.

AARP offers the following pedestrian safety tips:

Do not jaywalk. It is against the law and could result in a $70 fine.

Be cautious, even when you are in a crosswalk and make eye contact with drivers.

A crosswalk is not a shield; it cannot protect you from the weight of a car, so yield to oncoming vehicles, even if you have the right of way.

Do not cut corners to get into a crosswalk. A driver whose eyes are on the crosswalk may not be looking at the area behind it.

Cross only when the "walk" signal light is on; do not begin crossing if the red "don't walk" or upraised hand is flashing or steady.

Wear reflective clothing when walking at dawn or dusk.

Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the roadway so you can see oncoming traffic.

While waiting at a bus stop, stand at least 10 feet away from the curb.

If buses or large vehicles are blocking your view, wait for them to pass before crossing because they may also be blocking the view of drivers in other lanes.

A complete listing of Hawai'i's 2007 and 2006 pedestrian fatalities, locations where they occurred and ages of victims can be found at honoluluadvertiser/fyi.com

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