Hawaii Personal Injury Blog - crosswalk

Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Injuries: Should Mid-Block Crosswalks Be Eliminated

Wayne Parsons — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:30:25 GMT

A jury trial is beginning on 07 October 2009 against the City & County of Honolulu involving a pedestrian injured by a car at a mid-block crosswalk. We have had a rash of crosswalk injury and dietary cases on Oahu going back 10 years. I have written many articles the subject trying to raise public awareness and perhaps get ideas that will prevent pedestrian injury and death at crosswalks.

Mid-block crosswalks are dangerous. I represent a lady who was struck full force at a King Street crosswalk by an elderly driver. It was mid-day, bright and dry. Why do these terrible collisions happen? Hood to hip. The pedestrian always loses.

Here is what the traffic engineering safety experts have to say about mid-block cross walks:

It has been argued that providing signs and markings at crossing locations gives pedestrians a false sense of security.

Transportation Research Board

National authorities recommend against their use at all:

The traditional consensus among traffic engineers is that at-grade mid-block crosswalks are typically undesirable. However, both pedestrian walking behaviors and public demand can create pressures for the installation of a mid-block pedestrian crossing. Grade separated pedestrian crossings, can be costly and are often under utilized after construction.

According to Walking Info studies using National Highway Traffic Safety Administration methods in the early 1970s, and improved in the early 1990s, was refined and used to determine the crash types for more than 5,000 pedestrian crashes in six states.

The results showed that the mid-block events were the second major grouping of crash types and accounted for 26.5 percent of all crashes. Among this group, the most commonly crash type (1/3 of all) was the “mid-block dash” where a pedestrian would run into the street and the motorist’s view was not obstructed. Another 17 percent of these crashes were “dart-outs,” where the pedestrian ran or walked into the street, but the motorist’s view was obstructed until just before the impact.

According to “Law Enforcement, Pedestrian Safety, and Driver Compliance with Crosswalk Laws,” Transportation Research Record 1485.

Although not targeted solely at mid-block crossings, a Seattle study found enforcement was rather ineffective in getting vehicles to stop for pedestrians.

Those are the conclusions, and here are some engineering facts that explain the problem as an engineer sees it:

Even when a mid-block crosswalk is noticed by the driver, proper visual scanning of the crosswalk requires the driver to check both ends of the crosswalk for pedestrians about to cross the road. Even assuming very short glances, on the order of 1 second to each side of the crosswalk and a half second glance back to forward traffic in between, at 11 m/s (25 mph), the vehicle would travel 27 m while the driver was scanning the crosswalk, and it would need another 9-12 m of distance under modest to hard braking to stop the vehicle should a pedestrian be spotted. This means that the driver would theoretically need to notice the mid-block crosswalk 38 m (124 ft) before reaching it, and have a clear view of both sides of crosswalk from that distance to effectively scan for pedestrians. With parked cars blocking the view and in high pedestrian areas, this becomes even more challenging, as the driver needs to pick out pedestrians waiting or headed toward the crosswalk from those walking past the crosswalk on the sidewalk.

Fortunately, mid-block crosswalks provide for the easiest countermeasures such as in-pavement LED systems (IRWL) to highlight the existence of a mid-block crosswalk and pedestrian. Since all the vehicles on the road need to stop, simply illuminating the crosswalk using one of the pedestrian activated in-pavement LED systems has been shown to dramatically increase the visibility of the mid-block crosswalk and the likelihood that drivers will stop for pedestrians (Hakkert, Gitelman, and Ben-Shabat, 2002).

Pedestrian Warning Human Factors Considerations - Christopher Nowakowski

December 2005

My prior articles provide background on the problem in Hawaii. The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety - by Wayne Parsons

In the future, cars will carry a warning system that includes forward collision warning, side collision warning, navigation, stopped traffic warnings, and intersection/pedestrian warnings. One topic for future research is how to format these new ITS messages and warnings. Last-second warnings are most effective when they direct what action should be taken.

Thus, for a mid-block crosswalk with a pedestrian present, the most effective warning would be simply “stop” because this tells the driver exactly what needs to be done, but it does not necessarily tell the driver why. However, in order to use this type of warning, the false alarm rate must be extremely low or the warnings will be considered a nuisance and disregarded. When more uncertainty exists and the warnings are able to be given sooner, then the warning format may focus on highlighting the threat.

One advantage of in-vehicle warnings is the potential to use sound. Sound is processed no matter where the driver is looking, but since the driver can’t tune them out, they should be used sparingly. A Driver would be overloaded by beeping and buzzing at every intersection.

Research continues on th subject but as for today should the mid-block crosswalks on Oahu be eliminated? What do you say?

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Fort Weaver Road Hit-And-Run Claims Another Life

Wayne Parsons — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:18:49 GMT

If you know anything about an older light colored van that hit and killed a 68-year old woman on Fort Weaver Road on Thursday please call the police. The woman was fatally injured when she was struck by the van while crossing Fort Weaver Road in 'Ewa Beach yesterday morning.

Call HPD's Traffic Division at 529-3499

The van driver sped away from the fatally injured woman and has not been found. Hit-and-run drivers are among the most vile criminals because they leave their victims to die. We know that the driver was a male but know little else. The Honolulu Advertiser story reports these facts:

Police said the 68-year-old woman was in a crosswalk as she was crossing Fort Weaver Road near Makule Road when she was struck by the south-bound van at about 5:30 a.m. The woman was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, but she later died.

Yesterday morning's fatality was the 38th on O'ahu so far this year, compared with 31 during the same period last year.

According to the KHNL News story:

Traffic investigators gather information on Fort Weaver Road near Ilima Intermediate, after an early-morning walk ends tragically for a 68-year-old woman.

"I felt terrible about that, especially, it doesn't surprise me at all," David Syfert, Ewa Beach resident, said.

Syfert has multiple sclerosis and gets around in a wheelchair. He says he takes great care when crossing Fort Weaver Road.

"Just because traffic is coming at them, it doesn't mean they're gonna slow down and stop," he said. "So they have to make sure to look both ways and believe that any car that's coming, they need to believe that car is gonna try and hit them."

Police say the woman was walking in a crosswalk when a light-colored, older-model van -- possibly a white Dodge Caravan -- plowed into her. The van left the scene. The victim died at the Queen's Medical Center.

"The white line here is not an impediment to anyone running them over," Syfert said about crosswalks.

I have written several articles this year on pedestrian injury and death. Hawaii is one of the most dangerous states in the nation when it comes to pedestrian safety and despite a crack down by HPD on Oahu on jaywalking and on drivers ignoring pedestrians in crosswalks the toll continues to mount. We can do better than this by careful walking, careful driving and perhaps better warning systems because sometimes the pedestrian can be hard to see in the dark.

The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety

Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased woman. We hope the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to justice.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Chronicles: Prevention Of Death and Injury

Wayne Parsons — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:56:02 GMT

Yes I am obsessed with crosswalk safety. I know that we as a community can reduce death and injury of pedestrians at crosswalks.

The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety

Teen Killed In Yet Another Pedestrian Death On Oahu

In an article about jaywalking titled Watch Your Step - Don’t become a statistic - By Sarah Ruppenthal she talks about the costs in terms of tragic injury or death, as well as costly fines on Oahu and in Honolulu.

According to statewide traffic and pedestrian codes, jaywalking in Hawai‘i is not only illegal, it is also costly. In 2006, Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officers launched an undercover jaywalking sting operation, issuing thousands of citations ranging from $70 to $130 per infraction. If you scoff at the thought of a jaywalking ticket, keep this in mind: HPD’s Pedestrian Safety Division reported an average of 28 pedestrian fatalities and 560 injuries each year throughout the state. Even worse, Hawai‘i has the fourth highest pedestrian fatality rate in the country. And what is the common denominator? HPD said the majority of fatalities occurred because pedestrians failed to use crosswalks or cross at controlled intersections. The statistics may be shocking, but they have done little to deter many of Hawai‘i’s jaywalkers.

In a story on KHNL News by Duane Shimogawa - bio | email in July, he pointed out the fact that Hawaii has a safety problem with pedestrians at crosswalks and jaywalking:

HONOLULU (KHNL) -- Hawaii is one of deadliest states in the nation when it comes crossing the road.

And most of the victims are elderly people.

Just a couple of days ago, an elderly man was killed in Kaneohe trying to cross the street. It's the ninth pedestrian death on Oahu this year.

Kim Beatrice has had too many close calls.

"These cars coming up fast and it's red already, looking to see on the left," she said. "They want to beat those cars across, I make eye contact, or I stick out my umbrella."

But she's not alone. Many other seniors joined her at a safety summit. It's geared to bring more awareness to pedestrians and drivers.

"Well, a lot of people at times could be the inattention of the driver, could be the pedestrian whose inattentive, so these types of summits will help them realize that their safety is basically in their own hands," Honolulu Police Department officer Ben Lloyd said.

Now I understand that the City & County of Honolulu is installing a new crosswalk safety lighting system but I have concerns about the system chosen. I hear that it has had some controversial results on the mainland. Does anyone know about these plans? I would like to hear from you.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Teen Killed In Yet Another Pedestrian Death On Oahu

Wayne Parsons — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:08:05 GMT

KHON TV News reports the death of a 15 year-old boy in Waimanalo shortly after midnight on Saturday morning:

Police say a 15 year -old teen from Waimanalo was killed this morning after an SUV hit him. The accident happened around 1:55 a.m. fronting the Waimanalo Town Center. The victim was taken to a local area hospital where he later died. The driver of the SUV, a 47 year-old man also from Waimanalo was arrested for negligent homicide.

Negligent homicide is a misdemeanor charge that is punishable by up to a year in prison. No factors are known yet about how the tragedy occurred. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the young boy. Nothing is worse than losing a child!

§707-704 Negligent homicide in the third degree. (1) A person is guilty of the offense of negligent homicide in the third degree if that person causes the death of another person by the operation of a vehicle in a manner which is simple negligence.

(2) "Simple negligence" as used in this section:

(a) A person acts with simple negligence with respect to the person's conduct when the person should be aware of a risk that the person engages in that conduct.

(b) A person acts with simple negligence with respect to attendant circumstances when the person should be aware of a risk that those circumstances exist.

(c) A person acts with simple negligence with respect to a result of the person's conduct when the person should be aware of a risk that the person's conduct will cause that result.

(d) A risk is within the meaning of this subsection if the person's failure to perceive it, considering the nature and purpose of the person's conduct and the circumstances known to the person, involves a deviation from the standard of care that a law-abiding person would observe in the same situation.

(3) Negligent homicide in the third degree is a misdemeanor. [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1; am L 1988, c 292, §3]

If you have any information about this tragic accident please contact my office.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Another Serious Pedestrian Automobile Accident In Laie Leaves 30 Year Old Man in Critical Condition Monday

Wayne Parsons — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:22:44 GMT

Another pedestrian is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in Laie according to news reports. The pedestrian was not in a marked crosswalk when he stepped into the road at about 8:30 PM on Kamehameha Highway near Kokololio Beach Park.

The 30 year old male victim was rushed to Queen's Medical Center suffering from head wounds and unknown sources of internal bleeding. The driver of the automobile was not seriously injured. Police are said to have begun an investigation of the case and arrested the driver for negligent injury and they are specifically looking at speed as a possible factor.

The problem of pedestrian injury and death from automobile accidents in Hawaii and particularly on Oahu is alarming:

Automobile, Motorcycle and Pedestrian Deaths On Oahu Continue to Rise by Wayne Parsons

You can lessen the chances of becoming an injury or death statistic by following the Tips given by the Honolulu Police Department:

Honolulu Crosswalk Safety Chronicles - Tips From the Honolulu Police Department About Crosswalk Safety

Both drivers and pedestrians must be on the alert. There are far too many pedestrian - automobile collisions in Hawaii!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

1st Smart Crosswalk™ system installation in New Mexico.

Wayne Parsons — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:10:43 GMT

I have written much about the epidemic of pedestrian crosswalk injury and death in Hawaii this year and have wondered why a system like the Smart Crosswalk™ system hasn't been implemented in Hawaii. The real costs of a crosswalk death or injury are huge. The suffering of the families is unimaginable and tragic. And then there are the millions and millions of dollars lost in wage earning capacity, medical expenses and costs that are often borne by taxpayers through public assistance, Medicare and Medicaid. In cases I have handled the costs for a single person injured by a driver while in a crosswalk can easily exceed $1 million for medical alone. Collisions between cars and people are never minor.

In a story reported recently in The Alamogordo Daily News by Duane Barbati, the new Smart Crosswalk™ system has been installed at a college crosswalk to prevent the tragic injury and death statistics in New Mexico that Honolulu is also experiencing in 2009.

City of Alamogordo Public Works crews will begin installing a Smart Crosswalk system on Scenic Drive on Monday in front of the New Mexico State University-Alamogordo Student Services building.

The new crosswalk system is the first of its kind to be installed in the state.

Public Works director Brian Cesar said crews may divert traffic in both the north and southbound lanes of Scenic Drive.

"We think the installation will take from Monday to Friday," Cesar said. "It's the first one that we've installed."

The system involves installing electrical cables into the pavement, along with 12 in-pavement amber LED strobe lights, two four-foot tall automatic sensor crosswalk activation poles, a control unit, a solar cell panel and a push button crosswalk activator.

The equipment costs about $25,000, with an installation cost of about $5,200. That is a huge savings over what an injury or death will cost and most of all it will save the heartache of these tragic injuries and deaths. So why isn't the Hawaii DOT doing this in Honolulu? Studies on crosswalk and pedestrian injuries go back over 5 years. You would think that Hawaii government officials would be all over this new technology. Where are they when we need them?

NMSU-A president Dr. Cheri Jimeno said the university's primary concern is the safety of its students and faculty members.

"As we continue to grow, we found more students and faculty

having to park across the street," Jimeno said. "We were able to work with the city to construct a crosswalk. These systems are very effective in making a safer crosswalk for our pedestrians."

The system is activated by a pedestrian walking between the two automated activator poles which trigger the in-pavement LED lights to strobe to warn approaching traffic that a person is crossing the street. A solar panel provides power for the lights, along with a battery backup system. A pole on the opposite side of the crosswalk has a button for manual use with crosswalk signage and a braille faceplate for visually impaired people.

LightGuard Systems, a California-based company, manufactures the Smart Crosswalk systems. The company was founded in 1993.

LightGuard has sold about 2,000 systems that are being used nationally, as well as in Canada and Guam.

The can be activated 24 hours a day.

LightGuard spokesman David Hauser said the system is especially effective during the peak danger times twilight hours.

"Our lights are positioned at the eye level of approaching motorists," Hauser said. "They strobe at a rate to hold the attention of the driver. The benefit is the pedestrian gets to go home for dinner that night."

He said he doesn't want to give pedestrians a false sense of security.

"We still always recommend that pedestrians exercise caution when crossing the street," Hauser said. "They should not assume by pushing a button that it's safe to cross. Our systems are an enhancement. Pedestrians need to secure they're own safety."

For more on the Alamogordo story you can intact Duane Barbati at dbarbati@alamogordonews.com.

My prior articles on Hawaii crosswalk injury and death describe the Safe Crosswalk System (IRWG):

The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety by Wayne Parsons

Honolulu Crosswalk Injury Chronicles: Kalihi Man Seriously Injured Crossing North School Street by Wayne Parsons

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Honolulu Crosswalk Safety Chronicles - Tips From the Honolulu Police Department About Crosswalk Safety

Wayne Parsons — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:15:22 GMT

Thanks to the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) for organizing the following Pedestrian and Driver Safety Tips. In light of the huge number of pedestrian injury and death incidents in Honolulu this year (see my recent article - Pedestrian Crosswalk Fatality In Kalihi Adds To Alarming Statistics by Wayne Parsons)

Pedestrian Safety Tips

Driver Safety Tips

Always cross within marked crosswalks or at street corners.
Look left, right, then left again for vehicular traffic before stepping onto the roadway.
Yield to any approaching vehicles while crossing even if you have the right of way. Oncoming vehicles may reach you faster than you anticipate.
Make eye contact with drivers to ensure that they see you.
Keep to the right of the crosswalk, and be patient and alert when crossing the street.
Walk across the street, never run.
Obey all traffic signals and use the pedestrian signal button at intersections.
Cross the street only when the green "Walk" light is on. Do not begin crossing if the red "Don't Walk" or upraised hand is flashing or steady.
Be especially careful of vehicles that may turn right on red or turn left at an intersection. Drivers may be busy looking out for other vehicles instead of pedestrians.
If buses or other large vehicles are blocking your view, wait for them to pass before crossing. These vehicles may also be blocking the view of drivers in the other lanes.
Do not walk behind a vehicle that has its reverse lights on.
Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the roadway so you can see oncoming traffic.
Stand at least ten feet away from the curb while waiting at bus stops.
Do not allow your children to walk near roadways or cross the street unsupervised. Parents should accompany their young children until they are sure that their children can cross the street safely.

Stay focused and alert for pedestrians.
Stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is crossing on your half of the road.
Stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is approaching from the opposite half of the roadway and is close enough to be in danger.
Stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk while executing a right or left turn and the pedestrian is in the half of the roadway that your vehicle is entering.
Look out for pedestrians that may be hidden from view by other vehicles that have stopped.
Be extra vigilant for pedestrians when driving at dawn or dusk.
Anticipate the difficulties of the elderly or young children who are crossing the street.
Obey all traffic laws and pay attention to traffic control signals and posted signs.

Hawaii averages 28 pedestrian fatalities each year and 560 injuries from being struck by motorists. Hawaii is 4th highest pedestrian fatality rate, per capita, in the United States. The majority of the fatalities occurred because people failed to use crosswalks and did not cross at intersections. The most common reason why pedestrians were struck is because drivers failed to yield the right of way or were inattentive.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Honolulu Crosswalk Injury Chronicles: Kalihi Man Seriously Injured Crossing North School Street

Wayne Parsons — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:53:54 GMT

According to a report at Honoluluadvertiser.com, a man in his 40s was struck by a car as he crossed North School Street in a crosswalk on Tuesday evening. The pedestrian is in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center. The driver of the car was allegedly a man in his 70s.

View Larger Map

According to someone who knows that area, North School Street near Pohaku Street has visibility obstructed by parked vehicles:

Kaumanua wrote:

"I know this intersection too well. It is difficult to see pedestrians at the crosswalk because of the many trucks parked along the side of the road as well as bus stop that is right before the crosswalk. they should consider moving the crosswalk further downroad from the bus stop or enforce the no-parking zone near intersections and cross walks . . . another bad one is on nuuanu avenue, mid block between School and Kuakini streets."

The injury happened less than a mile a mile from where a 54-year-old woman, Phoebe Gagarin, was struck and killed by a Roberts Hawaii school bus Monday morning, at North School Street and Gulick Avenue. See my article on that incident and other resources on crosswalks:

Pedestrian Crosswalk Fatality In Kalihi Adds To Alarming Statistics

The KGMB television news report written by Tina Chau - tchau@kgmb9.com - adds more detail:

A witness tells police the man was in a crosswalk.

"At this time we don't suspect any impairment on the part of the driver or speeding for that matter," said traffic investigator Lt. Darren Izumo.

*****

The accident happened at dusk and nearby residents say as it gets darker, there aren't enough street lights in the area to keep crossings safe.

"When I came home one night, I almost ran over someone and they were wearing black and we cannot see," said one resident.

These stories are terribly sad for the victim's friends and family. Gargarin was a hard working woman headed t her second job at a hotel in Waikiki when she was killed acording to KGMB.

Gagarin was actually not scheduled to work Monday but was headed in for an extra day as a housekeeper at the Doubletree Alana Hotel in Waikiki when the crash happened. The 54-year-old rented a room in Clarita Duran's home. The two were like sisters.

"I miss her," Duran said, "only yesterday afternoon when the sister came, that's the time I found out she died already. I cannot sleep."

The people in Kalihi should be on heightened alert when crossing the street or driving in the area. I wonder when the DOT will invest in health and safety by installing one of the new lighted crosswalk systems like the one I have written about before in The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety by Wayne Parsons. The IRWG system is a proven and cost effective way to stop crosswalk injury or death. Amazingly our government officials sit back and delay when people are dying in the streets. Is that too harsh? You tell me. Better yet perhaps an elected official or DOT spokesperson can tell us why they have delayed implementing life saving technology in the face of these mnany deaths and ruined lives.

Money? You think it is the cost of these innovations? Well guess what. Tax dollars often pay for the medical and rehabilitative expenses for injured people. So it all comes back to you as the taxpayer. Also remember that you are a voter. Elect proactive haelth and safety candidates.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Pedestrian Crosswalk Fatality In Kalihi Adds To Alarming Statistics

Wayne Parsons — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:31:37 GMT

Rich Ambo of the Honolulu Advertiser reports that "[a] 54-year-old woman was struck and killed in a Kalihi crosswalk by a Roberts Hawaii school bus this morning and remained pinned under the bus for more than an hour after the collision." The incident happened at about 6 a.m. and the victim was pronounced dead at about 6:20 a.m. The location of the incident was Gulick Avenue at North King Street. A photo of the scene is courtesy of the Honolulu Advertiser story.

When Pedestrians Die

According to the news story nothing explains the cause of the tragic incident. No drugs or alcohol are suspected and the driver of the Robert's school bus had a clean record from what we know know. A Robert's bus was also involved in the death of Richard Tasaka, 63, who was hit and killed in a crosswalk in the McCully area. Another Pedestrian Death In Beretania Street Crosswalk . Mr Tasaka's death was also reported in the Honolulu Advertiser.

I have written too frequently this year about pedestrian injury and death cases on Oahu and throughout Hawaii.

The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety

Crosswalk Automobile Pedestrian Collision On Queen Emma Street Seriously Injures Two Girls

Pedestrian Personal Injury Epidemic - Looking For Answers;

Automobile Strikes Man On Sidewalk Along Kalanianaole Resulting In Serious Personal Injury;

Pedestrian Critically Injured After Being Hit By Car On Farrington in Maili.

Hawaii Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: In Praise of the Honolulu Advertiser's By the numbers

I cannot understand how these incidents occur. The bus is a large object and easy to see. The pedestrian is equally easy to see in a crosswalk. There was nothing that I know of hindering the view of either driaver or pedestrian. I have a theory, backed by a traffic safety expert I know from California, that pedestrians walk in front of cars thinking that "because they are in a crosswalk" it is their right to walk and that the car or bus must stop. If the driver can't see the pedestrian because of clothing color or if the driver looks away for an instant, the pedestrian may be in the right but often times the result is the death of the pedestrian.

Pedestrians, please look up and make sure that cars are stopping when you enter a crosswalk. Don't try to beat a speeding car! And drivers, please slow down when you see the hatched lines of a crosswalk. Hitting a pedestrian will alter both lives, yours and the epdestrian's life will never be the same.

Crosswalks are not safety zones. They are danger zones.

According to the Honolulu Advertiser report:

The bus driver and an aide were heading to make their first pick-up of the morning of nine public school children with special needs, said Roberts Hawaii spokesman Wally Zimmermann. When the crash occurred, only the driver and an aide were on the bus, Zimmermann said." No students were on the bus as it turned in the Ewa direction from Gulick onto North School Street. Four Honolulu fire units were called to extract the woman's body from the bus.

Results of a blood alcohol taken from the driver are pending release.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Hawaii Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: On a Day of Tragedy, What is the law?

Wayne Parsons — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:39:06 GMT

Two teenage students were struck in a crosswalk on Queen Emma Street in Honolulu today. he driver said that she saw the girls. No one said this, but I will - the girls also should be able to see a car. So what happened? Why did these people not avoid a clearly avoidable collision between a car and the fragile bodies of 2 students? Don't get me wrong. If the girls were in a crosswalk the driver had to stop. That is the law.

That is where Vernon Weight comes into this story. Vernon was probably the leading engineering authority on traffic signals, signs, lane markings and crosswalks in the country. He was based in San Francisco and for years he was on all of the decision making committees that set standards for these things.

I remember talking to Vernon about crosswalks. He said that in California they created crosswalk markings at all intersections and then were shocked with a increase in automobile incidents. After studying it they concluded that pedestrians felt so protected by the crosswalk lines that they walked in front of oncoming cars without looking! The pedestrians were getting this attitude that they were safe if they were in those crossed lines. They got possessory about their "rights" and they challenged the cars. Turf war. The driver reaching down to pick up a French fry from the car floor didn't get it. Bang!

Vernon told me that they went back and took away a lot of crosswalk markings.

Crosswalks are just there to alert pedestrians where to walk, and to alert drivers where to stop. Both drivers of automobiles and pedestrians crossing streets still have to pay attention and make decisions. Decisions like "stop walking" and "stop the car".

Here is what the State tells us about crosswalks. Here is the law that we all need to know:

New Pedestrian Law
The Driver of a vehicle shall STOP and yield the right of way, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. The fine for violating this law is $97.

Restrictions on Pedestrians Crossing Roadways
1) No pedestrian shall enter any marked or unmarked crosswalk or part thereof when vehicular traffic is so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard, nor shall any pedestrian enter any marked or unmarked crosswalk where traffic signs forbid such entry.

2) No pedestrian shall cross any roadway within any business district except within a marked or unmarked crosswalk, nor any roadway in any residence district within 200 feet of any intersection except in a marked or unmarked crosswalk at such intersection.
Pedestrian Control Signals
Whenever special pedestrian control signals, exhibiting the words “Walk” or “Don’t Walk” or the symbols of a walking person or an upraised palm are in place such signals shall indicate as follows:

(1) Walk or Walking Person. Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right of way by the drivers of all vehicles.

(2) Don’t Walk or Upraised Palm. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, whether flashing or steady, but any pedestrian who has partially completed the pedestrian’s crossing on the Walk or Walking Person signal shall complete the crossing to a sidewalk or safety island while the Don’t Walk or Upraised Palm signal is showing.

(3) Pedestrians shall obey instructions on any traffic-control device specifically applicable, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

(4) Please see attachment on samples of instructions to cross at control signal lights.

Pedestrians to Use Right Half of Crosswalks
Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks.

Crossing at Other Than Crosswalks
(1) Pedestrians intending to cross a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

(2) Between two adjacent intersections that have traffic-control signals in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except within a marked crosswalk.

(3) No pedestrian shall cross an intersection diagonally unless authorized by traffic-control devices, and shall do so only in accordance with traffic-control devices pertaining to such movements.

Pedestrians on Roadway
(1) Where sidewalks are provided, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon adjacent roadway, bicycle lane, or bicycle path.

(2) Where sidewalks are not provided, pedestrians walking along and upon any roadway, when practical, walk only on the left side of the roadway or it’s shoulder facing traffic from the opposite direction.

Pedestrians’ Right of Way on Sidewalks
The driver of a vehicle emerging from or entering an alley, building, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian approaching on any sidewalk extending across the ally, building entrance, road, or driveway.

Penalty for Violating Pedestrians Laws - $70

I have written about the study about crosswalk injuries. The City & County of Honolulu has abandoned plans to bring in new technology that is being used on the mainland to stop crosswalk injuries. I am informed. Shocking. We have a pedestrian safety crisis in Hawaii and the City & County of Honolulu shuts down a program to stop the carnage? Let me guess. They government officials are playing with the tax dollars and a few people maimed in crosswalks don't matter. They think they aren't accountable.

Why do we always have to resort to lawsuits?

Why isn't Hawaii - in the face of outrageous crosswalk injury stats - doing something about it? Read this and tell me what you think:

The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons