Although its beautiful scenery might suggest a leisurely pace of traffic, Hawaii ranked among the top eleven states in the country for the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the first six months of 2016.
Local authorities have taken note of this issue. Through educational projects like the Walk Wise Hawaii (WWH), the state Department of Transportation offers information targeted to pedestrians and drivers alike. Pedestrians are educated about safe walking habits, and drivers are reminded of strategies to look for pedestrians. The WWH educational campaign is offered in conjunction with other local agencies, including the Honolulu Police Department.
In addition to education, the Hawaii DOT is also committed to enforcement of traffic safety laws. It offers grant funding to the Honolulu and Kauai Police Departments to enforce traffic laws. For pedestrians, one important law is crossing the street only in designated crosswalks.
For drivers, safe driving requires constant focus on road conditions and traffic flow. It goes without saying that drivers who are texting behind the wheel or distracted in any way from the road and traffic conditions in front of them are not fulfilling their duty of care. When such negligent behavior causes a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident, the victim deserves to seek financial compensation for his or her injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages, medical expenses, and other costs.
Yet the initial offer from an insurance company might not adequately compensate a victim. This is where the work of an experienced personal injury attorney begins. To learn more about the services we offer to accident victims, check out our firm’s Honolulu personal injury law website.
Source: “Spotlight on Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2016 Preliminary Data,” copyright 2016, Governors Highway Safety Association
