Be sure to vote — and drive safely on the way

Now that election time is almost here, I’d like to suggest to everyone to come

out and vote. Here are some suggestions on how to get to voting safely.

As

a senior citizen driver, I have learned not to turn from Koloa Road onto

Kaumualii Highway in a left-hand turn. The traffic coming down the hill from

Kalaheo does not “see” the hillside blinking danger signal. The drivers do not

see the intersection until crossing the bridge. Many drivers do not respect the

traffic speed sign in the area. I was traveling form Kalaheo some time ago, and

a person in a blue Honda did a slow entry into the highway at that

intersection, turning left, and I needed to stop very suddenly to avoid a

collision.

Have you ever tried to make a left turn from the Lawai Post

Office onto Kaumualii Highway during the 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. evening traffic? It

has become a very hazardous 35 mile an hour intersection. It is also hazardous

to turn from Oyama Road in either direction, as the traffic on Kaumualii

Highway, from Kalaheo, pass on the right side the vehicles turning into the

post office, and the hill is so short and rounded on the Lihu’e side, that it

is difficult to see the traffic coming from the Lihu’e side until it is almost

upon the driver.

So, many drivers make a right turn out to the post office,

and turn left on a “one” lane road through ha hillside at Akemana Road, as a

bypass to this post office traffic problem. Now, the traffic coming out of

Akemana Road is so heavy, that to turn into Akemana Road, sometimes up to five

cars have been lined up exiting the road to a left turn to Kaumualii Highway,

making the entry auto wait at the entry to the one lane road, on the highway,

obstructing the view of the exiting auto drivers. Sometimes as you drive down

Akemana Road, there are added drivers along the road, each time, the drivers

needed to pull into the weeds or into private yards to let each other pass on

the one lane road, in addition to having a “blind” corner to negotiate. This

road access would not be needed if proper highway signals were in place at the

post office, or an overpass were there to allow through-traffic to flow by the

Lawai Post Office.

Now, when you go to vote from Lawai area to Koloa, drive

a little slower, and safely. I notice that more traffic is also moving on the

Koloa Road past the Lawai Homestead housing area. I also notice that “seniors”

are now walking to the Lawai Menehune Market, post office and to the Lawai

General Store at the Old Lawai Cannery site, as well as occasionally some

citizen stumbles in the roadway between Koloa and Lawai, walking home in heavy

traffic from Koloa. With more and more tour buses and rental cars on the road,

could a bicycle-walk path be made along the Koloa-Lawai road? That would really

help.

I am sure the traffic engineers have studied these traffic problems,

and will solve the traffic problems in the Lawai Town and area, slowing

traffic, providing turn lanes, placing stop lights so that traffic can flow in

a safe and continuous manner. Sorry, it’s too late for the voting on Nov. 7.

But, be sure to vote anyway, your vote does count.

I have to add, thank

you, traffic engineers, for working ton the Tree Tunnel exit to the Kaumualii

Highway. When the new access is completed, older citizens driving will not be

so likely to get rear-ended, or a cramp in the neck, along with the visitors,

looking for coming traffic on the highway on their way to Lihu’e and the

airport.

I hope these traffic tips are useful as you go and vote Nov. 7.

Anyway, be sure to vote. It’s an important freedom you should

treasure.

WILLIAM CRAMER

Koloa