WAILUA — Many who drive daily through the Wailua Bridge construction zone have seen other drivers zooming along the area, with little concern for the 15 mph speed limit. Some drivers manage to stay close to 20 mph — shown
WAILUA — Many who drive daily through the Wailua Bridge construction zone have seen other drivers zooming along the area, with little concern for the 15 mph speed limit.
Some drivers manage to stay close to 20 mph — shown on radar boards on Kuhi‘o Highway — while others creep up to 29 mph and beyond.
That’s not to say that the Kaua‘i Police Department isn’t enforcing the speed limit.
Following the Feb. 1 kickoff of its anti-speeding campaign, KPD has handed out 31 tickets to speeding drivers in the area, as well as 30 in various portions of Kaumuali‘i Highway’s construction zone between the Mill Bridge in Lihu‘e and Puhi, according to a KPD report. Those tagged for speeding in construction zones could face $297 or more in fines.
In January KPD cited 13 drivers in the Wailua Bridge construction zone and 14 in the Mill Bridge construction zone.
The increase in construction projects on the island, paired with KPD’s desire to make Kaua‘i’s roads safer, inspired the program.
“We don’t need another traffic accident to recognize that we should all be taking more preventive measures,” said Alejandre Quibilan, assistant chief of KPD Patrol Services Bureau, in a press release. “Everyone will need to learn to plan ahead and give themselves the added time to get to their destinations safely.”
KPD Traffic Safety Unit Lt. Mark Scribner said the ongoing campaign has lightened some drivers’ lead feet.
“Since we have started advertising our speed enforcement campaign, drivers seem to be more aware of the posted speed limits in constructions zones and the fact that these posted speed limits are enforced at all hours of everyday, not just during construction hours,” he said.
Scribner said drivers should take extra precautions when traveling through those areas because there is a greater risk for construction workers, pedestrians and other motorists.
“Traffic can come to sudden stop, lanes can be altered or roads closed,” he said. “The bottom line is be safe and stay alert.”
In both construction areas, officers have conducted speed enforcement at various times of the day using laser speed measuring devices and in-car radar units, Scribner said.
KPD has dedicated approximately 40 hours to the campaign so far, county spokeswoman Sarah Blane said.
As of Feb. 1, there have been 19 reported crashes in the Kaumuali‘i Highway construction zone and 10 in the Wailua Bridge construction zone, according to Blane.
“As some of the investigations are still ongoing, we are unable to determine how many of these crashes are due to speeding,” she said.
• Jessica Musicar, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by e-mailing jmusicar@ thegardenisland.com.
