Fewer cars, fewer crashes

LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department’s assistance with the implementation of the emergency curfew and stay-at-home orders, along with the community’s compliance, have significantly reduced the number of traffic crashes islandwide.

There has been a 27% decrease in traffic crashes from February to March. A total of 130 traffic crashes occurred in February whereas March had 95.

The most notable reduction, however, was related to major traffic crashes. There was a 41% reduction from 44 in February to 26 in March.

Minor traffic crashes also declined by 20% from 86 in February to 69 in March.

And even though some 4,000 drivers passed a day-time checkpoint on Kaumuali‘i Highway near Halfway Bridge last week, largely for essential travel purposes, Kaua‘i is reported to have the highest percentage of people staying at home in the state. The information is based upon a March 29 Google Mobility Report that tracks location data.

“The primary goal of Mayor Derek Kawakami’s curfew to mitigate community spread of COVID-19 was to reduce the strain on our first responders and public health providers,” said Kaua‘i Chief of Police Todd G. Raybuck. “As these statistics show, the curfew in particular, is having a positive effect on reducing the strain on our officers, and fewer crashes also means fewer people are being injured on our roadways.”