Thankful for efforts
1 in 200 versus 1 in 10.
I have just become aware that the frequency of COVID cases on Kaua‘i is one per 200 residents whereas it’s one per 10 on the mainland.
These are the NYT statistics. I’ve checked and so far as I can tell they are correct. I feel this difference is truly remarkable.
It highlights how dangerous the pandemic has been on the mainland and makes me ever so thankful for our mayor and our local government in their efforts to keep us safe.
Joan Roughgarden, Kapa‘a
Post Office crosswalk needs attention
The crosswalk at the Lihue Post Office continues to be a dangerous one.
For me, I always engage the lights and make sure that drivers stop before crossing. Most drivers pay attention and stop. Some are oblivious and drive on through. And some don’t care and honk and gesture.
I gesture also.
A few years ago, KPD Chief Perry, no relation, was helping out at the crosswalk of Chiefess School and this likely helped out in drivers to do the right thing.
I suggest that the KPD Chief and Head of Traffic Control take up a position at the Lihue P.O. crosswalk for a couple of times and send a strong message to both drivers and pedestrians.
Mark Perry, Lihu‘e
Consider roundabout safety, please
I was driving through the new Kealia roundabout the other day and only just managed to avoid a collision.
I was approaching the northbound lane of the highway. The driver going north should have yielded to me as I went around the roundabout but he did not. Disregarding the yield sign, he barely slowed down and surely would’ve crashed into me at 30 or 40 miles an hour had I not slammed on my brakes.
I think the roundabout is a great improvement in the highway but after that experience I wondered if some improvement in the safety measures might be needed. Improved signage, rumble strips, or speed bumps are possibilities. Possibly drivers are so used to passing that intersection unhampered that they’re not thinking about slowing for the new roundabout.
The driver who nearly hit me appeared to be young and it made me wonder if proper use of a roundabout is included in drivers education.
This is a very heavily used intersection and I think that some improvement in the safety measures there could prevent a serious accident.
Dean McRaine, Kealia
There has been at least one pedestrian fatality at that Lihue Post Office crosswalk in the last couple of years—a woman crossing Rice St. early one morning. I think there’s been another fairly recently as well. It’s one of the craziest intersections on the island—like Russian roulette even crossing from the PO to the bank on foot, or if you’re driving, just trying to pull out from the PO back onto Rice St. They really need to post yellow 15 mph limits on Rice St. from Bank Of Hawaii all the way to the Chevron.
New York Times just means mainland people are more spaced out. 6ft rule.
Kauai the people are less. So less spaced out. But the virus is kept at bay because the 6ft rule is enforced. 1 in 200 is very good. Still too high.
petrina.kauai@gmail.com I went through the Kealia roundabout for the first time yesterday and was surprised by the yield going North also but now I know it’s there so will expect it, maybe a flashing yellow light or signage is needed but all in all I think round abouts work well
They are recommending you stay indoors. 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. Quarantine
Until things get brighter or they come up with better health outlook. Stock up on food and water. And don’t go outside to mingle. Stay away from crowds.
And stay away from the beaches. It might get worse. No need to complicate matters by getting sick from the fireworks. And smoke.
Anywhere .
The proper and safest remedy for that intersection was/is a traffic signal. A signal system with current and up-to-date technology, with proper and dependable detection components. NOT the kind of hand-me-down, obsolete signals that we have elsewhere on this island. A proper signal system would also provide safe passage and crossings for bicycles and pedestrians. The “roundabout” will absolutely result in more accidents and injuries.
roundabout education. It looks like more trouble than it may be worth. People just do not know how to drive through