LIHU‘E — The state of Hawai’i is encouraging motorist to prioritize road safety by refraining from using their cellphones while driving. Recent data ranks Hawai‘i as the second highest state in the nation for fatal crashes, making it imperative that drivers remain vigilant while on the road.
The Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) along with the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) and the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have all committed to using the best practices to spot distracted drivers in key high-traffic locations throughout April for Distracted Awareness Month.
According to HDOT, “Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds, and at 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”
In 2023, there were 94 traffic fatalities in the state and four on Kaua‘i. KPD cited a total of 3,880 moving violations, 1,956 speeding violations, 310 individuals were cited for operating a vehicle while using a cellphone, and 423 citations for drivers not using their seat bealts, as well as 241 citations for drivers driving under the influence.
In 2024, there have been 4 fatalities as of March 31.
Motorists are being reminded to “Put the Phone Away or Pay” and are expected to keep their heads up amid more enforcement of Hawai’i’s Mobile Electronic Device Law, which recently increased its penalties to $400 for drivers who are caught operating a vehicle and using a cell phone within a school zone or construction area.
“As a passenger, remind your driver to pay attention to the road. As a parent, remind your keiki about the responsibilities that come with driving. And as a driver, focus on the road and keep your passengers and road users safe,” said HDOT Director Ed Sniffen.
For more information on NHTSA’s “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign, please visit, https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving.
Need to monitor business that serve alcohol to drivers,,,,
It’s about time…Almost every day a distracted driver makes me react to their poor driving…I’d think something like the “click it or ticket” would be effective, maybe even doing both at once.
Pedestrians need to be mindful as well,,, so many tourists walking on the roads in Poipu,,, so dangerous!!