Etiquette of driving
Aloha. In the big scope of world problems this is very minor issue. It’s almost a little comical.
Speed maximum limit on Kaua‘i is 50 mph. A person driving in front of you wants to go 40 to 45 mph. With a passing lane coming up, you want to go the 50 mph.
When they get to passing lane, the person in front speeds up to 50-55 mph. You think, “Oh good. Going to go the speed limit.” No, just sped up for passing lane. Back to 40-45 mph.
OK, the passing lane for persons who want to go slower than maximum 50 mph, you can move to the right lane and let those that want to go 50 mph pass.
You will not loose face. It’s the etiquette of driving thing to do.
Linda Bothe, Kalaheo
Kuamo‘o Road woes
When will street lights be installed going up Kuamo‘o Road? It is so dangerous with the curves at night.
Another issue is the patched holes along the Kuamo‘o Road. What “recipe” are they using because whenever the potholes are patched there are still deep pukas that our cars are constantly traveling on. If we can have answers to these problems, I would greatly appreciate it.
Fay Hanaoka, Wailua Homesteads
It’s a weird quirk about people. They don’t want to drive the speed limit but then won’t let you pass when you get to the passing lane. It’s a very passive/aggressive character trait that is wildly common for some reason. I actually wrote a funny song about this very subject, called “Go Auntie Go” about a little old lady in a souped-up 1983 Camry who is driving 20mph in a 50mph zone. A line of cars miles long forms behind her. As she hits the passing lane, she stomps on the accelerator and rockets up to 85mph, not letting anyone pass. Then, of course, when the passing lane ends, she slows back down to 20mph, rolls down her window, and flips the “bird” to all of those behind her. It goes over well when we perform the song, primarily as you point out, because everyone can relate to this situation.
It’s called “A poor man’s power trip”. Most of these folks feel powerless in their lives. They feel they have the right to drive slower than the speed limit and they exercise that power. When someone tries to pass, it trumps their power. You also see a similar cercumstance during rush hour contraflow traffic. The person in the fast lane matches the speed of the right lane all the way from Kapaa to Lihue. If one car speeds up the other matches speed. These people have no feelings for the people backed up. Either that or they are completely out of lunch.
Regarding lighting up Kuamo’o road. Nobody lives along the lower portion, so why light it up. That’s was headlights are for. If you are having trouble seeing at night, don’t travel at night.
There won’t be any lights going up Kuamoo any time soon. You see, it’s all about protecting the shearwaters. They tend to crash land when there are bright lights. The county is trying to save birds lives by keeping the island as dark as possible in areas that don’t absolutely require light. Of course, the lack of lights make it more difficult and at times dangerous for us humans, but obviously the County puts the birds lives on a higher priority than ours.