Spring 2009 - Issue 5

The Silversword: Home > Editorials > Pedestrian safety

Pedestrian safety

By Anna Vaagensmith
Chaminade Silversword


On Sunday, Nov 22nd, Hawaii Pacific University student Maria Danforth-Moore was killed by a hit-and-run driver Sunday was walking across Kamehameha Highway to her dormitory when a car struck her at 8:45 p.m. HPU students had noted crossing this intersection was quite dangerous, despite the newly installed flashing lights.

The driver turned himself in days later, Tuesday night.

That same day, two others were victims of hit-and-run accidents on Oahu on Sunday.

Being a pedestrian in Hawaii is a gamble for one's safety. In 2010, 27 pedestrians were killed, almost doubling from 2009, said Honolulu's Star Advertiser's Curtis Lum.

“I almost get hit every time I go running down Kalahianaole,” said Nicholas Dold, a freshman majoring in religious studies. “I had one close call, when almost everything went wrong—I thought the driver had seen me, the sun was in his eyes, he was making a left turn—I turned around at the exact right time. I saw my life flash.”

In Hawaii, from 1997 to 2006, there were 276 pedestrian fatalities with 37% of these occurring in Honolulu, According to the National Pedestrian Crash Report in June 2008.

“I was almost hit by a car crossing towards 3rd on the Waialae intersection,” said Natasha Arruda, an Elementary Education major preparing to graduate in December.

“There aren’t any left-turn signals for cars crossing Waialae from 3rd—I just remember a car coming at me really fast, and it was like I blinked and then the car had somehow stopped within inches of me," said Arruda. "I think I was seized with fear.”

The Waialae intersection across from Foodland falls among the top 10 areas necessitating pedestrian safety construction, tolling for 5 pedestrian deaths, according to the rough draft of Hawaii’s Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan released this past September 2011.

Projected dates for when this construction will take place are not yet decided.

How you can make a change:

Visit <www.hawaiipedplan.com> , review the rough draft, detailing goals to improve Pedestrian Safety. The public is encouraged to submit their opinion by clicking the “comment” button at any section of the report.