Pedestrian Deaths Alarm Wai’anae Coast

Solutions Sought After 2 Pedestrian Deaths
By Jayna Omaye
Star-Advertiser, July 4, 2016

Community members and officials are rallying around efforts to step up pedestrian safety on Farrington Highway on the Waianae Coast after two residents were struck and killed within the past three months.

Representatives from the Hawaii Bicycling League, Honolulu Police Department and state Department of Transportation as well as residents, legislators and family members discussed suggestions and solutions at two meetings Thursday near the sites where Kaulana Werner and Robert Sadamaru were struck, which marked the 14th and 19th traffic fatalities, respectively, this year on Oahu. Community members also stood along the sidewalk holding up signs emblazoned with “Da Turtle Wins Da Race” and “Drive Nice, Save a Life.”

Several residents contended that installing better lighting and reflector lights, repainting signs and road lines, and educating drivers and pedestrians could help in decreasing the number of accidents across the Waianae Coast.

Others said eliminating some crosswalks not located by traffic signals, relocating some bus stops, providing flags for people to wave while crossing the highway, installing red-light cameras and stepping up police presence and enforcement would also help to make Farrington safer for pedestrians and motorists. State Rep. Jo Jordan (D, Waianae-Makaha-Makua) suggested taking advantage of the Safe Routes to School program, which provides federal funding to improve safety in school zones.

Read the full article on the Star-Advertiser site.