Drivers, stay alert behind the wheel

Honolulu residents can point to any number of factors that could explain, at least in part, why this state’s safe-driving record is poor.

We have a freeway system that in the older sections was adapted in ways that produced less-than-ideal exits and entrys. We have a large influx of tourists and other newcomers who ply the roads, coping with the unfamiliarity.

We have a lot of highway congestion, which means stop-and-go traffic and impatient drivers trying too hard to make up for lost time. The weather makes outdoor living pleasant year-round, so we have many pedestrians in the mix.

But considering the toll — an appalling loss of life for motorists and pedestrians alike — there is no reason to use these factors as excuses for what ultimately is a failure of individual responsibility.

Last week’s release of the ninth annual Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report should give everyone pause. Honolulu was ranked 128th on a list of 200 cities for its frequency of auto collisions. On average, it’s once every 8.7 years for each driver.

Using its claim records, the rankings are based on data from two years, January 2010 to December 2011. Honolulu fell 15 places for that period compared with its ranking set at the end of 2009. Other cities have done even worse, but some have improved by about that much, so Honolulu shouldn’t see itself as stuck in place.

It will be interesting to see whether policy changes enacted since then, including bans on texting and other driver distractions, have an effect in the next report. And in the future, the design and redesign of streets to better accommodate a mix of traffic, what’s called the "Complete Streets" planning policy, ought to show results as well.

Staff for Allstate Insurance, the company producing the report, declined to speculate on what steps government could take to improve things. However, one spokesperson did tell the Star-Advertiser that it’s everyday driving that results in the most accidents.

That conclusion was drawn from the claim adjusters’ observation that 70 percent of the vehicles in the claim are still driveable, meaning that most accidents happen at low speeds. This could be during rush-hour, stop-and-go traffic, or even while navigating a parking lot. Distractions abound as people get their commute underway, or they try to fill their traffic-jam time with various communications or chores.

The solution, according to traffic-safety experts, is really in the hands of the drivers themselves. In this multitasking society it’s hard to be focused on the driving, but that is what people must do. It’s time to return to basics, they said: Make sure you follow the rules of the road and use the turn signals and other safety features of the car.

With summer officially over and the workday routine back in full gear, now would be a good time for drivers to review their practices behind the wheel. If the cellphone is a temptation, place it out of reach. Make sure when the car is headed in one direction, eyes are not trained elsewhere.

As we head back to work or school, think ahead about possible traffic delays and allow enough time for the trip. The reward will be less wasted time and money and fewer injuries — especially if what you avoid is another fender-bender.