Question: If I’m the first car stopped at a red light and the ambulance comes behind me, what do I do? Do I cross the intersection and let the ambulance go?
Answer: The answer can be found in Section 291C-65 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes — "Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles."
When any authorized emergency vehicle, using audible and visual signals, approaches, "the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position clear of any intersection and parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right hand edge or curb of the highway or the nearest edge or curb when the highway has multiple lanes or when the highway is a divided highway or one-way street and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle is passed, except as otherwise directed by a police officer."
Patricia Dukes, chief of the city Emergency Medical Services Division, shared her interpretation of the law.
Staying "clear of the intersection" means if the driver is in the intersection, he/she should safely drive through and pull over as close as possible to the nearest curb, be it left or right, she said.
"If the driver is stopped at the beginning of the intersection (because of a stop sign or red signal) and the emergency vehicle approaches from the rear, don’t enter the intersection unless it’s the ONLY place to go, especially if the cross traffic is still moving," she said.
"The best move would be for the driver to slowly inch into the intersection watching for cross traffic to stop, and only move forward enough to let the vehicle through."
If a driver is in the intersection and poised to make a turn, and the emergency vehicle approaches from the rear, Dukes said the driver must continue through the intersection and pull to the nearest curb.
Other tips from Dukes:
» When you hear a warning siren, bell or horn or see the flashing red or blue light of an emergency vehicle, you must provide a clear path for the emergency vehicle, then stop. But don’t panic and jam on the breaks.
» Reduce your speed.
» Determine where the emergency vehicle is coming from and respond as described above.
Question: What is the long-term plan for the site of the former Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School? Rumor has it that condos are going up there. Kaimuki residents are concerned but no other information seems available.
Answer: The site will continue to be used by the state Department of Education, but for employees, not students.
In 2012, Gov. Neil Abercrombie released $2.2 million in capital improvement funds to renovate the historic school to house DOE staff.
The project has been delayed by the discovery of lava rock under the site, which required excavation work, said DOE spokesman Alex Da Silva.
However, the project, which ended up costing $2.6 million, is coming to a close and expected to be completed by year’s end.
"As work on individual buildings is completed, staff will begin to move into their new spaces," Da Silva said. "We expect that to begin over the summer."
About 100 DOE employees will move into the renovated facility.
Liliuokalani School, named after Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, will eventually house the Department of Education Facilities Development Branch, the Project Control Section and a Data Center for the Office of Information Technology Services.
Because of declining enrollment, the DOE in 2011 shut down the school at the corner of Koko Head and Waialae avenues.
It was one year shy of its centennial celebration.
Mahalo
To a nice young man who helped me load my aunt’s wheelchair into the back of her car at the Aina Haina Shopping Center. He had to step into a water puddle to do so, and for his act of kindness and unselfishness, I am truly grateful. — K. Jay
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