Question: In the June 2 Kokua Line (bit.ly/1oNZXSN), someone wanted to know what to do if his was the first car stopped at a red light when an ambulance approached from the rear. The chief of the city Emergency Medical Services Division 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." However, this causes the driver to violate Section 291C-32 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (Statewide Traffic Code) and possibly be liable in the event of a collision. (The law says vehicles stopped at a red light "shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.") Shouldn’t the Honolulu Police Department be consulted to ensure that your readers are provided with the safest action to be taken, which should be to remain stopped at the intersection and when the light changes green, to proceed through the intersection then move immediately to the nearest curb to allow the emergency vehicle a safe path?
Answer: Clearly, EMS Chief Patricia Dukes advised proceeding cautiously, watching out for cross traffic, before allowing the ambulance to get past.
In this situation, the advice would be appropriate, according to the Honolulu Police Department.
"If drivers ‘inch forward’ or ‘go through the intersection and pull over,’ they are both correct dependent on the circumstances," said Maj. Kurt Kendro, head of HPD’s Traffic Division.
"Drivers need to have situational awareness and use common sense to clear the way for emergency vehicles," he explained. "Time is essential for the emergency vehicles to get through traffic — it can be the difference between life and death — and drivers need to clear the way."
While it is safer for drivers to not go through intersections and it may be appropriate to just inch forward, "there may not be enough room for an emergency vehicle to get through," Kendro said. "So there will be times when it is necessary to drive through the intersection and pull over."
Question: When are they going to repave Waipio Uka Street? It’s terrible!
Answer: You can find out if and about when the city plans to repave thousands of streets on the website of the Department of Design and Construction: honolulu.gov/ddc.
Click on "Road Repaving Update" or go to bit.ly/UpciUl.
The list includes repaving projects in one of four phases: planned, in construction, construction scheduled and recently completed.
The list does not include streets identified as needing to be repaved by an independent paving study because "they have to be programmed into the list for other reasons such as upcoming sewer, water, gas, or communication cabling maintenance and repair work or still requires funding," according to the city.
The list is also a work in progress, with listing and status "subject to change" and with streets continually added.
We found Waipio Uka Street listed on page 179 of 182 pages. It says "construction ongoing" between Kamehameha Highway and Ka Uka Boulevard.
Mahalo
To the staff of Aloha Air Cargo. We needed to transport my lovebirds to Oahu from Maui. When we arrived, the office was already closed but the staff all came to my aid. They told me we could pick the birds up the next day, but to our surprise, they called around 12 a.m. to say that they already had arrived. I would like to especially thank the Maui staff for going the extra mile in helping me and caring for the birds and for the staff on Oahu for caring for them until we picked them up. Our lovebirds are well and liking their new home. We are forever grateful. — Narcissus "Nani" Hee
Auwe
To the young lady dressed in black at the downtown Ross store back in April. You opened my purse and took my sunglasses and clutch case (probably thinking it was my wallet). I wondered why you were hanging around me while I was reading an item. I feel violated that you chose to steal from me. Customers beware! — Sad Senior Citizen
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Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
