Honolulu police stood next to pedestrian signals at busy Keeaumoku Street intersections Friday to remind pedestrians about safety in the wake of three fatalities already this year on Oahu.
Officers spoke to residents and visitors alike, passing out brochures on pedestrian safety at the intersections of Keeaumoku and Makaloa streets and Keeaumoku and Kanunu streets near Walmart.
"We’re out here to try to educate the public and reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities and accidents as well," said Maj. Calvin Tong, head of the Honolulu Police Department’s Traffic Division.
Both pedestrians and motorists need to do their part and stay alert, said Tong during a media briefing.
Pedestrians should be aware that just because they step into a crosswalk doesn’t mean they’re fully protected, he said.
Tong added, "The biggest problem is everybody is in a rush."
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WALK WITH CARE
The Honolulu Police Department’s pedestrian safety tips:
>> Always use a marked crosswalk.
>> Make eye contact with motorists.
>> Look in both directions before crossing. Look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
>> Wear bright or reflective clothing.
>> Carry a small flashlight when crossing the street at night.
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Pedestrians might jaywalk or motorists might run the traffic light to get where they’re going. "Those are bad decisions, and those bad decisions can lead to loss of life," he said.
Police officers Friday frequently stopped pedestrians at the two intersections who attempted to cross the street as signals were displaying a flashing red hand. Officers informed them it not only is a violation to cross when the signal is a steady red hand, but when the red hand is flashing as well.
Pedestrians are allowed to cross only when they see the signal of a walking man appear.
"We don’t want to lose any lives or anybody to get hurt," said Tong.
Police issued some pedestrians a $130 citation Friday — one included an 18-year-old woman who was rushing to get to work — who crossed the street against the pedestrian signal.
Two of three pedestrians who died so far this year were crossing the street when they were struck by a vehicle.
On Jan. 2 a 45-year-old woman died when she was struck at North Nimitz Highway and Kalihi Street. Police said the woman was walking against the light and was not in a marked crosswalk. Her identification has yet to be released pending notification of next of kin.
The following day, Nobuo Yoshioka, 91, was struck by a Ford Escape near Makiki. He was transported to the Queen’s Medical Center in critical condition and died Wednesday. Police said it’s unclear whether he was in a crosswalk.
And on Tuesday a woman on roller skates died after crashing into a moving sedan in Makakilo in an accident that police also classify as a pedestrian death.
