I would like to remind people and comment on the uncovered issue of the dangers of walking, biking and running along Alii Drive. I just had a friend who was hit by a truck which meandered into the shoulder this past Saturday morning. He ended up in Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu with serious injuries, but there weren’t any news articles in West Hawaii Today about this accident, so this makes me think that this type of accident happens more often than the public hears about.
I would like to remind people and comment on the uncovered issue of the dangers of walking, biking and running along Alii Drive. I just had a friend who was hit by a truck which meandered into the shoulder this past Saturday morning. He ended up in Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu with serious injuries, but there weren’t any news articles in West Hawaii Today about this accident, so this makes me think that this type of accident happens more often than the public hears about.
I don’t know what the driver’s distraction was but I suspect this early in the day it was not alcohol related. I did learn that my friend and his family were only going a short walking distance to the shuttle bus stop and were walking with the traffic when he was hit. His wife said that normally they walk against the traffic but weren’t concerned since they were walking only a short distance and there are no crosswalks in our area.
I live on Alii Drive and drive it every day. I know better to walk or bike on this road during the busy tourist season, but I cannot believe how many people walk and jog with the flow of traffic instead of the safer option of going against the traffic. We all know there are not any sidewalks anywhere on Alii Drive once you leave the village limits.
One tourist I mentioned this to said they walk on the wrong side of the road as there are not that many cross walks to the other side.
I would really like to see the county post signs every 1/8 mile or so reminding people to walk against the traffic and to pay attention to the traffic coming toward them. I really think many of these pedestrian accidents can be avoided by just this one reminder. Even though we have laws against cellphone use, the police cannot be everywhere and people still are distracted while driving and walking and not paying attention.
The county should also paint more crossing places for pedestrians on the road to cross over to the safer side of the road.
Mahalo for taking the time to post this important reminder.
Dawn Clark is a Kona and Alii Drive resident.