Hawaii Police Department officers took to the streets Thursday in Kailua-Kona to remind drivers to drive sober this holiday season.
A handful of Kona Community Policing Officers took to the median of Queen Kaahumanu Highway to remind motorists not to get behind the wheel while impaired.
With traffic fatalities up 66% over last year, police are urging motorists to drive safely and sober this holiday season. To date, there have been 25 fatalities on Big Island roads, compared to 15 at this time in 2020. Of those 25 traffic deaths, impairment was a factor in at least 11 of the fatalities, police said.
“The Hawaii Police Department is reminding all drivers: If you are impaired by drugs and thinking of driving, pass your keys to a sober driver. Don’t be the reason someone doesn’t make it home for the holidays. If you are caught driving under the influence, you will be arrested and you and you will go to jail,” the department said in a media release this week.