In the primary three months of this 12 months, the state of Hawaii tallied 35 traffic-related fatalities, 11 greater than throughout the identical time interval final 12 months.
The tally grew by 19 over the previous month, with a noticeable uptick in incidents involving motor automobiles and bicyclists.
Of the 35 traffic-related fatalities the state counted from Jan. 1 to Wednesday, 18 concerned motorized vehicle occupants, six concerned pedestrians, six concerned motorbike and scooter operators, and 5 concerned bicyclists.
The variety of vehicle-related fatalities jumped to 18 through the first three months of this 12 months compared to eight on the identical time final 12 months. This 12 months, there have already been 5 bicyclist-related fatalities compared to only one on the identical time final 12 months.
Three of the bicyclist fatalities concerned electrical bicycles, the Hawaii Department of Transportation famous.
On March 21, Honolulu police mentioned a 13-year-old boy died after the electrical bicycle he was driving collided right into a automotive in Waipahu.
Police mentioned at about 5:20 p.m. on that Sunday, the teenager was heading west on Waipahu Street on an e-bike when it rear-ended a Toyota SUV simply prior to the Peke Lane intersection.
After the preliminary influence, the bicyclist veered into the alternative lane and was then struck by a Toyota pickup truck.
Police mentioned the teenager, who was not carrying a helmet, was taken to a hospital in important situation, the place he later died.
This 12 months bought off to a lethal begin, with quite a few pedestrians struck by automobiles within the first three months, as effectively.
The first traffic fatality of the 12 months occurred at about 11 p.m. Jan. 14 on the intersection of Nimitz Highway and Sand Island Access Road.
Police mentioned a driver heading west on Nimitz struck a 66—year-old man who was crossing the freeway. The man was crossing in opposition to a “Do Not Walk” signal, however was in a marked crosswalk.
He was taken to a hospital in important situation, the place he later succumbed to his accidents, police mentioned.
Other incidents within the first three months of this 12 months embody a Saturday night crash in Nanakuli, the place an allegedly drunk driver hit a parked automotive, killing a 38-year-old girl and listen to 7-year-old daughter who had been sitting inside.
Two bicyclist fatalities occurred in busy, city areas, together with the intersection of Nimitz Highway and Puuhale Road in Kalihi, and on the intersection of Iwilei Road and Sumner Street in Iwilei.
The bicyclists, each males, had been struck by automobiles at intersections. Neither was carrying a helmet.
In early March, first responders at a information convention urged the general public — whether or not driver, bicyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian — to stay vigilant to maintain each other secure on the roads.
Malia Harunaga, the nonprofit Hawaii Bicycling League’s Director of Adult Education, mentioned electrical bicycles have been rising in reputation as folks search different types of transportation. They are additionally changing into extra inexpensive and accessible.
But it’s necessary for folks to understand how to function e-bikes, in addition to the foundations of the street, she mentioned. This goes for normal bicyclists, as effectively.
The minimal age to experience an electrical bicycle in Hawaii is 15 years previous, and the utmost velocity is 20 mph.
“They definitely have a lot of benefits, but with that power comes responsibility,” she mentioned.
HBL affords free workshops masking bicycle fundamentals, street biking expertise, and an introduction to e-bikes. Students of the e-bike workshop can borrow one or carry their very own to find out how to preserve it and function it safely.
More data on the workshops is on the market at hbl.org.
TRAFFIC-RELATED DEATHS IN HAWAII
Jan. 1 to March 30
>> State (35 whole): 18 motorized vehicle occupants, 6 pedestrians, 6 motorbike/scooter operators, 5 bicyclists.
>> City and County of Honolulu (16 whole): 7 motorized vehicle occupants, 4 pedestrians, 2 bikes/scooter operators, 3 bicyclists.
>> Hawaii County (11 whole): 8 motorized vehicle occupants, 1 pedestrian, 1 motorcyclist, 1 bicyclist.
>> Maui County (6 whole): 2 motorized vehicle occupants, 1 pedestrian, 2 motorbike/scooter operators, 1 bicyclist.
>> Kauai County (2 whole): 1 motorized vehicle occupant, 1 scooter