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To educate ourselves about our roads... without looking, do you know what the speed limit is between Ainaloa and Makuu?
Beware what follows is my rant -
A signal is an idea and...maybe a temporary solution is for people to use the resources there already until the PDC comes up with an idea. Do people exiting from Makuu, Paradise, or Ainaloa know how to use an merge/accleration lane???? It is right there already! I havent lived in Socal for 20 years, and I can still use it to merge and accelerate safely into traffic (that should be doing 45 MPH!
Last night on our way home at 8:30 PM (light traffic) from Hilo, an idiot pulled onto the hwy right in front of us heading towards Pahoa from Makuu. Not only was there plenty of room behind us to wait for our car to go by, or they could have waited for us to pass in the merge/acceleration area. Good thing I drive like grandma (the speed limit is 45 MPH between Makuu and Ainaloa Blvd!), and I have good brakes.
Can someone tell me what will make these idiots be able to use a signal if they can't read a speed limit sign? Oahu has cameras on the signals for all those people who blow a light. No signals dont kill people, people kill people. Oh boy, this subject has gotten me riled up so I am taking cues from the NRA!
More responsibility from individual drivers is what is needed right now!! So if you gotta wait to make a left WAIT! Don't be intimidated by those behind you. Be safe. Is it worth them waiting a minute for a bigger opening for your safety? In my world, yes!
Feel free to post your "without looking" area!
Edited by - kapohocat on 04/20/2007 18:08:18
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Do people know how to use a turning lane? You know, a center lane where you can turn in to make it half way across the street then merge with traffic?
Do people in hawaii know how to use a turn signal? You know, commonly called a blinker?
I dunno, but, they should put more questions about turn signals and center turning lanes in the drivers manual.
I hardly see any one in hawaii using a turn signal or figure out how to use a center lane... I was once driving with a contractor, I was driving and I was talking out loud to the driver in front of me... C'mon!! move it, get into the center lane. "wow... I guess it gets pretty bad next thing you know I'll be talking to TV set!" hahaha Anyway, my passenger thinks they shouldn't even have a center turn lane. He thinks it will cause more accidents people trying to turn into the them and others trying to turn in to make it to the gas station on the other side. Yeah... I see his point but... well... if someone is in the turning lane and another wants to use it then they will have to wait for it to open up....
I guess just remember Hawaii is like anywhere else and there are 10K yearly deaths or something like that on our roads in the USA so..... It's not just hawaii, just be glad that you made it in one piece and alive when you get out of your car.
Be aggressive and look out for people cause if you don't you'll be in an accident before you know it.
Where I come from springfield/Eugene oregon... No one ever turns into the right lane... They always turn into the far wrong lane when making a right or a left turn on a two lane road.
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I agree with Cat, it’s the poor driving skills that lead to most accidents. Hwy 130 is built to State or County standards therefore eliminating all of the defects on private roads. Things like line of sight, rapid elevation changes, turning radius and striping. I would like to see the statistics but IMHO I bet that most of the people in accidents live or work out here, not tourists. So if you drive the Hwy frequently you should know the areas of concern and be a deffensive driver. When I approach these known areas and there is a car in the queue I prepare to stop or slow a bit just waiting for that fool to pop out in front of me. I think driver education and ENFORCEMENT are keys to the immediate predicament. Maybe they should take some of the enforcement funds allocated to eliminate oversize tires and window tinting and use it to save lives.
Lastly, I think that turn signal switches should be an option when you purchase a car because most drivers don’t use them.
(Ha, ha)
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it cost when it’s free...now here come the taxes.....
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43,443 traffic deaths in the US, population 296,410,404, in 2005. 142 traffic deaths in Hawaii, population 1,275,194, same year.
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We noticed this when we first arrived, and figured it was the "Island Time" mentality.
Our rental is in Kurtistown,our new home will be in Leilani, so we are back and forth all the time.
These individuals will pull out directly in front of you, or someone else , and drive 35 mile per hour. Nevermind that there is NO ONE behind you or perhaps NO ONE two cars back.
Slower drivers keep to the right ? Turn signals ? Vehicles that actually have brake lights ( was behind one of those yesterday ) ?
I.M.H.O , this has nothing to do with "Island Time " or Aloha or the way things are here ..... Rather, common sense, and respect and regard for other drivers.
When I legally pass you "non-drivers", dont bother giving me stink-eye, or better yet (as happened coming back from Volcano) slam on your breaks - in the middle of the road- throw your hand out the window , as I , and the line of 20 cars behind you pass you.
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When I legally pass you "non-drivers", dont bother giving me stink-eye
And I know you aren't the guy that passes while I am driving 55 and you want to go 60 plus. Or oh ya wants to pass as I slow down to make a turn. I can't tell you how many idiots do this all the time.
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Okay another scenario - as you approach the Keaau transfer station from the Pahoa direction - do you 1) pull into the shoulder lane out of faster moving traffic, slow down, then make a right? 2) slam on brakes, and make a right from traffic lane?
One is legal, and one is safe.
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Yes! What is it with folks that stop on the highway to make a right when there is a shoulder or turning lane?? So all the cars behind you going 55 have to stop!!! That is if they see you in time! I was hit this way long ago in a chain reaction accident(not my fault)
So whenever this scenario comes up (which is often around here) My pb goes up and I'm poised to pull into the shoulder or just praying hard.
I know its legal but if your turning this way don't be surprised if you get KILLED!
Personally the speed limit on the highway between keaau and pahoa is just too HIGH at 55 mph it should be 35mph then folks will go 45mph it may be a highway but it goes through a residential area. And what is it with the people building Mac mansions on the highway??? Are they insane?? I just look at them and think they'll be funeral parlors one day!
Its pathetic that the DOT won't even lower the speed limit! end of rant 
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The McMansions lining 130 amaze me, too. I suppose some of those folks may have bought those lots years ago and just now got around to building, but some of them probably think that is a prime location. If they figure on the area going commercial and making them rich, they haven't been paying attention to the recently failed rezoning and community sentiment. Go figure.
Cheers,
Jerry
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