12-02-2012, 05:09 AM
quote:
One of the things that struck me most about Hawaii is that most drivers here have no concept of right-of-way, even when they have it.
There are a couple of factors at play here.
First, Hawaii traffic rules are inconsistent with the rest of the US and with itself: In some cases traffic turning right from the right lane has to yield to opposing traffic turning left across traffic -- in other cases (as is traditional almost everywhere else in the US) the traffic turning right has the right of way, and the lefty turners have to wait it out.
Second, many people think the spirit of aloha should trump traffic rights of way, so they yield their right of way to others - like people going straight across an intersection yielding to opposing cars turning left or people turning left across main road traffic yielding to people turning left onto the main road of traffic. Since no one knows what the other person is doing, no one does anything or everyone tries to move simultaneously.
Finally, a large segment of the population thinks that traffic laws don't apply to them, so they speed, ignore traffic signs and signals, or drive on shoulders when the main lane of traffic is too slow for their liking. Again, when people disobeying traffic standards surprise those driving properly, it frequently doesn't end well...
I grew up driving in New Jersey, home of some of the worst driving in the nation, but at least there everyone drove consistently bad, so you could compensate and drive relatively safely. Here, I am like the Pope, bending down to kiss the groud every time I arrive at my destination safely.