Roads Are Easements Not Planned Communities Or HOAs

[KPHawaii]

Those advocating for speed bumps should be forced to have one installed directly in front of their own house.

Many things happen when these abominations are installed. People slam on their brakes, they hit them hard making noise, they hit the accelerator hard after going over them, people try to go around them to the point of driving off the road...

Speed bumps generally cause more safety issues than they are claimed to fix.

I agree. I’ve been advocating for stop signs on the main roads. Not sure how often they should be placed but lots less expensive, lots less permanent if they don’t work as planned, ok for emergency vehicles and, cars need to stop not just slow down. There are others measures too.

To slow traffic down in a residential area, you can consider a mix of physical measures and community efforts. Here are some effective methods:

1. **Speed Bumps and Humps**: These are effective in physically slowing down vehicles.

2. **Chicanes and Road Narrowing**: These create a winding path that requires drivers to slow down.

3. **Roundabouts**: These can replace intersections and naturally slow down traffic.

4. **Signage and Speed Limits**: Clearly marked speed limits and warning signs can remind drivers to reduce speed.

5. **Pedestrian Crossings**: Well-marked crosswalks can make drivers more aware of pedestrians.

6. **Community Initiatives**: Organize neighborhood campaigns or work with local authorities to raise awareness.

7. **Enforcement**: Increased police presence or speed cameras can deter speeding.

8. **Landscaping and Visual Cues**: Trees and planters can create a sense of enclosure, encouraging slower driving.

Using a combination of these strategies often provides the best results.

A chicane;

[Patricia]

"Those advocating for speed bumps..."

Leilanidude, the other concerns are that the main roads are the only direct routes out of HPP if there is a widespread emergency. Also, the roads are in bad shape. So, placing numerous speed bumps on them would be another putting the cart before the horse kind of plan.

[HiloJulie]

First, I have to ask what the impetus is for the Board to bring up the need to install speed bumps? 

Complaints from residents?
Accidents?
Property damage?
Too much dust?

In other words, where/who has determined that first, there is a speeding problem and secondly, that speed bumps are the answer?

But then having said that, installing speed bumps at 4 per mile on all of HPP's main roads would be a huge cost.

Now, in as much as I find speed bumps to be one of the most insidious things humans ever invented, believe it or not, studies conducted by the USDOT - Federal Highway Administration do show that speed bumps are effective at reducing speeds by up to 10 MPH.

Another method that shows an effective reduction of speeds of up to 5 MPH is the flashing sign that displays your speed as you approach it - as on Ainaloa Blvd.

USDOT - FHA

Additionally, The National Institute of Health conducted a study that shows "the findings suggest that speed humps make children’s living environments safer."

NIH Study

Since the County Council has already passed laws that allow Hawaii County Police to issue traffic tickets in and on HPP roads, maybe the most cost effective as well as achieving real speed reduction goals, is to lobby the Council to allow for the installation of speeding ticket cameras.

It's already been done in Honolulu as of January 1, on all existing red-light cameras, with speeding tickets being issued starting February 1.

So then, having said all this, back to my original question:

What issue(s) are there that has the Board of HPPOA discussing the installation of speed bumps on HPP's main roads?

[Patricia]

"What issue(s) are there that has the Board of HPPOA discussing the installation of speed bumps on HPP's main roads?"

Speeding and accidents

[kalakoa]

"What issue(s) are there that has the Board of HPPOA discussing the installation of speed bumps on HPP's main roads?"

Budget.

[Obie]

Maybe we should plant mangoes in the middle of the road like Pohoiki road or WaaWaa road. Of course their were those who still drove too fast. I remember a car wedged between two giant mangoes on Pohoiki road.

[HiloJulie]

"Speeding and accidents"

OK then. So, some HPP residents (and to be fair, some nonresidents) desire to speed down HPP's main roads, and then some cause accidents.

So, if the Board's answer is speed bumps every 1/4 mile, at a cost I cannot fathom, but would venture to say would be in excess of a million dollars, plus taking years to construct, how about turning this issue over to and make this issue a "law and order" matter?

If approved, the cost to install speed bumps every 1/4 mile on every main HPP road would have to increase the annual road fees every HPP resident must pay, or there would have to be a "special assessment" levied against each HPP resident to install all these speed bumps.

So, how about making this a law enforcement issue, where the real guilty ones end up paying a $100, $200, maybe even a $300 fine for each speeding violation instead of spreading the cost of the installation of speed bumps caused by the handful of incompetent drivers over the whole of each HPP resident?

Further, I would think that the HPPOA and its Board installing speed bumps could add to the possibility of the association and its Board being dragged into some type of lawsuit should a speeder cause an accident causing death or significant harm of others, with the premise of the lawsuit being HPP and its Board "did not do enough" to ensure the safety of others when they knew there was a speeding problem.

[Patricia]

"Ainaloa is a residential subdivision and the road you are asking about is 25mph...."

Understood.

And the road I am referring to is Ainaloa Drive (I mistakenly called it Ainaloa Blvd). So, that may have caused some confusion too. Ainaloa Blvd. does not have speed bumps and if I remember it's speed limit is 35MPH , just like HPP's main roads...

Anyway, HPP is a residential subdivision, albeit not an HOA like Ainaloa, and HPP has roads that are posted at various speed limits (some are 15MPH). But the main roads, in and out, are posted at 35MPH.

I know that Ainaloa Drive has quite a few speed bumps. I understand the speed limit on that road is not 35MPH. Ainaloa Rd. is also not a main road in and out of that subdivision. BUT as it does have numerous speed bumps, I was wondering how effective those are and if they might cause problems (due to weather conditions, time of day, etc.) that might cause issues for first responders.

Placing 4 speed bumps/mile on the main roads in and out of HPP, while slowing down traffic, may cause delays in emergencies. And while some may find my concerns ridiculous and unwarranted, I KNOW what it is like to have someone you care about being rushed to the emergency room- every SECOND feels like forever. So yeah, I feel like ANY "delay" might want to be investigated.

[MyManao]

ANY "delay" might want to be investigated.

Conversely, knowing a couple who lost a four year old child to a speeding vehicle in a subdivision without much control over speeders, whose incident lead to the placement of speed bumps, puts an entirely different spin to the issue.

[Patricia]

"Conversely, knowing a couple who lost a four year old child to a speeding vehicle in a subdivision..."

I agree, MyManao. I think there is a lot to be considered here. And as KP stated, there are other traffic calming ideas (or a combination of several) that HPPOA may want to consider. In addition, it might also be wise for HPPOA
to speak WITH owners and first responders, gather valuable info and insight, and brain-storm the problem.