Driving With Aloha

DRIVING WITH ALOHA

Learning to drive in my adopted state of Hawaii had its challenges, I suppose like anything about moving to a new place. It is impossible not to be impressed with the beauty of our island of Oahu and visiting the various places around this island involves a lot of driving. We have to be vigilant while driving due to the many beautiful distractions like waterfalls and rainbows after a rain. Perhaps over the years many accidents have been caused by such distractions because driver education is taken very seriously here in Hawaii. I am still trying to find out why it is not uncommon for kids to take the road test five, six, or 7 times here in Hawaii before they can pass and be issued their license. Of course, it turns out that’s a good thing – to make new drivers practice attentiveness and highway safety to decrease the number of accidents on the road.

Wild pigs and highway crews clearing lush vegetation are a common sight on the roadways here. I’m grateful that the unrushed lifestyle emphasized here in Hawaii plays a role in driving instruction and the practice of safety. It teaches us that we don’t need to check our phones while driving or even at the stop light. There’s no reason we cannot wait until we make it safely to our destination. I think a calmer mind and this unrushed lifestyle can be a key to less accidents.

People can be very friendly on the roadways here. It is common practice to give the other driver the right of way, which can be confusing at first but something you get used to. On the island of Lanai, there are no stop lights and other drivers regularly wave at you when passing. I guess it’s like country roads anywhere in the US. I’m not sure it is emptier roads that lead to less accidents or rather a pleasant and relaxed frame of mind when behind the wheel.

According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser quoting state official data in early 2020, the total number of traffic fatalities in Hawaii in 2019 was 108, down from 117 in 2018. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists Hawaii as 8^th least in traffic fatalities per capita with 8.2 per capita. Though that sounds impressive, it is likely still too many accidents for those people who were involved in such tragedies. I think slowing down, being unrushed, having ‘malama’ or care for the environment of our roadways is important in our everyday activities, especially driving.

These thoughts gave me an idea about a step that could be taken by everyone on the road. Just like it has become common practice to ‘click it’ before you start your car, how about each driver takes a breathing break of 10 seconds prior to starting the ignition? If 10 seconds is too much, how about the DMV suggests 3 seconds or even just a deep breath? Ad campaigns for the wearing of seatbelts have made great changes over the years. How about my suggestion of “breathe before you leave”?