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P/PWf~L FROM F+D HOL9CHUH - 3F RRNCH _ PHONE N0. 7759027 Rpr. :EE. 21707 :.0:53=~h1 P aWw.,, P.O. Bos 2004, Honokaa, Aawsu 46727 ~gos~6ao-3181 ~c~7 Fl°~ 2i~ ~~i~l 9 TO: CouncHwotnan Brenda Ford, Chair; and Members , Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations Committe;e~ ` FROM: Dr. Fred Holschuh DATE: May 1, 2007 SUBIECT: Resolution 160-07 Relating to Traffic Safety Chair Ford and Members: Thank you for allowing me to submit testimony in sttong support for tliia resolution. I want to thank Councilman Higa for irnroducing it, and Ih. Sharoai'v itc+usek and her staff for all the diligern work on gathering data and bringing the infor¢te:: or. to everyone's attention. Asa 29-year emergency physician on Hawaii Island, I wa:c aware of our inordinately high per capita numbers of vehicle crashes and fatalities, as w+,ll as the percent related to driver impairmern. One of the very first Survey of Social Indicators, published many years ago by Beverley Grogan of the Mental Health Association of Hawaii County, documented these statistics. We have done much to reverse these trends in Hawaii County over the ye-.trs, but as the resolution explains, we have much work to do- In my ER career, I saw far too many devastating injuries and fatalities lio as motor vehicle crashes, the majority related to impairment with alcohol and other drug.,, As terrible as the fatalities are, we never really document the huge numbers of per:pl; whir sustain terrible itjuries. Many o£these injuries are life long and the cost in dollei s .mil human suffering is horrendous. My personal feeling about this resolution and its importance has to do u11 i nsttely with prevemion. Our police and fire rescue services have always done a terrific j>b dealing with enforcement and treatment ofcasuahies ofvehicle crashes. The =ayrups listed in the resolution have, over the years, taken on the need for awareness acul education which ulimately will lead to prevention which is certainly better than ~:rul stage treatment. Ultimately, prevention tratst start with young people. Our youth must be constantly taugbt that driving is a privilege. Aduh drivers must serve as positive: rule models for responsible driving and "driving with Aloha". Responsible and safe <lri~vi4.g is every bit as important as all the other rnodathies of preveming high risk behavot in ortr young people. 1 respectfully urge passage of this resolution. Thank you. Aloha, ~p ~J Fred C. Holschuh, M.D. Ref. To: fv btl(,12C. - RQf. Dore i AY 1 2