HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0297.004 2004-2006 ~Q S i a s 7~.¢i~~ ~ i
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~ZU~e/NiMs~
I like to d/rive. I have never gotten over the thrill of being 16 ~"~,~xs N~'
years old and controlling a vehicle. Today, I am
t~h ~ w~,
president of the Sports Car Club of America,
er~Ti
eon the Big
Island, and I also hold a license from the SCCA as a Solo
Safety Steward. In addition, I also teach high performance
driving for the BMW Club of Hawaii, at Hawaii Raceway Park
on Oahu.
I support the Kona Motorsports Park, and would like to be
able to hold car control clinics for people here on the Big
Island. We are currently holding events at the Hilo drag strip
and go-kart track, but we have limitations with that facility.
We try to develop the skills required for good driving,
exercising good judgment and car control. ~ ~s~w£
T~~~~
The upper road is a driver's road. It is much more
demanding than the Queen K, and that is why I have taken
an interest in it. What I see when I travel that road is poor
judgment, illegal passing, dangerous passing, and speed
problems both fast and slow.
Most of all, I see that this road is very unforgiving, and lacks
basic defensive driving options.
Quite simply put, this road offers no defense against `the
other guy', and whatever mistakes a driver makes. Without
shoulders, there is no place to avoid another car. With the
rock out-crops, a car which wanders over can climb the ~
embankment and roll -and that could be right into the path
of an on-coming car. on,.
n~
Sight lines are poor, because of the hilly terrain and curves.
When a car breaks down or pulls off at one of these blind
areas and you come upon it the same time as a bus is a
coming from the other direction, with cars tailgating behind, ~ a
~ / 32~-o3bZ
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i[K, ~ 9k74~ /
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you realize how trapped you really are. It goes against the
concept of having an escape path should anything occur, a
fundamental premise of defensive driving.
I think the results are obvious, one car crashes that can
block the road, hamper rescue workers and police access,
and closure of the highway.
This road is a vital link, but tourists, who are unfamiliar with
it, also use it. They come from all over, many have limited
experience driving on narrow two lane roads, and they are
further distracted trying to view the scenery. Others are
trying to get to Hilo or Waimea, an hour or more drive,
without the patietience or the desire to be sandwiched into a
long line of cars. This contributes to aggressive driving,
intimidation, and unsafe conditions.
If we are without the means to provide enforcement, the only
other solution is to improve the passive nature of the
roadway. Just as we have mandated seatbelts and airbags
into the vehicles, the roads need to be more user friendly.
Not everyone is a race driver, and we know that our driving
habits in general have deteriorated. With the upper road,
there is little chance for driver error with a good outcome.
The improvements recommended offer some elemental
steps to improve the safety potential of that part of the
highway, are reasonable and prudent, and should be cost
effective in execution.
Mahalo