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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0234.001 2008-2010 UPPPER PUNA AGGRESSIVE DRIVING PROGRAM PROGRAM PROPOSAL Aggressive driving is recognized as a serious problem nationally and directly relates to one of the major causes of traffic accidents and injuries or death on our highways. There have also been criminal reports initiated due to "road rage" directly linked to aggressive drivers causing or nearly causing a traffic accident. The National Highway Safety Transportation Agency (NHSTA) defines aggressive driving as occurring when "an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property." Many of the speeding violations and aggressive driving violations take place during the commuting hours between 5:00 A. M. and 7:00 A. M. and 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. The fact that many residents of East Hawaii are commuting to and from work in other districts has greatly impacted the driving habits of our community who must work in districts as far away as Kona or Waikoloa. Many drivers are traveling on a daily basis and begin their commute as early as 5!00 A.M. and not returning home until after 6:00 P.M. These extended hours spent commuting to and from work greatly contributes to the aggressive driving habits as they try to shorten their time on the road. Although many violations take place during the peak commuting traffic hours, law enforcement recognizes that there are also offenders throughout the day and the proposed aggressive driving project will encompass varying hours of the day. • Speed is a consistent factor as one of combinations of moving offenses involved in aggressive driving. • The National Safety Council defines Aggressive Driving as "driving under the influence of impaired emotions". The behavior is characterized by impatience and inattentiveness, a power struggle, often escalating into recklessness and road rage. MISSION/GOAL Comm. Nom ~0 Ref. Tot U Ref. Date- APR 8 ZOUS The. goal of this project is reduce aggressive driving in the upper Puna district. The main corridors of traffic include Highway 11 and North Kulani Road, however traffic enforcement efforts will include other roadways which experience "aggressive driving" habits. Officers participating in this program will increase their presence and citations, which will be properly recorded for future reference. STRATEGIES Consistent enforcement is one of the strongest deterrents to aggressive driving and excessive speeding problems on the main corridors of travel for commuting traffic. The Hawaii Police Department will enforce speed violations, illegal passing, illegal lane usage and other traffic violations with the use of overtime funds. Historical vehicular and fatality data will be used to identify problem areas. The project period will run from March 2009 to June 2009 during which time the police will: • Conduct at least thirty-five (35) aggressive driving traffic enforcement projects concentrating along Highway 11 between Kurtistown and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Boundary and North Kulani Road which are main corridors of traffic; however officers will also conduct projects in other locations that receive traffic related complaints in upper Puna. • Twenty-five (25) of these projects will be high visibility that will target the commuting traffic hours and school hours, especially locations such as Mountain View Elementary School. • At least ten (10) inconspicuous projects will be conducted. These projects will require an unmarked police vehicle to travel along with the commuting traffic and report any traffic violations to marked police vehicles positioned in strategic locations along the selected project site. *The unmarked police vehicle will not be involved in stopping any violators, unless a TEU member's specially equipped vehicle is utilized as the "inconspicuous vehicle". • The projects will be conducted on overtime and paid for with the requested funds. PROJECT EVALUATION The effectiveness of this program will be measured in the following manner: ? A reduction in the amount of calls reporting aggressive driving behavior in the upper Puna district between Kurtistown and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boundary. ? A reduction of traffic accidents along the targeted traffic corridor. REQUESTED FUNDS A request of $3,000.00 to pay for any overtime and related expenses incurred during the period of this traffic enforcement project. AFTER ACTION REPORT Following the conclusion of the project a narrative report will be submitted detailing the final results and conclusions related to the project.