Hawaii’s motorists are the worst in the US, according to a survey

Motorists in Hawaii exhibit some of the worst driving behavior in the country, according to data a recent Forbes Advisor report.

According to a survey of 5,000 Americans with driver’s licenses — 100 respondents in each state — Hawaii ranked first for lane changes or turning without signaling, speeding 20 mph or more and running red lights.

Drivers in Hawaii also received high marks for other bad behavior on the road, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and texting while driving.

The Aloha State was followed by drivers in Oregon, New Mexico, Wyoming, Alaska, North Dakota, Connecticut, Vermont, Kansas and West Virginia. According to the Forbes Advisor report, which provides advice to consumers about insurance, banking and other financial products and services, motorists in Mississippi have behaved the best.

Local drivers who spoke to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser said distracted driving and impatient motorists are more of a concern than some of the other traffic-related behaviors cited in the report.

Lenny Young, 37, of Kakaako, said the number of people with bad driving habits in Hawaii is “skyrocketing.” She said she has observed several drivers who appear to be “going crazy” with impatience.

The Oahu native believes part of the problem may be some mainlanders who may have different driving habits and disregard for local traffic laws. But driver behavior could also be a result of increased development on the island in recent years and the “hustle and bustle” of the urban environment, which causes people to run and become more selfish in their driving behavior, she said.

A Forbes Advisor report says 20% of respondents in Hawaii admitted to changing lanes or turning without signaling; 13% said they drove 20 mph or more over the speed limit in the past month; and 8% indicated that they ran a red light.

Nearly half — or 47 percent — of motorists surveyed in Hawaii admitted to driving less than 10 mph over the speed limit in the past month.

The survey also found that drivers in Hawaii are second most likely to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs; third for exceeding the limit by 10-19 mph; and fourth for texting while driving, speeding to run a yellow light and honking angrily at another driver.

Local motorists ranked sixth for refusing to yield to another driver and seventh for cutting another driver off.

Distracted driving

Young agreed that distracted driving is a major road safety concern, especially for those who eat while driving. A Forbes Advisor report found that eating while driving was the second worst driving behavior in the country, with 29 percent of survey respondents — 32 percent in Hawaii — admitting to eating while driving in the previous month.

Young recalled a time when she was eating a hamburger while driving and almost collided with a moped because both hands were not on the steering wheel.

Honolulu Police Maj. James Slater explained that there are three types of distractions while driving: manual, visual, and cognitive.

Manual distractions occur when the driver does not have both hands on the wheel, such as while eating or texting. Visual distractions occur when a driver takes their eyes off the road, such as when watching a video or making eye contact while talking to someone else in the car.

Cognitive distractions include daydreaming or thinking too deeply about something that prevents the driver from concentrating on the drive.

“All these habits can lead to a crash,” Slater said. “We want people to focus on the road, avoid distractions and remember that taking your eyes off the road for even a split second can mean the difference between life and death.”

Kailua resident Ryan Birkett, 43, admitted to eating while driving.

“I think it just reflects our society today,” he said. “Everyone is running away. There’s not a lot of time to take a break and eat, but it definitely takes your mind off the road.”

Birkett drives a Jeep with a manual transmission, so he always has one hand on the wheel and the other on the gear lever. He noted that as much as he tries to avoid distracted driving, his busy schedule often dictates his behavior on the road.

Birkett generally considers himself to be a “safe” and “good” driver, despite his occasional speeding.

Rushing

HPD said it issued 21,172 speeding tickets last year and 18,716 tickets this year as of Oct. 14.

Birkett, who moved to Hawaii from Los Angeles 17 years ago, recalled getting a speeding ticket around 11 p.m. while driving on Pali Highway, which has a 30 mph speed limit.

“On the mainland, more people are speeding and it’s actually dangerous,” he said.

Eriya Morimoto, a 26-year-old Hawaii Kai resident, agreed with Birkett that some speed limits in Hawaii are unreasonably low.

“I got a speeding ticket, but I would argue that the speed limit here is too low in some areas,” Morimoto said.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, Hawaii has the lowest speed limit in the country at 55 mph.

“Speed ​​limits are generally set based on the design of the roadway, taking into account factors such as visibility, grade, surface and expected traffic or density,” Slater said. “Engineers pay a lot of attention to the safety of our roads; it’s not just an arbitrary number. In fact, the speed limits they publish are based on research, opinion and science.”

Slater emphasized that speeding is a significant factor in fatal or critical collisions in Hawaii.

In 2017, Oahu averaged 90 vehicle collisions per day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that number dropped to about 56 per day, but now, Slater said, the numbers are rising again, with Oahu averaging about 70 accidents a day.

HPD also reported that more than 3,500 drivers were cited for speeding last year. As of October 14 this year, more than 4,300 drivers were prosecuted for the same offense. Additionally, HPD noted that 341 drivers raced on public roads last year, up from 204 as of Oct. 14.

“While you may think you’re a good driver and can handle Indy 500 or NASCAR-style driving, you have to consider that you may be pushing your limits,” Slater said. “If you’re going faster than you can control the car when an unexpected hazard arises, you may not be able to avoid it.”

Morimoto, who drives an Infiniti G37 Coupe sports car, shared that he occasionally attends car meets where drivers gather to ride together and sometimes race.

“The racing culture is amazing. It’s very social and generally safe, but accidents do happen,” he said. “We actually had a friend die on a motorcycle in one of those cases, but it was because of another rider on the road who was supposedly not part of our group.”

Click on security

HPD reported that as of early October this year, there have been 36 fatal vehicle crashes on Oahu, 13 of which were related to speeding and 16 related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition, 39 critical road accidents were registered, 10 of which were related to speeding and 2 were due to alcohol intoxication.

As of Oct. 14, HPD reported 1,220 DUI arrests.

Slater emphasized that education is critical to improving road safety. He noted that HPD works with schools and community stakeholders such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Walk Wise Hawaii to spread awareness and educate the public about the importance of road safety.

“Of course we do a lot of enforcement, but that’s only a small fraction of the encounters we have every day,” he said. “At every opportunity we try to educate riders on the need to wear seat belts, the importance of safety equipment and the reasons for age restrictions on e-bikes.”

Slater urged drivers to slow down, obey posted speed limits and follow the rules of the road, including stopping at red lights and stop signs. He also emphasized the importance of avoiding manual, visual and cognitive factors that can distract attention from the road.

Slater also emphasized the importance of not driving while impaired, especially with ride-sharing options like Uber and Lyft available, and urged drivers to never get behind the wheel if they have consumed any substance that could impair their ability drive safely, whether with alcohol, recreational drugs or medication.