DUI/DWI News

State Dot Promotes Youth Traffic Safety

HONOLULU — With the summer in full swing and the 4th of July holiday weekend approaching, the state Department of Transportation continues to emphasize its traffic programs for the safety of Hawaii’s youth.

Graduated Licensing Program. Effective January 1, 2006, the three-stage graduated licensing program is for drivers under the age of 18. It provides beginning drivers with a chance to develop their driving skills over time as they gain experience and maturity.

 “Click It or Ticket”. This campaign resulted in more than 3,000 seatbelt citations being issued by Hawaii’s four county police departments over a three-week period. Hawaii was ranked number one in the nation last year in seatbelt usage at 95.3 percent.

“The safety programs we have are part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s initiative to increase traffic safety,” said state Department of Transportation director Rodney Haraga. “We’re especially focused on promoting safe driving among Hawaii’s teens.”

A recent national survey ranked Hawaii as tenth in the nation for youth-related driving fatalities. The analysis compared 1994 and 2004 data based on motor-vehicle fatalities involving 16-20 year old drivers.

“A comparison of more recent years, 1995 and 2005, shows an actual decrease of 7.2 percent of youth-related traffic fatalities,” said Director Haraga.  “The national report released today represents merely a snapshot of what took place on our roads in 2004 compared to 1994.”

“We are also partnering with law enforcement and community organizations to reduce the prevalence of underage drinking, which contributes to the number of accidents involving our youth,” added Director Haraga.

The Administration also recently enacted new laws that focus on underage drinking. Earlier this month, Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr., signed into law three bills to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking. The bills would increase the penalties for those who operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .15 or higher, strengthen underage drinking enforcement, and suspend the driving privileges of any person under 21 who illegally purchases, possesses or consumes alcohol.

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	Did You Know?
	A well known is the fact that the consumption of alcohol can cause impairment Perhaps less recognized is that fact that impairment rises gradually at a lower level but dramatically at a higher level of blood alcohol concentration BAC. About half of auto fatalities involve drivers with BACs of .16 or higher. Impairment occurs at a lower level, but it's especially important to prevent driving with high BACs.