Pedestrian killed by car. Bicyclist maimed in accident. These are soon to be the headlines in Kihei and other parts of the island.
One only has to travel a mile or so at night to encounter numerous pedestrians crossing the street at unlit crosswalks - such as the one near Kukui Mall - or crossing in darkness where there are no crosswalks. Frighteningly, most of these pedestrians wear dark clothing and appear to assume that they are lit up like Christmas trees. They step out in front of vehicles traveling at the speed limit and assume they are seen and that the vehicle can stop on a dime.
Bicyclists (and skateboarders) without lights and wearing dark clothing are even more prevalent and more ignorant or careless. They weave in and out of traffic, not following any laws or common sense. They are often wearing headphones and dashing in front of cars as if they have an invisible force field.
It is time for our police to address the pedestrians and bicyclists before their families and friends cry out about the careless drivers that strike them; before the drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and all of their loved ones are touched by a tragedy that cannot be reversed.
Lynley Dows
Kihei
