Apparently O'ahu roads are getting deadlier

[Supercub]

According to the Advertiser, the number of deaths from accidents in O'ahu so far this year is 80. Last year on this date the number was 52. I'm no expert, but that seems like a pretty dramatic increase.

A couple of questions:

Anyone know how these numbers compare to 2004 or earlier?

What is causing this? (It's certainly not the vehicles - they are only getting safer)

[Supercub]

Just did a little research.

Total annual fatalities in Honolulu County
2005 = 70
2004 = 75
2003 = 79
2002 = 67
2001 = 78

source: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/STSI/15_HI/2005/15_HI_2005.HTM

[Composite 2992]

The news media misses a very important point in quoting the number of traffic deaths. To be truly meaningful, the statistic should be "deaths per capita" or better still, "deaths per passenger mile".

While the total number of deaths have gone up, we still need to know how that relates to the total miles driven for each year in order to understand if drivers are actually more or less safe than in the past.

The question should be aimed at finding out the statistical chance of getting into an accident over a given period of exposure (passenger mile) and the likelihood of that accident being fatal.

[AbsolutChaos]

What is causing this? (It's certainly not the vehicles - they are only getting safer)

Increasing population-->more cars on road-->more accidents

[Mike_Lowery]

The news media misses a very important point in quoting the number of traffic deaths. To be truly meaningful, the statistic should be "deaths per capita" or better still, "deaths per passenger mile".

While the total number of deaths have gone up, we still need to know how that relates to the total miles driven for each year in order to understand if drivers are actually more or less safe than in the past.

The question should be aimed at finding out the statistical chance of getting into an accident over a given period of exposure (passenger mile) and the likelihood of that accident being fatal.

Co-sign. Journalists try really hard to cover all angles of a story, but it's impossible to learn traffic dynamics in a day or so. Commute times for Honolulu has been steadily increasing each year, too.

[Supercub]

Increasing population-->more cars on road-->more accidents

Has the population increased 30% in a year?

Increased commute times seem like a better explanation. Changing driving habits could play a significant role though.

[AbsolutChaos]

Has the population increased 30% in a year?

Increased commute times seem like a better explanation. Changing driving habits could play a significant role though.

You are right. My impulsive answer was a bit too glib.

The population has definitely not increased that much, though I suspect it is a small contributing factor.

There has been a migration of populations from Honolulu to outer areas, due in part, I'm sure, to the housing situation. That has led to an increase in cars on the road and increased commute times for many people.

Changing driving habits sounds like another good possibility; more and more I don't see anybody driving the speed limit these days--people are almost always driving at least 5mph above posted legal limits.

[AbsolutChaos]

Has the population increased 30% in a year?

Increased commute times seem like a better explanation. Changing driving habits could play a significant role though.

You are right. My impulsive answer was a bit too glib. The population has definitely not increased that much, though I suspect it is still a small contributing factor.

There has been a migration of populations from Honolulu to outer areas, due in part, I'm sure, to the housing situation. That has led to an increase in cars on the road and increased commute times for many people.

Changing driving habits sounds like another good possibility; more and more I don't see anybody driving the speed limit these days--people are almost always driving at least 5mph above posted legal limits--except when they slow down to stop and gawk at accidents as they pass by. :rolleyes:

Then there's the whole cell phone-inattentive driver issue, along with the increasing tendency for people to multi-task in their cars instead of keeping their eyes on the road, both of which we've already covered in other threads...

Oh, and with an increasing elderly population, we have more older drivers on the roads with slower reaction times and other possible driving problems.

[mapen]

My glib answer would be: pedestrians are getting stupider and are walking into the road without looking, thinking "pedestrians always have the right of way and all cars must stop", or thinking that crosswalks mean "cross anytime" :rolleyes: sorry

[MadAzza]

Roads aren't deadly; bad drivers are. Speed isn't the problem. Driving in a straight line, however fast, does not cause accidents. Thinking this way is obscures the real problems.

Passing-lane hogs who selfishly force people to go 1-3 lanes around them to pass increase the risk of an accident (anytime you change lanes, adding lateral movement to forward motion, you increase the accident risk). This behavior also contributes to road rage, which leads to reckless driving. And all those morons who refuse to use turn signals compound the problem --obviously, if you can't *anticipate* a driver's next move, you are at a greater risk of physical harm. Big duh.

Add the people who drive giant vehicles they can't see out of (that is, *if* they bother checking their blind spots), and you've got a recipe for Hawaii Roadkill Stew.

This stuff is basic. But when the cops aren't even smart enough to grasp the simplest concepts of highway safety, how can we expect anyone else to?