Is this a rant thread?

Then may I please join also and shout YES THIS STATE HAS THE WORST DRIVERS IN ALL OF THE USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess what, I don't know any of my friends who are good drivers.

I learned how to drive NOT in this State.

Now I learned to NOT drive in this State if possible!!!

 

But one good thing, when they CRASH INTO YOU BECAUSE OF THEIR CLUELESSNESS they are friendly about it.

Because this is a NO FAULT STATE....

Aloha.

Hawaii drivers don't recognize the farthest left lane on the highway is a passing lane. Packed tour buses, tractor trailers and other large slow moving vehicles seem to think that this lane is for them. Not sure if it is safe or just following the law, but when an ambulance with lights and siren on; do drivers just stop on the highway or just move out of the way in a safe speed? Hawaii drivers are like zombies flashing lights fascinate them and they are caught in a daze resulting in traffic backing up for miles.

On a similar note, traffic laws are a great example of the limitations of the law. How many people drive in the HOV lane with only ONE person during effective hours? How many of you speed? How many of you flick cig butts out the window? Smoke a joint while in traffic? (I smell a lot of it during the drive home). Laws only work when people decide to follow them. The root problem is the character of our people. Faith in religion or other beliefs is the foundation of our character but yet we knowingly trade vices for the erosion of our beliefs.
A common excuse based on observation and casual conversation is that laws are only broken when a person is caught.

.

Last Thursday I was on the corner of Date Street and Kapahulu waiting for the crossing signal. I was trying to cross Kapahulu on the makai side of Date. First thing I did was make eye contact with the driver wanting to make a right hand turn from Date onto Kapahulu. The walk signal came up and I stepped out into the crosswalk and the damn driver started making his right hand turn! He looked at me like why was I in the street in front of his car? An old man across from me waiting to cross Date Street saw the whole thing and yelled at the driver after I jumped back up onto the sidewalk. I made eye contact with the driver and started yelling at him. Eventually the driver waived me on like he was doing me a favor. IDIOT!!! He literally came with in 2 feet of me before I jumped back!

BTW, I was wearing a safety yellow shirt and my glow in the dark safety yellow and orange (approved by the DOT) vest. You really do need to not only drive defensively but cross the street defensively as well.

Hawaii drivers don't recognize the farthest left lane on the highway is a passing lane. Packed tour buses, tractor trailers and other large slow moving vehicles seem to think that this lane is for them. Not sure if it is safe or just following the law, but when an ambulance with lights and siren on; do drivers just stop on the highway or just move out of the way in a safe speed? Hawaii drivers are like zombies flashing lights fascinate them and they are caught in a daze resulting in traffic backing up for miles.

On a similar note, traffic laws are a great example of the limitations of the law. How many people drive in the HOV lane with only ONE person during effective hours? How many of you speed? How many of you flick cig butts out the window? Smoke a joint while in traffic? (I smell a lot of it during the drive home). Laws only work when people decide to follow them. The root problem is the character of our people. Faith in religion or other beliefs is the foundation of our character but yet we knowingly trade vices for the erosion of our beliefs.
A common excuse based on observation and casual conversation is that laws are only broken when a person is caught.

I can certainly agree with Hawaii drivers and flashing lights, in fact I'll take it a step further and say that pretty much anything shiny on the road is enough to drive them to distraction.

 Ooooh! Look, shiiiny!

As far as peoples lax attitudes toward the law, I think it has more to do with the fact that laws have become less about principles and more about restriction of liberty. Think about it, there are laws that attempt to govern nearly every aspect of behavior, inserting the government into the most miniscule private portions of our lives. It's no longer up to you, it's AGAINST THE LAW.
This kind of crap is virtually impossible to enforce, and is therefore ludicrous. When people realize that a law is BS, of course they ignore it, as they should. This contributes to the downward spiral, as people tend to ignore more important, necessary laws, especially when there is little consequence, even when they're caught.

You're right. Morality and character are learned behaviors, and sadly lacking these days, but in the absence of liberty, people will rebel in whatever small way they can.

All you guys complaining about drivers here tells me one thing for certain...
you have NEVER spent any time in Orlando, Florida.

Let's talk about a spot where more than 70% of the traffic on the street is from tourists, all of whom drive the same way they drive in their home towns.  Honolulu, Hawaii?  This is nothing.  Chill out, turn up your stereo, and arrive the fuck alive.

Last Thursday I was on the corner of Date Street and Kapahulu waiting for the crossing signal. I was trying to cross Kapahulu on the makai side of Date. First thing I did was make eye contact with the driver wanting to make a right hand turn from Date onto Kapahulu. The walk signal came up and I stepped out into the crosswalk and the damn driver started making his right hand turn! He looked at me like why was I in the street in front of his car? An old man across from me waiting to cross Date Street saw the whole thing and yelled at the driver after I jumped back up onto the sidewalk. I made eye contact with the driver and started yelling at him. Eventually the driver waived me on like he was doing me a favor. IDIOT!!! He literally came with in 2 feet of me before I jumped back!

BTW, I was wearing a safety yellow shirt and my glow in the dark safety yellow and orange (approved by the DOT) vest. You really do need to not only drive defensively but cross the street defensively as well.

I was crossing a crosswalk once time on a SMALL SIDE STREET and there was a large SUV or truck stopped for me. So I walked right up to the middle of the crosswalk but DUE TO A PERSONAL HABIT OF SAFETY PRECAUTION I slowed down and looked and LO AND BEHOLD at that moment some jerk off car whizzed by at even above the posted speed limit. If I was not so DAMNED CAREFUL totally I would not be writing this now. Due to the SUV my line of sight was blocked for a few seconds, enough for that car to speed by even when another driver was obviously stopped at a crosswalk. It would have been too late if I had stopped even just one or two feet AFTER i crossed the "protection zone" that the SUV had created.

Relative to who the pedestrian is....The teenager crossing in a crosswalk tries to walk as slow as possible so you miss the chance to turn.  Then you see some elderly lady who has trouble walking trying to jog to be considerate and get out of your way.  the whole while I'd be hoping they would slow down so they dont trip and fall on their face.

Rubbah neckers, another Hawaii past time.

Completly agree, Hawaii has "stupid" drivers and other places have aggressive drivers. I think part of it has to do with lack of ability to drive long distances on real freeways and the much slower speeds driven here (at least on Oahu). And sadly the people here do perpetuate the stereotype of Asian and female drivers. Less than 6 months till I PCS out of here and get back to what is "normal" driving to me (hopefully).

Yesterday there was an accident near my home.
I checked out the situation and noticed a fatality.
Unfortunate.
I knew the road would now be closed for hours and traffic was backing up, so I ask the nearest  PO if he wants me to assist with traffic by turning them around at PCC.
He says "Yes please. the road will be closed for 3-4 hrs."

   So I work my way back to PCC from the accident informing drivers.
Some turn around, others don't even roll down there window ( I see them an hour later  ).

  After getting to the PCC turn around I continue spreading the message and still some just pass me, locals and tourist's alike.
What, do I look like a frick'n carjacker on  a bicycle ? 

1/2 hr later the cop pulls up and thnks me ( nice cop) and proceeds to McDonalds to turn them around there.
Now I'm just finishing up with the last of cars that got past McDonalds before the cop when cars start coming out from the back side of PCC !
Yup, they ignored the cop, went around behind PCC, thru BYU and up Quarry Rd to get where I was turning around cars !
 
   Best part was waving  to them as they returned past me a half hour later after waiting behind all of the other cars that passed me to turn around. 

it's pathetic that people have no frickin clue what to do when an ambulance is behind them

Agree, but would add fire engine too.  On a side note, some in the community want to eliminate sirens, horns and lights used by authorized emergency vehicles during emergency response.  Don't quite understand what's so difficult about "pull to the nearest curb" when you hear a siren or see approaching emergency vehicles, yet some want to eliminate the use of warning devices (required by C&C of Honolulu Traffic Code), by emergency vehicles.  Seems like some people have enough trouble yielding to emergency vehicles responding to emergencies with lights and siren, why eliminate those tools that help to make their presence known?
The other one that gets me is the number of trucks and buses that use the left lane.  Something I notice while driving on the mainland is that unless CMVs are passing, they all pretty much stay to the right lane.  Don't CDL rules/recommendations apply in Hi. also?

Not really a driving situation, but I'm sure this lady probably sucks at driving too.
So I'm walking past Whole Foods Kahala and there is an unattended car parked by the curb.  All the windows down, keys in the ignition and running with the stereo playing some new age hippie music.  As I walk by I notice, get this, two toddlers in car seats in the back seat.  I stop in amazement and start looking around for the driver and nothing.  I walk up to the car thinking the driver would see me and worry I was going to hop in and drive off with the kids, still nothing.  So I wait here for several minutes and was about to call the cops when a lady finally shows up with her groceries.  I tell her that she's not to bright leaving her kids in the car, open and with the keys in it.  She gives me the stink eye and says "well maybe I should borrow your brain" Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.
I was left shaking my head with my mind blown.

A lot of drivers take driving for granted.  The way i see it is its not a game.  Its a tool and like all tools it should be used properly, when its used properly it is used safely.  It requires all your attention and senses to use tools, you dont take your eye off the nail when you hammer it lol
These nubs are the reason why car insurance costs so much. 

Making eye contact with people on the road including pedestrians and bikers (because the road isn't just for cars!), signaling your intention, and using hand gestures  make things move so much smoother.  Although non-signalers tick me off, i never trust looking at the vehicle for an indication of direction, the driver's face is the strongest indicator of direction, after all they are controlling the vehicle.  save that $100 + the trouble and always use the turn signals. 

Not really a driving situation, but I'm sure this lady probably sucks at driving too.
So I'm walking past Whole Foods Kahala and there is an unattended car parked by the curb.  All the windows down, keys in the ignition and running with the stereo playing some new age hippie music.  As I walk by I notice, get this, two toddlers in car seats in the back seat.  I stop in amazement and start looking around for the driver and nothing.  I walk up to the car thinking the driver would see me and worry I was going to hop in and drive off with the kids, still nothing.  So I wait here for several minutes and was about to call the cops when a lady finally shows up with her groceries.  I tell her that she's not to bright leaving her kids in the car, open and with the keys in it.  She gives me the stink eye and says "well maybe I should borrow your brain" Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.
I was left shaking my head with my mind blown.

IMO you should've called the cops. This is the woman we're going to hear about on the news, because her kids roasted to death after she "forgot" them in the car while she went to yoga class. People like this are just stupid beyond belief.

As a motorcycle driver, I have found that you need to be an extremely defensive driver in a car or a bike on these roads. I would agree that Hawaii has the worst drivers on the road.

all of the above is valid.

a lot of the poor driving here is worsened by our need for technology everywhere. i'm also guilty of driving while talking on the phone but i've been driving for 40 years w/no accidents. a lot of people can't walk and chew gum at the same time.
what has changed over the years is the eye contact and acknowledgement from drivers as well as pedestrians. everybody does their own thing without a care of who's around them when there used to be a common courtesy on all sides. everyday i see pedestrians just walk out into a crosswalk without looking because they have the right of way..........the right of way to be dead if they didn't acknowledge the driver before walking across the road. couple that with the driver on the phone or texting and you have a disaster.

on top of all that,  the guy next to you has his stereo booming with his windows rolled down and you're stuck in traffic. dammit, i'm getting road rage and i'm not even in my car yet.....

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/25184367/suv-crashes-into-hawaii-kai-bank#.U0RG8T1C9X8.facebook


lady plows into bank in hawaii kai

Not really a driving situation, but I'm sure this lady probably sucks at driving too.
So I'm walking past Whole Foods Kahala and there is an unattended car parked by the curb.  All the windows down, keys in the ignition and running with the stereo playing some new age hippie music.  As I walk by I notice, get this, two toddlers in car seats in the back seat.  I stop in amazement and start looking around for the driver and nothing.  I walk up to the car thinking the driver would see me and worry I was going to hop in and drive off with the kids, still nothing.  So I wait here for several minutes and was about to call the cops when a lady finally shows up with her groceries.  I tell her that she's not to bright leaving her kids in the car, open and with the keys in it.  She gives me the stink eye and says "well maybe I should borrow your brain" Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.
I was left shaking my head with my mind blown.

....
It would have been fun to jump in and drive the car about 50 yards and park it. Then video the panicked mom.

And how may of these bad drivers have yet to grasp the concept of parking.