ROAD SAFETY – HAWAII’S EFFORTS TO HELP A GLOBAL PROBLEM

HONOLULU – Each year in Hawaii, over 130 people die from traffic related injuries and more than 1800 are hospitalized. Efforts by community groups, law enforcement and public health officials will focus attention on the important issue of road safety, during this year’s World Health Day, April 7.

County police departments will be conducting seatbelt and child restraint checkpoints around the state. Officers will choose high traffic areas to observe and enforce seat belt use for all passengers as well as the proper car seat restraint for keiki.

Additional action the public can take to increase Hawaii’s road safety savvy:

• Always Buckle Up
• Avoid drinking and driving
• Obey speed limits
• Always wear a helmet while on wheels
• Use designated cross-walks when crossing a street or road

More than 1.2 million people are killed from traffic related injuries each year around the world. Hundreds of thousands more people are injured and permanently disabled. Most of these tragedies are preventable if the proper safety measures are followed.

For more information on World Health Day - Road Safety visit the World Health Organization web site at www.who.int/world-health-day/2004 or the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition site at www.kipchawaii.org.

Lori Suan
Department of Health
Injury Prevention and Control Program
Phone: (808) 586-5912
Email: lksuan@mail.health.state.hi.us

Laura M. Lott
Department of Health
Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 586-4418
Email: lmlott@mail.health.state.hi.us