10/5/07 Weekly Report: Don’t Drink and Drive – Serious Message from an Unexpected Quarter

The following article is courtesy of Carrie Kuwada Phipps of the State Department of Health, based in Kona. Excerpts of her article originally appeared in the West Hawaii Today newspaper.

You may think you’re hearing things when a mysterious voice in the men’s room intones a warning not to drink and drive. The voice is coming from a motion sensor with a very important message that is strategically located in some Hawai`i Island men’s room urinals.

The latest awareness and prevention tool that is being distributed by the Hawai`i County Police Department brings a serious message, albeit with a touch of humor. The sobering fact behind this rather unconventional means of delivering the message is that you’re more likely to die in an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash in the state of Hawai`i than anywhere else in the country.

Sobering statistics on DUI Deaths

More than half of our state’s fatal motor vehicle accidents are a result of drinking and driving. In 2006, there were 161 total motor vehicle fatalities in Hawaii.

The number of alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities last year reached 84, or 52% of all traffic fatalities, up from 51% in 2005. In Hawai`i County, 60% of the traffic deaths (18 out of 41) were alcohol-related in 2005. If the traffic fatalities on private roads and off roads are included, 70% of traffic deaths in Hawaii County are alcohol-related.

Defining Alcohol-related fatalities

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines alcohol-related fatalities as those that occur in crashes involving at least one driver, pedestrian or cyclist who had any amount of alcohol in their blood when the accident occurred.

Drunken-driving fatalities are those in which one of the people involved in the crash has a blood alcohol level higher than 0.08 percent.

Hawai`i County DUI arrest statistics

Other disquieting statistics for Hawaii County, include:

· 1,069 DUI (driving under the influence) arrests in 2005;

· 1,293 DUI arrests in 2006;

· As of September 17, 2007 there have been 946 DUI arrests so far this year.

Of the 1,293 DUI arrests in 2006, 151 of the individuals were under the age of 21 and 329 were involved in traffic accidents.

About 80% of those arrested between November 2005 and September 2006 were male, which why the Don’t Drink and Drive message was placed in the men’s rooms.

What does the Don’t Drink and Drive ‘messenger’ look like?

This public relations device is round and resembles a urinal deodorant cake holder, and sends out a bold message: “Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest. Cops Are Cracking Down!”

The message is triggered by motion, and urges the bathroom patron to think about his future, and call a cab or a sober friend if they’ve been drinking.

These sensors were purchased by the Hawai`i State Department of Transportation and were a big hit at a highway safety conference earlier this year in Chicago, seen as one more way to get the important message across.

Where are these devices in place?

Hawai`i County has 30 of these devices, which cost about $25 each. They are being put in establishments that provide free soft drinks to designated drivers.

West Hawai`i establishments that have the sensors (as of Labor Day) are Hard Rock Café Kona, Hooters, Lulu’s Nightclub, Ocean’s Sports Bar and Grill and Senor Billy’s Cantina. East Hawai`i establishments that have the sensors include Cronies Bar and Grill, Detour Drinking Station, Aunty Yong’s Sports Bar, Paradise Bar and Grill, Shooters Bar and Grill and Uncle Mikey’s Video Dance Club.

Keeping drunken drivers off the roads

Jackie Murai, traffic safety coordinator for the Hawai`i County Police Department, said the state is trying new ways to raise awareness and keep drunken drivers off the roads.

In addition to the existing statewide media campaigns, roadblocks, and the increase in DUI arrests, some of the deterrent measures include:

· Commercials being aired on local radio stations;

· Awareness campaigns targeting high school students;

· Victims’ families speaking out about the tragic consequences of drinking and driving.

In addition, the Hawai`i County Police Department is working with the criminal justice system to develop ways to keep drunken drivers off the roads and encouraging establishments to participate in the designated driver program.

A Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) chapter has also been started at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo.

A message that can’t be repeated too often

One last sobering reminder, stated by Sergeant Dexter Veriato of the Hawai`i County Police Department Traffic Services Section, is that innocent people also get killed by drunken drivers. We all need to do our part to be responsible and have a designated driver if you’re drinking. If you’re hosting any type of gathering where alcohol is consumed, don’t let your guests drink and drive.

For information about the Hawai`i County’s Impaired Driving Task Force and how to get involved in the campaign against impaired driving, please contact Coordinator Jackie Murai at the Hawai`i County Police Department at 961-8879 or email her at jmurai@co.hawaii.hi.us .

Location of Project	Council District	Work being done
Keauhou Transfer Station	7	Gate repair work anticipated completion 9/28/07
Puako Transfer Station	9	Install access ramps, work to begin 9/26/07
Kea`au Transfer Station	5	Construct Reuse Area bid opening 10/2/07

CURRENTLY OPEN	DAYS/HOURS OF OPERATION	OPERATOR

Hawi Transfer Station**	Saturday only: 8 am-4:30 pm.	ARC of Hilo
(Open Saturday only)	(closed for lunch 1:00-1:30)
Hilo, 1260 Kilauea Ave. (Closed 12 noon-1:00 pm)	Tues-Sat 9am-5pm	Reynolds Recycling
Hilo, 30 Maka’ala Street	Mon thru Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm	Atlas Recycling
(Old industrial area)	Sat & Sun: 8:00am-3:00pm

Hilo Transfer Station**	Daily 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo

Honoka`a Transfer Station (Weekends only)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30	ARC of Hilo
Kailua-Kona, Pawai Place	Mon thru Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm	Atlas Recycling
(Old industrial area)	Sat 8:00am-3:00pm
	Sun Closed

Kea’au Transfer Station**	M, W, F: 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Closed Tues & Thurs)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm

Kealakehe Transfer Station**	M, W, F: 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Closed Tues & Thurs)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm

Keauhou Transfer Station**	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Weekends only)

Pahoa Transfer Station**	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Weekends only)

Puako Transfer Station**	Sunday only 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Open Sunday only)	(closed for lunch 1:00-1:30)

Waimea Transfer Station**	M, W, F: 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Closed Tues & Thurs)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm

Waiohinu Transfer Station**	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo
(Weekends only)