Hawaiʻi Police Department
Traffic Services Section
Torey D. Keltner
Program Manager
Phone: (808) 961-2305
Media Release
As part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Hawaiʻi Police Department (HPD) will be holding three sign-waving events in east Hawai‘i on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, to raise awareness about distracted driving.
Driving and texting, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, eating food, and fiddling with the car radio or navigation system are all tasks that result in distracted driving. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Taking your eyes off the road for five seconds to read a text when driving 55 mph is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.
Both locally and nationally distracted driving is a serious issue. Hawai‘i Island police have issued more than 1,100 electronic device violations so far in 2023. According to NHTSA, 3,522 people were killed nationwide by distracted driving in 2021.
“It’s easy to prevent these types of crashes,” said HPD’s Traffic Services Section Program Manager Torey Keltner. “Just put down your cell phone and wait til you get to your destination before reading or sending texts.”
Personnel from HPD’s Traffic Services Section and Traffic Enforcement Unit along with the Safety Chicken from the Hawai‘i Department Of Transportation will be sign-waving at the following locations on Wednesday:
- 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. fronting Shipman Park on Highway 11 in Kea‘āu.
- 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Highway 11 in Laupāhoehoe below the public pool.
- 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo in front of the Walmart parking lot.
The fight to end distracted driving starts with you. The Hawaiʻi Police Department is asking the public’s help to prevent this dangerous driving behavior by taking the following actions:
- Remind your friends and family: If you’re in the driver’s seat, it’s the only thing you should be doing. No distractions.
- If your driver is texting or otherwise distracted, tell them to stop and focus on the road.
- Ask your friends to join you in pledging not to drive distracted. You could save a life. Share your pledge on social media to spread the word — #JustDrive.
