U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, called for improvements to the safety of roads in Hawai‘i and across the country following a new report by the National Complete Streets Coalition.
The report revealed that more than 250 people were killed while walking in Hawai‘i between 2005 and 2014, with seniors making up 42% of the fatalities.
The report also found that Hawai‘i had the highest risk of pedestrian deaths for seniors in the country.
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“Too many people in Hawai‘i, particularly seniors, are being killed or injured every year just walking along our streets,” said Sen. Schatz. “These deaths are preventable. While we have made some progress recently, this new report is alarming and underscores why we need to do more to make our streets safer not just for drivers, but for seniors, children and families who choose to walk or bike.”
“We are grateful for Sen. Schatz’s leadership in Congress in making our streets safer for our kūpuna and their families by funding smart street design,” said AARP Hawai‘i State Director Barbara Kim Stanton. “Hawai‘i residents of all ages must be able to cross the street without fear of being killed or injured.”
Sen. Schatz has led efforts in Congress to promote safer streets and communities. Last Congress, Schatz worked with AARP, Smart Growth America and many others to pass bipartisan legislation that encourages states and counties to design their communities for all transportation users of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians.
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