Traffic fatalities increase by 17% statewide

State officials report an increase in traffic-related fatalities statewide.

According to Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, 59 people have been killed on Hawai‘i roads from Jan. 1 to July 27. This is a 17% increase from the 49 fatalities reported during the same time last year.

Approximately 40% of those killed on the roads were pedestrians and bicyclists. There have been seven more pedestrian deaths this year compared to the same time last year.

The fatalities have risen on Hawai‘i Island as well. From Jan. 1 to July 27, 2023, there were 10 deaths reported. So far this year, there have been 21 fatalities.

In 2023, the primary factors in those Big Island fatalities were primarily alcohol and drugs. According to Hawai‘i Island police, 50% of traffic fatalities from 2021 to 2023 were due to drug impairment.

Of the 59 fatalities this year, 12 reports listed excessive speeding as the primary factor, eight cited suspected impairment and additional reckless driving behaviors such as not wearing a helmet, and seven listed multiple contributing factors such as speed, reckless driving, and inattention. Other contributing factors in 2024 fatal crashes to date include not wearing a seatbelt, unsafe lane changes, unexpected pedestrian crossings, and criminal activity.

Hawai‘i Department of Transportation will begin running the number of days since the last traffic crash death on electronic message boards.

“Safety is not just about you as an individual driver, rider, or pedestrian,” said Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. “Making choices to speed or use your phone can forever change your life or the life of someone on the road with you. We all need to work together to extend the number of days without a death on the road.”

Preliminary traffic fatalities stats and when they occur can be found here: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/safe-communites/