The Hawaii Department of Transportation advises the public that as of March 1 safety camera systems at 10 downtown Honolulu intersections will begin issuing warnings for going over the speed limit.

What You Need To Know

  • The Hawaii Department of Transportation advises the public that as of March 1 safety camera systems at 10 downtown Honolulu intersections will begin issuing warnings for going over the speed limit

  • In 2023, speeding was reported as a contributing factor to nearly 60% of fatal traffic crashes, according to HDOT

  • Vehicle speed is a critical factor in a pedestrian’s survival rate

  • Following the warning period, initial citations may be sent to registered owners of vehicles observed running red lights and exceeding the speed limit by more than 5 mph

The intersections are:

  • Vineyard Boulevard and Palama Street
  • Vineyard Boulevard and Liliha Street
  • Vineyard Boulevard and Nuuanu Avenue
  • Pali Highway and Vineyard Boulevard
  • Pali Highway and North School Street
  • Likelike Highway and North School Street
  • Ward Avenue and South King Street
  • Kapiolani Boulevard and Kamakee Street
  • South Beretania Street and Piikoi Street
  • McCully Street and Algaroba Street

Cameras at these intersections have been issuing citations for red-light running violations from November 2022. As a result, HDOT says there has been a 69% reduction in major crashes at these intersections.

The goal with activating the cameras to catch motorists speeding is to further improve safety at these intersections, says HDOT, and remind drivers to follow posted speed limits.

In 2023, speeding was reported as a contributing factor to nearly 60% of fatal traffic crashes, according to HDOT. Vehicle speed is a critical factor in a pedestrian’s survival rate. A pedestrian hit at 20 mph has a 90% chance of survival whereas a person hit at 40 mph has just a 20% survival rate.

“Speed is a crucial factor in whether or not someone will survive a car crash,” said HDOT Director Ed Sniffen in a release. “Although statistics show nearly half of the traffic deaths in Hawaii over the past five years are directly attributable to speed, we know through physics that the higher the collision speed, the more serious the injury. If motorists drive at appropriate speeds, we can reduce crashes and keep vulnerable users like pedestrians and bicyclists safe.”

To educate motorists of the requirement to follow posted speed limits, the safety camera systems will issue warnings for violations of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §291C-108 between March 1 and April 29 as allowed in Chapter 291L.

According to HDOT, warnings and citations issued in accordance with Chapter 291L are not considered as moving violations and do not preclude a commissioned police officer from issuing traffic citations based on their discretion.

Following the warning period, initial citations may be sent to registered owners of vehicles observed running red lights and exceeding the speed limit by more than 5 mph.

The HDOT says speeding and running a red light incidents are captured as still images and a 12-second video and reviewed. The registered owner of the vehicle will then be sent a notice of violation within 10 days of the incident. Payments, questions, evidence explanation or denying the violation and requesting a court hearing will be available via an online portal.