QUESTION: I was driving on Ala Oli Street into Foster Village and came to the roundabout at Haloa Drive. My car had entered the roundabout when an imposing Lincoln Navigator approached. The driver did not observe any of the "yield" signs and came straight into the roundabout without stopping although she saw me and glared. She would have hit my car if I had not stopped first. When I told my friend in Foster Village about the near-accident, he said, "Oh, that happens all the time." Can you educate people on roundabout etiquette? Despite the "yield" signs, there are still folks who do not know that the cars already on the roundabout have the right of way.
ANSWER: We explained the rules of going through a roundabout nearly 10 years ago, when those circular intersections designed to slow traffic were a novelty here and in most American cities.
The city now has seven roundabouts, with three more planned by the Department of Transportation Services.
According to the state Department of Transportation’s driver’s manual, "A roundabout is a one-way circular intersection in which entering traffic must yield the right of way to circulating traffic," including bicycles.
Once in a roundabout, vehicles should move through and out without stopping.
A city transportation official early on emphasized the last point, saying, "While sometimes drivers exercise the aloha spirit by allowing others to enter the roundabout when they are already in the roundabout, for safety reasons this is not recommended."
Other points made by Transportation Services:
» Large vehicles are allowed to travel over the truck apron of the circular "splitter island" when passing through a roundabout. Those that cannot make a left turn even by going over the apron are advised to take an alternate route.
» Motorists are supposed to yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk before entering or exiting a roundabout. Pedestrians who arrive while a car is waiting to enter the roundabout can cross behind the car.
» Pedestrians may stop on the island to focus on one direction of traffic at a time.
The city’s seven roundabouts are at Keeaumoku and Heulu streets in Makiki; Ala Lilikoi, Ala Ilima and Likini streets and Ala Napunani and Likini streets in Salt Lake; Kuahaka and Kalauipo, and Kuahaka and Kaweloka streets in Pearl City; Ulupuni and Uluhala streets in Kailua; and in Foster Village.
Two more are planned in Palolo and one near Kalapawai Market in Kailua.
QUESTION: At 11:45 p.m. Monday, in the Kai Nani section of Waialae Golf Course, a large, noisy truck picked up the wooden temporary "No Parking" signs placed there for the Sony Open. The signs were noisily slapped closed, then noisily dropped into the truck. Was it the city or the sign company? Why did they have to do it at midnight, waking up and frightening the residents with the strange noises?
ANSWER: The city allows the Sony Open to retain a contractor to place and remove signage for the tournament, said Michael Formby, director of the city Department of Transportation Services.
Based on your complaint, DTS contacted Sony Open organizers to determine who was contracted to handle the signs.
The contractor, GP Roadway, was issued a warning, reminding it about state Department of Health noise regulations in residential neighborhoods and that signs "should be installed/removed at a reasonable time," Formby said.
MAHALO
To a couple who sat at the table next to us while we had lunch at Ramen-Ya in Pearl City last month. After their meal the gentleman stood up, said, "Merry Christmas," and left. We then got up to pay for our meal and were informed that he had already paid for it. We were surprised by their generosity. We had just come from a supposedly routine doctor’s visit for my husband, which somehow turned into a three-hour wait. That beautiful gesture made our day. Thanks again. — M. Yoneda, Ewa Beach
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
