Slow down
My family and I live in a South Hilo neighborhood that is a mixture of old-timers and new families. It is a quiet area close to forested land.
From our home we can drive to most places within 10-20 minutes, whether the destination is work, stores, restaurants or the beach. In our weekly routine, we sometimes venture from Hilo town over to Waiakea for a change of scenery or to shop at a different venue.
Growing up in Kaumana, living on Oahu for more than 20 years and traveling to the mainland and beyond, I never thought driving on the Big Island would be stressful. Sure, we had Hilo downpours, military convoys on Kaumana Drive, trucks hauling sugarcane along the Hamakua Coast and thick rolling fog in Waimea.
Although those things might be considered driving hazards, it was a time of seemingly more time and definitely more consideration. Tailing another car was uncool, especially because in the Hilo community you likely knew the other people on the road or had acquaintances in common. A friendly “toot-toot,” shaka or wave was a part of driving etiquette. Driving was a pleasant experience.
These days, being tailed up and down 3 miles of curving residential roadway and around other areas of town seems the norm. Despite posted speed limits and other important signage, drivers are often speeding in costly, high-performance vehicles with tinted windows to get to the same places that previous generations got to, just to shave off a couple of minutes.
Let’s just say that the machines got smarter. Riding or crossing of the centerline is a frequent occurrence because a driver going too fast is not truly in control of their vehicle. The thing about leaving on time or early so you don’t feel rushed is that there is usually a person behind you that is in a rush.
My teen and her friends are at the age when they are getting their driver’s licenses.
Driving with a new driver in the car, you are under constant observation and reminded about all the rules, including posted speed limits. The old adage “Slow down, speed kills” is still a part of the curriculum.
This generation is taught that driving is a privilege, so distracting devices off and focus on driving mindfully. They are also taught that in a situation where the vehicle to the rear is too close, remain aware, but avoid reacting by speeding up or getting angry or intimidated. In other words, don’t let that driver influence how you choose to drive.
Whether the offensive driver is unaware of tailing or being overly aggressive, it is hard not to take offense and react. The other day, I had to remind myself to back off of someone just because I was running late. The cool thing was that when I backed off, the driver that was tailing my truck also backed off. We created this driving experience of safety and mutual respect.
I think I will write “Slow down, speed kills” on a little card and keep it in my truck. Although I can’t control how others choose to drive, it is absolutely empowering to know that my choices can contribute to the safety of myself and others on Hilo’s roadways.
Sharon Wong
Hilo
