COUNTY OF HAWAI`I

FREE HOLIDAY SHARED RIDE TAXI PROGRAM

PRESS CONFERENCE

Monday, November 23, 2009

 

County of Hawai‘i Mayor Billy Kenoi

County of Hawai‘i Chief of Police Harry Kubojiri

County of Hawai‘i Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kimura

County of Hawai‘I Department of Liquor Control Director Jan Pakele

 

SUMMARY POINTS

• We are here because we want the media to help spread the word about the dangers of drinking and driving.

• We want to warn the public about heightened law enforcement.

• We are encouraging people to get a free ride from the County rather than drive drunk.

• Now through January 1, 2010, selected establishments in East and West Hawai‘i will be offering inebriated patrons free shared ride taxi coupons as an alternative to driving away from the bar while under the influence.

• At the same time, police will be on heightened alert for motorists under the influence, and set up more DUI enforcement roadblocks around the island.

• A grant from drug forfeiture funds will purchase 500 Shared Ride coupons from the Mass Transit that will be distributed by the Department of Liquor Control for free to drinking establishments in East and West Hawai‘i (for the first time in West Hawai‘i)

• Bars and restaurants will provide the coupons free to patrons who are too drunk to drive and call a participating taxi company, which can submit the fare to the County Mass transit Agency for reimbursement of up to $6 per coupon. (one coupon is good for four miles, two coupons for nine miles).

• Last year 63 percent of all fatal accidents on the Big Island were alcohol related; this year the rate so far is at 50 percent. The state average is 47 percent and the national average is 40 percent.

• On a per capita basis, the alcohol-related traffic fatality rate on the Big Island is three times that of Honolulu and twice that of Maui and Kauai.

• Studies have shown the average cost of a fatal accident in overall terms including lifetime loss of income at from $1 million up to nearly $4 million.

• Saturday’s fundraiser for Rupert Trip Jr. is a stark reminder of how drunk driving can devastate families.

 

Participating Taxi companies:

(East Hawai‘i)

Ace One Taxi - 935-8303

Ali`i Taxi - 989-6993

 Bay City - Taxi 640-8815

Bobby Taxi - 937-6008

Hot Lava Taxi - 557-0879

Marhysa’s Taxi - 938-3285

Percy’s Taxi - 969-7060

(West Hawai‘i)

J&A Taxi of Kailua

 

SOURCES

The 2008 Hawai‘i Island Traffic Safety Report is online at:

http://www.nhop.org/documents/HawaiiIslandTrafficSafetyReport2008.pdf

The North Hawai‘i Outcomes Project Web site, which has a wealth of information about DUI and other issues, is at:

http://www.nhop.org/

The Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) Web site is at

http://www.maddhawaii.com/

The federal National Highway Traffic Safety Association Web site is at

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

Accident Costs and Benefit Cost Analysis (California DMV)

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/profile/rd/resnotes/accident.htm

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