Neighbor Island Motorcycle Safety Instruction
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HAWAII
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| PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS |
PROGRAM AREA(S) |
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Targets hard-to-reach/at risk population |
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Motorcycle Safety |
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| TYPE OF JURISDICTION |
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State |
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| TARGETED POPULATION(S) |
JURISDICTION SIZE |
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Motorcycle Riders |
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1,100,000 |
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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In the State of Hawaii in 1995, motorcycles
comprised 2 percent of all passenger vehicles and accounted for 2 percent
of all licensed operators; however, motorcycle operators and passengers
accounted for 15.6 percent of all traffic fatalities. Hawaii Department
of Transportation (DOT) officials determined that many motorcycle riders
were untrained, and few wore helmets. To address the issue of motorcycle
safety throughout the Hawaiian islands the Neighbor Island Motorcycle Safety
Instruction program was proposed.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Neighbor Island Motorcycle Safety Instruction program was
the reduction of motorcycle fatalities on all Hawaiian islands. Objectives
for the program were three-fold:
- Increase public awareness of the availability
of motorcycle safety training
- Develop an experienced rider training program
- Provide motorcycle safety instruction to all
Hawaiian islands
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Neighbor Island Motorcycle Safety Instruction program was established
in 1993 by the University of Hawaii through its Community College System
Employment Training Center. Since its inception, the program had operated
on the island of Oahu. In 1995, the Hawaii DOT Motor Vehicle Safety Office,
formed a partnership with the University to use the program as a vehicle
to address the problems of motorcycle fatalities and injuries on all Hawaiian
islands. Several strategies were employed:
- As part of an intensive public awareness campaign,
monthly advertisements were placed in seven major and community newspapers
on Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai announcing scheduled courses for each of the
islands. Spot mailings were sent to all residents who had previously exhibited
an interest in the program
- Mass mailings were also delivered to all successful
graduates of the basic training program in order to elicit candidates for
an experienced rider training program. One such course was presented on
Maui
- The program was extended to the islands of
Hawaii, Maui, and Kauaiseven classes were offered on Hawaii, eight classes
were offered on Maui, and six classes were offered on Kauai. In support
of the classes offered on neighbor islands, and to increase support to
the ongoing classes on Oahu, six new motorcycles were purchased
- A coordinator position on the island of Oahu
was funded, and two instructors from the Island of Hawaii received a refresher
training course
RESULTS
During the first year of operation,
the Neighbor Island Motorcycle Safety Instruction program was successful
in offering 21 additional classes to participants on the expansion islands,
training 80 motorcycle operators. In the year following the training courses
(1996), Hawaii experienced one fewer fatality involving motorcycle riders. |
| FUNDING |
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Section 402: |
$14,060 |
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Section 153: |
$32,405 |
| CONTACT |
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Peggy Umetsu
Hawaii Department of Transportation
Motor Vehicle Safety Office
1505 Dillingham Blvd., Room 214
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 832-5826 |
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| National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
Spring 1997 |
