Thanksgiving Holiday Traffic Safety Enforcement, Nov. 17-29

Drive Smart Advisory. Graphic by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Maui Police Department will be stepping up traffic enforcement over the next two weeks during a campaign that will run from Monday, Nov. 17 to Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, including the Thanksgiving holiday.

Traffic Section Sergeant William Hankins said police will be on the lookout for motorists that are speeding, not wearing seat belts, those using a mobile electronic device while driving, and motorists who fail to adhere to traffic sign and red light signals.

“In addition, to the stepped up holiday enforcement the public can also expect an increase in roving DUI patrols and stationary DUI roadblocks throughout the remainder of the year and into 2015,” said Sgt. Hankins in a press release statement.

The two-week campaign runs through the Thanksgiving holiday and is aimed at ensuring safe roadways for the public.

According to Maui Police, national statistics show that fatal motor vehicle crashes increase during the holiday week of Thanksgiving.

Last month, Maui police issued 359 citations to red light and stop sign violators during a two week “Stop or Get Stopped” traffic enforcement campaign that concluded on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014.  The campaign was aimed at raising awareness of the law and educating the public about the infractions.

Maui police arrested 57 motorists for driving while under the influence of an intoxicant as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign that ended on Sept. 1; and made 13 traffic related arrests during the 10 hour traffic enforcement effort to keep roads safe on Halloween night.

Earlier this year, Maui police issued a total of 813 citations, 633 of them for speeding, during the week-long Operation SPEED campaign that ran from July 21 to 26, 2014.  Police also issued total of 395 citations during the two week Click it or Ticket national seat belt enforcement campaign that ran from May 19 to June 1, 2014.

Police say traffic enforcement is a “proven tool” used to gain voluntary compliance, and also helps to reduce the number of fatal collisions, or crashes that cause serious injury.

The Maui Police Department is asking everyone to “please drive with care and help in making the roadways safe during the holiday season.”