HONOLULU (KHON2) — New Year’s Eve festivities honor the past and welcome the new year, but the holiday is also considered one of the deadliest on roadways across the country.
Statistics show a person is 89% more likely to drive drunk and kill someone on New Year’s Day. According to the National Safety Board, about 179 people could die on United States roads this holiday.
Of course, no one wants to start 2025 by losing a loved one.
“We really want to get the message out to people that you know have a plan of how you’re going to be getting home safely,” said Torey Keltner, HPD Traffic Services Program Manager. “We have family, events, friends, people get to get together, and they celebrate things like New Year’s. If there’s a plan to use something like alcohol or drugs, don’t drive.”
Keltner said the Hawaii Police Department will have additional checkpoints to stop anyone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Officers statewide are ramping up enforcement to prevent unnecessary tragedies and ensure everyone makes it home safely.
“Make sure you’re sober, make sure if you’re a passenger, make sure that your driver is sober. And again, practice safe traffic laws, because we will be out there,” said Major Randall Platt, Pearl City District Three.
Smoke from fireworks can add to the danger, making it difficult for drivers to see. Platt is urging people to stay off the road altogether.
“Even on the side streets, it can be just hard to see and there are kids in the roadway. So again, we ask people to be very careful if they’re driving, particularly during those hours when you know people are out outdoors, celebrating,” Platt added.
While it’s been a problem in years in the past, Platt said it will not be tolerated anymore.
“We’re going to have units patrolling the area, encouraging drivers to move along and making sure that we don’t have people parking, setting up chairs or anything like that to watch the fireworks.”
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“DOT has put out warning signs. We also have an electronic sign right out there telling people you cannot park or stop or park on the roadways. But if that doesn’t work, we’ll look at citing, calling a tow.”
If people still do not listen, he said they will arrest them. Platt added their priority is keeping the roads clear and everyone safe.