HONOLULU (KHON2) — It’s been a deadly year on Hawaii roadways with the state seeing a 51% increase in fatalities compared to this time last year, and experts warn the deadliest days are ahead.
From January 1, 2025 to May 2, 2025 there have been 50 deaths on Hawaii roads; compared to 33 the same time in 2024.
On Friday, four people were hospitalized on Maui after police said a truck was overtaking vehicles and collided head-on to a car of visitors from Idaho. Maui Police said one person sustained life-threatening injuries.
“It’s just reckless, aggressive behavior,” said former Maui Police traffic Commander William Hankins.
Officials said it’s going to get worse with the 100 deadliest days of summer, or the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day, approaching.
“With the summer months and people traveling, you’re going to have more deaths, I’m talking double, triple fatalities where one car crash kills two or three people, it’s coming,” the former commander said based on experience.
He said it’s due to more people on the road, more parties, and more drivers in a hurry.
“And now you add e-bikes into the equation when there’s already a large number of cars and it’s the same thing with pedestrians, they just don’t mix,” he continued. “People are too oblivious to what’s going on around them to pay attention about other people on the road.”
Also on Friday, a 12-year-old and 13-year-old were taken to the hospital after a vehicle hit them while they were riding their e-bike in Waianae. Officials said the two boys were not wearing helmets at the time.
“It’s going to continue happening and I couldn’t think of a better time than now to put forth this bill,” said Rep. Darius Kila (D) who is the House Transportation Committee Chair.
Rep. Kila introduced HB958 that defines what a legal e-bike is by class and what is considered an illegal high speed electric device.
“If you’re bike doesn’t classify as a Class 1, 2, or 3 it will be a high speed electric device at 750 watts or more your device would be subject to impounding by local law enforcement and you won’t get the vehicle back,” he explained.
He said the high speed bikes were never designed to be on public roads.
If signed off by the governor, moped riders will also be required to wear helmets and all e-bikes will have to be registered.
Another bill sent over to Governor Green’s desk would impose strict penalties on excessive speeding.
“Speeding endangers a lot of people’s lives, and in some cases unfortunately it can kill people,” explained Sen. Brandon Elefante (D) who introduced SB97 after concerns from community members about excessive speeding on roads.
Excessive speeding if defined as driving 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, or exceeding 80 miles per hour.
If SB97 is signed off by the Governor, three violations within five years could mean jail time or having your vehicle taken away.
“For three violations in a five year period, it could be removal of license, fines, an educational course, minimum jail time, and potential of forfeiture of the vehicle,” he explained.
He said it would be up to the judge’s discretion but the bill is aimed at keeping dangerous drivers off the roads.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found nearly half of fatalities in Hawaii were speed related based on data from 2013 to 2022.
From November 2024 to January 2025, Honolulu Police made 57 excessive speeding arrests.
Sen. Elefante said it will be another tool for prosecutors and police to go after repeat offenders.
Governor Green has until the end of June to announce any bills he plans to veto or has to sign off on bills to become law by July 9.