November 28, 2010 – HILO, Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Tim Bryan

As the holiday season arrives, Hawaii County is gearing up for renewed awareness of driver safety on local roads and highways.

County officials gathered for a media conference on Wednesday to discuss anti-drunk driving measures being taken to prevent needless injuries and deaths from alcohol-related crashes.

Dr. Sharon Vitousek, director of the North Hawaii Outcomes Project, summarized the sobering statistics, compiled in a recent report about Impaired Driving Deaths on the island.

The County also announced the second year of its Holiday Shared Ride Taxi program in which free shared ride taxi coupons are offered to participating bars and restaurants. The bars and restaurants give them free to inebriated patrons to get them home safely.

This year, officials hope to correct some of the problems that surfaced in last year’s program.

The holiday shared ride program is sponsored jointly by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Hawai‘i County Police Department, Hawai‘i County Mass Transit Agency, Department of Liquor Control and Office of the Mayor.

The Mayor’s office issued this press release in conjunction with the media conference:

With the arrival of the holiday season, there’s a renewed awareness of driver safety on our roads and highways.

While alcohol and celebrations may often go together, alcohol and driving too often results in terrible tragedy.

The County of Hawaii is holding a media conference tomorrow to discuss anti-drunk driving measures being taken to prevent needless injuries and deaths from alcohol-related crashes.

The media and public are invited to the conference on Nov. 24, 9 a.m., in the Puna Conference Room of the County Building, 25 Aupuni St. Hilo.

Dr. Sharon Vitousek, director of the North Hawai‘i Outcomes Project (NHOP), will discuss the latest Hawai‘i County statistics regarding traffic fatalities in NHOP’s recently released report, “Reducing Impaired Driving Deaths in Hawai‘i County: A Call to Action.”

The County will announce the second year of its Holiday Shared Ride Taxi program in which free shared ride taxi coupons are offered to participating bars and restaurants. The bars and restaurants give them free to inebriated patrons to get them home safely.

“We would like to express our thanks to the participating taxi companies, bars and restaurants for their interest in keeping our island safe and for their commitment to making our island a better, safer place to live,” said County Prosecutor Jay Kimura, whose department makes funds available for the shared ride coupons from drug forfeiture funds.

Police Chief Harry Kubojiri encouraged everyone to use the shared ride coupons or make other arrangements to get home safely if planning to drink during holiday celebrations this year. “At the very least it could prevent you from getting a drunk driving conviction,” said Chief Kubojiri, noting that police will be increasing DUI enforcement this holiday season. “But most important, it will help save lives.”

Hawai‘i County Mayor Billy Kenoi, representatives from the County Mass Transit Agency, Hilo Medical Center, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and local businesses participating in the Holiday Shared Ride program also are expected to participate in the media conference.

“The Holidays are a critical time for thinking about and implementing drunk-driving prevention programs,” said Mayor Kenoi. “Everyone should have a joyous holiday season, so let’s celebrate safely and make this the best holiday season ever.”

The holiday shared ride program is sponsored jointly by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Hawai‘i County Police Department, Hawai‘i County Mass Transit Agency, Department of Liquor Control and Office of the Mayor.

For information, call Hunter Bishop, 961-8565.

New Patient Safeguards for Online Drugstore Prescriptions. Part 2