After so many pedestrian fatalities last year, the Big Island decided to implement “Vision Zero,” and there’s a push to bring it to Oahu as well.

“Vision Zero” is an initiative where a task force takes a look at roads where pedestrian fatalities or accidents happen ,in a goal to have zero pedestrian fatalities. Then a task force decides how to change the roads based on data to increase pedestrian safety.

“It really looks at where the crashes are happening, why they’re happening, and takes a approach of engineering to reduce those traffic fatalities,” said Tina Clothier, Peoples Advocacy for Trails of Hawaii executive director and member of the Hawaii Island “vision Zero” task force.

There are currently about 24 people in the task force. She says so far the task force is still gathering data of roads across the island.

“Any effort that we can make to make our roads safer, so that even though people will make mistakes… We can make sure that those mistakes are not fatal, will really resonate with most people that use Hawaii county roads,” said Clothier.

In 2018 32 people, including six pedestrians, were killed in traffic accidents on the Big Island, which was one of the reasons Mayor Harry Kim decided to take on “Vision Zero.”

On Oahu, discussion has already begun on bringing the initiative here.

“Ala Moana being at the heart of Honolulu, is one of the most dangerous places to be a pedestrian, to be a senior citizen pedestrian, to be any kind of person that shares a walkway with automobiles,” said Chris Chung, Ala Moana and Kakaako Neighborhood Board member.

Chung says actions need to be taken in Honolulu now, because of how dangerous roads in the city have gotten.

“The Ala Moana place is the place we really need to concentrate our efforts. We recently had three fatalities in a tragic incident and that is not the end of the story.”

The “Vision Zero” task force on the big island is setting a goal to complete a draft plan by the end of 2019.

Ann Kobayashi, Chair of the Honolulu City Council, says they intend to bring “Vision Zero” to Oahu. She says they set aside about $80,000 in the budget for this initiative.