Driving safe
Staying safe from unsafe drivers
Conclusion
Driving safe
Driving on the highway tends to carry the biggest risk because of both the increased amount of traffic and because the speed limits are the highest you will find. This can be a dangerous combination. Almost sixty percent of car accident fatalities occur on highways according to National Highway and Traffic Safety Association.
This is exactly why you need to step up your safe driving habits when you are driving on any highway in Hawaii. In Hawaii the speed limit on Highways is usually sixty miles per hour which is fairly low compared to other states where the limit can be as high as eighty-five. However, make sure that you do not exceed this limit. In fact, only drive this speed in the left most lane. In other lanes on the highway, try to drive a bit under that limit.
You will also want to make sure that you never tailgate any driver that is front of you when you are on the highway driving at high speeds. The faster you drive, the more distance it will take you to reach a complete stop. If you drive too close to the driver in front of you and they stop suddenly, you will not be able to stop before you hit them and because you are driving behind them, you will be at fault for the crash.
You also need to be ready to share these highways with larger trucks. That will include making sure you are always visible to them, so they do not unwittingly make contact with your car or run you off the road when they are changing lanes. So, do not merge into the same lane as a truck too closely in front of them and make sure you are always in view of their mirrors and never in their blind spot if you are driving to either side of them. If you see their signal go on, slow down and let them safely merge in front of you.
Staying safe from unsafe drivers
No matter how safely you drive on any of the highways in Hawaii, there will likely always be one or two other drivers who are driving unsafely and aggressively. You should always let these drivers pass you. If they are tailgating you, change into the lane to the right of you to let them pass. If they are aggressively trying to squeeze into the space between you and the vehicle in front of them, slow down, give them space and let them in. If someone is really driving unsafely, you will always have the option of pulling over and calling the police. Do your best to get either their license plate number and/or the make and model of the vehicle.
Conclusion
Highway driving has the highest potential for danger. This is why you need to go above and beyond when you are out driving on the highways of Hawaii. Always obey the speed limit, never drive aggressively, do not tailgate, stay visible and stay focused at all times. If you notice another motorist driving unsafely and/or aggressively, do your best to stay away from them and let them pass you by.
