JAMM AQUINO / NOVEMBER. 15, 2021 Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steven Alm JAMM AQUINO / NOVEMBER. 15, 2021 Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steven Alm Two men arrested last week after allegedly being caught racing on the westbound lanes of the Moanalua Expressway near Fort Shafter are among two dozen racing arrests so far this year, and with the holiday season approaching, police are urging drivers to slow down.

Honolulu Police Department officers have arrested 24 people for race as of Thursday; Among them, 145 people were arrested for careless driving and 177 for speeding by going 30 mph or 80 mph or more over the speed limit.

The men, ages 25 and 29, were taken into custody on suspicion of racing on the highway and going more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, according to HPD’s online arrest log. Both were arrested at 12:30 a.m. and released at 2:15 a.m. after posting $100 bail on each count.

HPD and the Honolulu Department of Public Prosecutions declined to say how fast the two men were allegedly driving, the make and model of their car, or how patrol officers caught them.

“Racing on the highway, reckless driving and excessive speeding… puts us all in danger on the road. We work closely with the Honolulu Police Department to prosecute anyone arrested or investigated for these crimes. Holding them accountable protects everyone on our roads and highways,” said Prosecutor Steve Alm.

According to Hawaii Revised Statutes 291C-103, anyone who violates the highway racing law while operating a vehicle at a speed exceeding the posted speed limit by 30 miles per hour or more will be subject to a fine of not more than $2. 000 and imprisonment for not more than one year or both if prior conviction and other conditions apply.

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Racing is defined as “one or more vehicles for the purpose of gaining the upper hand, overcoming the distance, or preventing another vehicle from being overtaken” and beating other racers to a specific destination, or in long-distance driving “to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers.” routes.

As of Thursday, Honolulu police had issued 18,008 tickets for speeding on Oahu roads, 1,291 for violating the basic speed rule that requires drivers to drive at “reasonable and prudent” speeds, 4,450 for excessive speeding and 483 for reckless driving. and 213 for highway racing.

As of Saturday, there were approximately 22,390 traffic crashes on Oahu in 2024, with 41 of them resulting in critical injuries, according to HPD’s data dashboard. So far this year, 35 people have died in traffic accidents.

Maj. James Slayter, who commands HPD’s Traffic Division, said street racing is more than just young people racing their cars on public roads. It also involves drivers pushing their vehicles and abilities beyond a safe and legal threshold.

Slayter, a 28-year HPD veteran, said he has worked the scenes of racing accidents where a passenger or driver who was not participating in the race was seriously injured or killed. He called on racers to slow down and follow the rules of the road.

“You’re not just risking your life. “You’re endangering everyone else’s lives,” he said.

Excessive speed is believed to have contributed to a multi-vehicle crash in Nanakuli on Friday that injured three people, one critically, and also disrupted traffic on the Farrington Highway.

Honolulu police said around 5:15 a.m., a 31-year-old man was traveling west on the highway at a “high rate of speed” when he side-swiped a vehicle driven by a 21-year-old man and disappeared. He maintained control of his vehicle and moved into the eastbound lane, striking a second vehicle driven by a 32-year-old driver.

Four more vehicles were involved to some extent in the resulting chain reaction accident.

HPD enforces targeted speeding and impaired driving enforcement each week, increasing these increases from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. The festive nature of the holiday season, with its influx of visitors and residents returning home, makes safe driving even more important.

Slayter asked drivers to stay sober, avoid distractions like texting or looking at mobile devices, and obey posted speed limits and driving instructions.

“The hustle and bustle of buying gifts, going to different parties, there’s a lot going on,” she said.