Hawaii Island Police Report 21 Drunk Driving Cases in One Week: Big Island Now

Police on the island of Hawaii say they arrested 21 drivers for driving under the influence of intoxicants during the week of June 3-9.

According to police, five of the 21 drivers arrested were involved in a traffic accident. None of the drivers were under 21 years old.

The statement also shows that while the number of drunk driving incidents fell by almost 5 percent last year, the number of serious traffic accidents increased by over 15 percent and the number of fatal car accidents increased by over 100 percent.

According to police, there have been 426 arrests for drunk driving so far this year, compared to 447 in the same period last year. That’s a decrease of 4.7 percent.

Police also said the Hawaii Police Department’s Traffic Services Division reviewed all current accident data and found 442 serious accidents so far this year, compared to 383 during the same period last year, an increase of 15.4 percent.

So far, there have been 17 fatal accidents with 19 fatalities (two of which were multiple fatalities). By comparison, in the same period last year there were eight fatal accidents with nine fatalities (one of which was multiple fatalities, one died at a later date).

This represents an increase of 112.5 percent in fatal accidents and 111.1 percent in fatalities.

In 2024, the number of non-road fatalities (i.e. not on public roads) will be zero, compared to zero non-road fatalities in the same period last year.

Police say there will continue to be roadblocks and drunk driving patrols across the island.