In Hawaii, vehicle crash statistics for 2023 show that approximately 19,200 traffic crashes occurred statewide, resulting in 93 traffic fatalities and hundreds of serious injuries. On average, Hawaii experienced about 53 crashes per day, while traffic deaths declined compared to 2022. Motorcyclists remained one of the most vulnerable groups on the road, accounting for approximately 27 fatalities, while bicyclist fatalities reached a record high of 9 deaths. Speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving continued to be major contributors to fatal crashes, with distracted driving linked to a significant share of roadway deaths. Urban areas, particularly around Honolulu, recorded the highest number of crashes due to traffic congestion and population density, while rural roads experienced a higher proportion of severe and fatal crashes because of higher travel speeds and limited roadway infrastructure. Overall, risky driving behaviours, motorcycle crashes and vulnerable road user fatalities remained key traffic safety concerns across the state in 2023.
In Hawaii in 2023, passenger cars were involved in approximately 15 fatalities, accounting for about 16% of all traffic deaths statewide.
Motorcycle crashes resulted in around 27 fatalities, making up roughly 29% of Hawaii's total traffic fatalities.
Light trucks and SUVs were involved in about 19 fatalities, representing approximately 20% of all roadway deaths.
Fatal crashes involving buses or public transportation vehicles were very rare, accounting for approximately 8 fatality or about 9% of the total.
There were no reported fatalities involving semi-trucks or tractor-trailers in Hawaii in 2023, accounting for 0% of traffic deaths.
Pedestrian crashes led to approximately 22 fatalities, comprising about 24% of all traffic fatalities in the state.
One of Hawaii's most dangerous roads due to narrow lanes, sharp curves, limited shoulders and heavy tourist traffic. Serious and fatal crashes are common along the North Shore corridor.
Hawaii's busiest highway, connecting Honolulu, Pearl City, and Kapolei. Heavy congestion, stop-and-go traffic, distracted driving and multi-vehicle collisions contribute to a high number of crashes.
Although safety improvements have reduced crashes, high speeds, changing weather conditions, and long remote stretches still make this one of the state's most hazardous highways.
The primary highway on Kauai experiences frequent serious crashes due to speeding, intersections and limited passing opportunities.
Famous for its scenic beauty but also known for extremely sharp curves, narrow bridges, steep cliffs and distracted tourist drivers. Fatal and serious injury crashes occur regularly.
Single-vehicle fatal car accidents occur in Hilo and rural areas of Hawaii Island (Big Island).
of fatal car accidents in Hawaii happen in rural areas.
Multiple-vehicle fatal car accidents occur in Honolulu and the Oahu metropolitan area.
of fatal car accidents in Hawaii happen in urban areas.
A car accident can be overwhelming and stressful, even if it's minor. Knowing what steps to take immediately afterward can help protect your health, your legal rights, and your financial interests. Here are five essential things to do after an accident:
Your safety comes first. Check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt. Even if injuries seem minor, it's important to get medical attention, as some symptoms may not appear right away. If possible, move to a safe location away from traffic while waiting for help to arrive.
Always report the accident to the police. An official police report creates an objective record of what happened, which can be critical for insurance claims and legal matters. Cooperate with the officer, provide accurate information, and avoid admitting fault at the scene.
If it's safe to do so, gather as much information as possible. Take photos or videos of the vehicles, damage, license plates, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver(s) and attempt getting contact details from any witnesses in the area.
Even if you feel fine, consider seeing a medical professional as soon as possible. Injuries such as whiplash, concussions, or soft-tissue damage can take hours or days to show symptoms.
Report the accident to your insurance provider promptly and provide them with accurate details. Stick to the facts and avoid speculation. Keep copies of all documents related to the accident, including medical bills, repair estimates, and correspondence with insurers.
No Hazard Lights While Driving- It's against the law to have your hazard lights on while driving in the state of Hawaii. The state claims the use of hazard lights while moving can confuse other drivers in anticipating the cars movements when checking for the vehicle’s turn signal indicators.
No Billboards Ever - Billboards are illegal in Hawaii. They're considered too distracting for drivers and ban all outdoor advertising on public land. The concern stems from the belief that billboards and advertisements would obstruct Hawaii's incredible natural beauty. Hawaii was actually the first state in America to ban billboards.
No Idling for More Than 3 Minutes- In many areas in Hawaii, it's against the law to idle your car engine for more than three minutes. This law was enacted in part to reduce tailpipe emissions and noise pollution.
The Truck Bed Seat Belt Loophole- Under Hawaiian Child Passenger restraint Laws it's not legal to ride in the backseat of a car without a seatbelt. However, the state will allow a passenger of any age to ride in a pickup truck bed without any safety restraint if all the seats in the car are occupied. It appears that the state takes the position of safety first, unless there's no room.
Super Speeders Laws- The local courts are authorized to mandate that drivers who have been previously convicted of excessively speeding on multiple occasions have their vehicles fitted with Speed Assistance Technology which would use GPS and other sensors to monitor the driver’s speed and restrict speed based on posted speed limits.
One Drink at a Time- Hawaii’s law only allows you to be served one alcoholic beverage at a time. No ordering multiple rounds even for tasting events.