From a Concerned Paa-Ko Resident Regarding Speeders
Community Safety Reminder – Please Slow Down on Paa-Ko Drive

We kindly ask everyone to please be mindful of their speed while driving through our neighborhood, especially along Paa-Ko Drive and near curves in the road. Last week, our family—two parents, three children riding bikes, our dog, and a newborn in a stroller—were enjoying a simple after-school walk when a truck traveling well over 40 mph approached a curve and nearly struck our 9-year-old son, despite his bike having flashing safety lights. Several other vehicles were also traveling at such high speeds that they had to swerve suddenly to avoid hitting us. This was a terrifying experience, and unfortunately, it highlights an ongoing safety concern many families are experiencing.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation:
-A pedestrian has about a 90% chance of survival if hit by a vehicle traveling 20 mph or less
-That chance drops to less than 50% at 30 mph
-At 40 mph, the risk of fatality increases to 85%

As daylight fades earlier in the evenings and residents hurry home, it’s more important than ever that we slow down and stay alert. One of the reasons many of us chose to live in Paa Ko is to enjoy being outdoors—walking, biking, and spending time with our families in a safe and peaceful environment.  We respectfully ask all drivers to obey posted speed limits, slow down on curves and residential stretches, watch carefully for children, pedestrians, cyclists, and pets.

A few extra seconds can truly save a life.