When 240 volunteers surveyed 81 intersections state-wide in May, they found nearly two dozen crosswalks whose signals were timed too fast for pedestrians, observed blocked or cracked sidewalks and saw plenty of bad behavior among drivers, according to a new report.

The statistics confirm for Tessie Lilker what she suspected: Walking in Hawai'i is not to be taken lightly.

"I think they should identify the problem areas and have the officials go there and try to cross the street themselves," said the Waikiki resident, who does not have a car and surveyed the intersection of Kalakaua Avenue and Kapi'olani Boulevard for the report.

"If they're going to be running for their lives, maybe they'll do something about it."

The report was conducted by AARP-Hawaii, which audited the "walkability" of crosswalks as part of an effort to raise awareness about walking safety in a state whose pedestrian fatality rate ranks seventh in the nation.

Last year, 36 pedestrians were killed on Hawai'i roads — one-third of whom were in crosswalks when they were hit, the state Department of Transportation said. On O'ahu, 28 pedestrians were killed and 15 critically injured in 2005. So far this year, 11 pedestrians have died islandwide and three have suffered critical injuries, according to Honolulu traffic police.

Dan Galanis of the state Department of Health's Injury Prevention and Control Program said the AARP report should serve as a starting point for discussions on how to raise awareness of and improve pedestrian safety in the Islands.

"There is a feeling in the community that there are not safe environments for pedestrians here," Galanis said, adding that the study is useful even though it was not administered scientifically. He said a follow-up study by the state might be warranted.

TIMING OF SIGNALS

The report found several issues of concern for officials. Chief among them is timing of crosswalk signals. The study said about 37 percent — or 23 — of the crosswalks with signals "did not allow a person of normal physical abilities enough time to cross the street."

People with disabilities, including the elderly, had trouble getting across the street quickly enough at 32 crosswalks, or 52 percent of those surveyed.

Also, problems were noted at 46 sidewalks in the survey. Twelve were blocked by poles, signs or vegetation, and nine were dangerously cracked or "broken." Others were noncontinuous, not wide enough or had no curb cuts for wheelchairs.

"We know that there are a number of intersections where the traffic signals are just inadequate or they're not as visible or audible as they should be," said AARP-Hawaii spokesman Bruce Bottorff, who helped survey crosswalks for the report. "When you add to that the behavioral issue of drivers, you've got a recipe for a potential problem."

BAD BEHAVIOR

For the survey, volunteers took note of plenty of drivers behaving badly. Speeding was seen at 69 percent of crosswalks surveyed, and 41 percent of drivers did not obey stop signs.

Meanwhile, drivers were seen failing to yield to pedestrians in 53 percent of crossings included in the study — a statistic discouraging to officials who have been trying to get the word out about a new pedestrian law, which went into effect last year and carries a $92 fine.

The law requires drivers to stop and yield to pedestrians who are in their half of the roadway or approaching quickly from the other side. Some have called the law too difficult to interpret.

Gordon Hong, DOT highway safety manager, said he could not comment on the results of the report. But he said the fact that a community group took the initiative to survey crosswalks statewide is heartening and shows the issue is important to a large group of people.

"What I like about this is people are actually getting out there and taking action," Hong said. "We'd like to work with them in the future. We would love to have 240 volunteers walk into their neighborhoods and pass out certain kinds of brochures."

Bottorff said the whole point of the study was — more than gathering statistics — to get people rallying around the issue of making crosswalks and sidewalks safer for pedestrians.

"We're hopeful that the message that people are very concerned about this issue is getting across and we'll really be able to effect significant change," he said.

Lilker, the Waikiki resident, said she walks daily to and from her gym, Ala Moana Center and a grocery store. On her walks, she not only spots ill-planned crosswalks and intersections but drivers and pedestrians breaking the rules.

"I've seen older men and women crossing against the light," she said. "A lot of them don't go even to the light and cross. They should be told not to do that."

'IT'S HARD FOR DRIVERS'

Charlotte Peltz, an AARP member who also participated in the survey, said some pedestrians also do not know to wear light-colored or reflective clothing when they walk at night or early in the morning and tend to walk with their heads down, instead of watching for cars.

The crosswalk she observed for the report was in front of a high school, and she said some students stopped in the middle of the street as they looked for friends in the afternoon.

"Sometimes," she said, "it's hard for drivers."

Jeff Mikulina, executive director of the Sierra Club, agreed more needs to be done to educate pedestrians and drivers about safety. But, he added, communities need to be redesigned to be more bike- and pedestrian-friendly.

Mikulina pointed to a charter amendment that will appear on the ballot in November that would require the city to make it a priority for Honolulu to be a bike- and pedestrian-friendly city.

"We have the ideal climate and fairly concentrated areas where folks can usually walk from home to school or the store. This isn't sprawling Los Angeles. In my perspective, it should be pedestrians first," he said. "They're definitely doing a better job in trying to integrate greenways and bikepaths, but a lot of it still caters to the car."

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.