The Hawaii Police Department has ended its high-visibility traffic enforcement campaign on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road.

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The department undertook the stepped-up enforcement — which resulted in more than 1,000 traffic stops — in response to five recent fatalities on the Big Island’s main east-west traffic artery and the declaration of a traffic emergency by the state.

Between June 4 and June 21, officers conducted 1,069 traffic stops on the highway and identified numerous violations, including 649 speeding violations, 17 reckless driving violations, six unsafe passing violations and 509 other traffic violations.

“I believe we were successful,” HPD Chief Reed Mahuna said Wednesday. “We got a lot of positive feedback from the community, people who commute on that road regularly. But people should know we will continue to do enforcement from time to time along Saddle Road and DKI to make sure we maintain a strong presence and to make sure the public is safe.”

The enforcement project occurred while contractors paved sections of the road between mile markers 6 and 19 with an asphalt mix intended to reduce hydroplaning by vehicles. The mix, called open-graded friction course, allows water to seep below the surface of the highway instead of ponding on the roadway.

During the final week of increased enforcement, between June 15-21, officers conducted 303 traffic stops and observed numerous traffic-related violations, including 187 speeding violations.

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Enforcement efforts since June 4 also resulted in two arrests for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant and five arrests for other offenses.

Although HPD’s high-visibility enforcement campaign concluded Sunday, officers will continue conducting proactive traffic enforcement operations on the highway.

Asked if the recent enforcement effort will make a positive change in how motorists drive on DKI Highway in the future, Mahuna replied, “I think only time will tell.”

“I do think we were successful in changing the habits of drivers while we were there,” he said. “So, the question is, do those habits change into the future? But we intend to continue enforcement in that area — high-visibility, strong enforcement — from time to time, to ensure that people are aware of our presence.”

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