As a member of the AARP Hawaii executive council, I shared the disappointment of fellow volunteers and community partners upon hearing that Gov. Linda Lingle may veto the pedestrian safety bill.

Passage of SB 1191 by the 2007 Legislature was a hard-won victory, and we looked forward to much-needed improvements at some of our most dangerous intersections.

During the legislative session, we applauded the governor's stated support for SB 1191, so this news of a possible veto was puzzling. What has happened to change Governor Lingle's mind? Pedestrian crashes have not ceased or diminished. Let's not mince words; it is correct to call them crashes because that's what happens when a human being is hit by an automobile. To date, we're on track to reach similar numbers as in past years — more than 600 pedestrian crashes statewide.

Hawai'i is still the fifth-most-dangerous state in the nation to be a pedestrian of any age, and the most dangerous for those 65 and older.

Much of the attention has been on senior fatalities, but for every pedestrian crash resulting in death, an estimated 18 require hospital or emergency care. The highest rates of hospitalizations and emergency visits are for children under age 15. This is a cross-generational issue of interest not only to the more than 152,000 AARP members in Hawai'i, but to their families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and anyone who tries to walk or maneuver a wheelchair or stroller across or along busy streets.

The availability or non-availability of federal funding should not be an issue. Regulations relating to federal participation in the cost of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations seem to indicate that federal funds can potentially be used for just the type of projects that SB 1191 calls for.

Along with efforts to change driver and pedestrian behavior, simple changes in roadway design can save lives. The improvements called for in SB 1191 are modest. Spending $3 million will not break the bank. Hundreds of millions are spent on highways. A pittance is left over for pedestrian and bicycle projects.

We must address this imbalance. For too long, roadways have been designed to move cars as quickly as possible. The level of service of an intersection is evaluated on the basis of how long vehicles must wait. The longer the delay, the worse it is.

What about kupuna crossing the intersection? What about students on bicycles? They're never mentioned in the traffic studies, which virtually ignore the existence of pedestrians. It's time for a "cultural shift," a change in values. Too many lives have been needlessly lost or shattered.

A veto of SB 1191 would show that as far as the state is concerned, it's business as usual. I'm hoping that this is not the case — that the governor's support of the pending Strategic Highway Safety Plan is genuine. AARP is pleased that Governor Lingle is slated to speak at the upcoming SHSP summit in August, but a veto would temper our expectations for the plan. Actions speak louder than words.

AARP's local stand on pedestrian safety is part of an emphasis on livable communities by our national organization. Livable communities offer us mobility options. AARP members firmly believe that those who don't drive are entitled to safe and convenient alternatives, including transit, walking and/or bicycling. Mobility is critical to independence.

As we spread this message via workshops and other events, we are heartened by the overwhelming public response. AARP and the state Department of Health recently co-sponsored walkable community workshops in Kalihi, Kihei, Mo'ili'ili, and Wai'anae.

In each neighborhood, residents clearly expressed their fears, frustrations and impatience. Some also shared their grief from the loss of loved ones. And they validated the critical need for the kinds of crosswalk and intersection improvements proposed in SB 1191.

Another outcome of the workshops was the recruitment of volunteers willing to work for pedestrian safety. We had obviously struck a chord.

In writing this article, I am hopeful that it will strike a chord with Governor Lingle. If she stands by her earlier support for the pedestrian safety bill, AARP will be honored to stand by her as she signs it.

Please express your support for SB 1191 by calling the governor's office at 586-0034.

Susan Sakai is a member of AARP Hawaii's volunteer Executive Council. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.