KAILUA — The frequent screeching of tires that indicates a near-miss, a recent hit-and-run and potential danger "just too scary to think about" have a stay-at-home mom campaigning to improve safety at the intersection near her Aoloa Street residence.

The city has already sent staff to evaluate the site.

Eve Baker, who lives at the intersection of Hamakua Drive and Aoloa, said a hit-and-run Nov. 2 that sent a tourist to the hospital reignited a desire to do something because of crashes and near-misses at that location.

The 35-year-old tourist was struck by a hit-and-run driver in a sport utility vehicle as she walked her bike across Hamakua in a crosswalk. She was taken to a hospital in critical condition; police said she is improving.

The driver later turned himself in and was arrested. The case is still under investigation, police said.

Baker said traffic problems seem to be on the increase. An August collision left a woman crushed in her automobile, and about six weeks ago two cars collided there, she said. There were no injuries, but the automobiles were damaged, Baker said.

"You can hear tires squealing multiple times throughout the day," Baker said.

She blames several factors that make the intersection dangerous, including a rise on Hamakua where it's impossible to see pedestrians or cars coming out of Aoloa until you're 100 feet from them. And there's a building and brush that block the view for motorists on Aoloa trying to turn onto Hamakua, Baker said.

Then there's the speeding.

"They (drivers) think it's more like a highway," she said, adding that people she's talked to, including the elderly and people with disabilities, say it's difficult getting across Hamakua.

"There's a lot of stay-at-home moms that go to Down to Earth (across Hamakua) all the time with their kids," she said. "So if a car was to come along and hit a stroller — that's just too scary to think about."

Baker has collected 132 signatures from people living in her condominium complex who often had their own tale of horror about that intersection, she said.

The petition asks that the city install a traffic light that will help pedestrians and motorists access Hamakua.

Richard Torres, deputy director for the city Department of Transportation Services, said his staff has begun a preliminary investigation of the Hamakua intersection. If the inquiry determines that a signal is warranted under federal guidelines to obtain matching funds, then a signalized pedestrian crossing will be installed, he said.

The petition could add some weight to the process, especially if it indicates problem areas at the site, Torres said. Once the department receives it, the department is committed to responding to the request one way or the other, Torres said.

The initial evaluation process includes a site visit, collection of crash records for the intersection and police reports, he said. If these indicate more information is needed, then equipment will be installed to take vehicular, speeding and pedestrian counts, Torres said.

A similar process in Makiki took a year and a half, which included designing the project, he said.

"People think it's real easy," Torres said. "We need to really evaluate that intersection. Some can be quicker, some take longer."

The pedestrian-activated signal in Makiki cost about $300,000, and it was for a T-intersection, he said, adding that a signal for a four-way intersection in Kalihi would cost $400,000.

If the intersections meet standards, then the federal government will pay 80 percent of the cost, Torres said.

The three crashes since August at Hamakua and Aoloa have moved Baker to act, and Kailua Neighborhood Board member Michele Brooks said she will try to get the issue on the next board meeting's agenda.

"I certainly support the petition," Brooks said, adding that she crosses that road all the time to catch a bus to work, and it is a challenge.

"I'm in my 50s and I'm not decrepit, but I find it pretty intimidating to get across there," she said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.