Farr and Wolf Talk 154 Safety

Very good.

To "get educated" about 154, drive it!

This is a roadway that is under constant geologic pressure, hence ever-changing. It is perfectly safe to drive if one uses one's head, which means that yes, in 15% of the cases, it is quite dangerous. There are idiots that speed, and idiots that go so slowly they frustrate the other drivers. Semi-trailer trucks really have no business using that roadway.

Cal-Trans has installed passing lanes. It is often charming to watch slow drivers totally ignore the signs requesting they stay in the right lane. Then, there are those that, seeing two lanes, speed up, just as long as the extra lane goes, then pull their speed right back down to a crawl for the 2-lane road. My particular favorites are those that pull abreast of the lead car, and then stay there during the entire passing area.

One other note. At approaching dusk, some drivers (who are supposed to be using their headlights at all times) turn on their *parking lights* and feel especially clever. What this means is that, in passing areas, a car can pull out to pass, and seeing a vehicle ahead with its parking lights on, assumes they are the brake lights of a car ahead of them, step on the gas, and speed right into a head on collision.

One final note: all the wonderful "winners" at the Chumash Casino, not in the best of moods, after loosing a packet at the Native American Entertainment & Cultural Center. Move over for these folks!

Wow Sam, you stole my thunder. I agree with you about the collective single-digit I.Q. of the people driving the pass. The only thing on which we might disagree is the 15% you quoted; do you mean 15% are safe, or dangerous drivers? I would say that at least 90% of the people who use the pass speed.

I drive the pass to work (from Solvang to Santa Barbara) six days per week, but sadly, despite the beautiful night views back, wouldn't dare take it home (I get off work at about 11) for fear not only of the bad drives Sam mentions, but all the potential drunks coming out of the casino and wine bars.

What needs to happen (assuming resources are available) is a very aggressive enforcement policy on that stretch of road. Nail about 100 people per day speeding for about two to three weeks and I imagine the word will get out around the water cooler at work that running up the bumper of the person ahead of you and always being in a hurry isn't so cool after all.

"for fear not only of the bad driveRs Sam mentions"...

Bill,

Speeding is dangerous if you're not a good driver. The actual, safe speed limit is actually affected by dozens of factors, including driver ability, reflexes, road conditions, etc.. That said, I'm quite content to stick to the posted limits.

I'm all for enforcement, but I'd sure like to see some tickets issued for the infractions I mentioned in my previous post - not just speeding. It is just as dangerous to drive too slowly as too fast - in certain circumstances. Generally speaking, a bad driver is consistent in many ways: especially in that he does not allow for other folks on the road, and is either ignorant of traffic laws and / or contemptuous of the rights of others.

BTW my guess is that you might be connected with the former Claussen's Deli in LO. I really miss that place! Everything there is turning into a tourist boutique . . . very sad. The oldest constantly-open gas station in the state of Calif. was turned into a kitsch garden shop!

Maybe *now* we could take the $4 million in highway safety money earmarked for that stupid suicide fence on the Cold Spring Bridge and spend it on actual highway safety projects on the 154?

Sam:
I would also add that if these big trucks (got stuck behind one today) would take the 101 instead of the 154, at least when they go up hills people would be able to go around them. I agree 100% with your additional points.

As for the deli, I've never heard of it. As for your comment about the changes in the valley, it's heartbreaking to see local politicians prostituting themselves to the wine tasting yuppie L.A. scene and I have a letter to the editor of one of the local papers dealing with this. Here is the letter: http://www.syvnews.com/articles/2010/...