March 27, 2008
Golden Gate Bridge Accident, Lane Change Caused Pileup
Yesterday's accident on the Golden Gate Bridge, which resulted in a 10-car collision and the bridge shutting down for a couple of hours, was the due to a simple lane change gone awry. According to the California Highway Patrol, a "pickup truck veered into the path of another car traveling north, causing both vehicles to swerve into southbound traffic." And then all sorts of loud chaos ensued: cars went flying into oncoming traffic, metal bent, a baby got hurt, a Honda Shadow flipped over, and more. Fortunately, and strangely enough, no one was killed.
More importantly, yesterday's vehicular melee reinvigorated the debate as to just when in heaven's name a median can be put in place on the famed bridge in order to prevent such pileups. Although the desire to install the other kind of barrier receives more attention, it seems like one placed smack dab in the middle of the Golden Gate would be of equal or greater importance.
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Instead of a barrier, how about special phones on the bridge which connect directly to head-on prevention counselors?
In what way does this "reinvigorate the debate"? Counting deaths and major injuries per million vehicle miles, the GGB is way above the average of US highways. It's about the last place in the country that needs additional safety measures.
For clarity, I meant that the GGB was much safer than average, in other words has much fewer injuries and deaths per million vehicle miles than the average.
I guess a bazillion dollars for a robot median beats the humiliation of a billboard campaign reminding people not to swerve into oncoming traffic. Just don't do it, and leave yourself an out while you're at it!
i'm not sure the barrier would have stopped either moronic move, the pick up truck not checking his left before he attempted to side swipe the vulva, then the worse yet move of the vulva to avoid being hit swerving into oncoming traffic.
it's called a brake and a horn for a reason dumb ass!
Having driven across the GG Bridge daily for many years and nearly been checked into the oncoming traffic by idiots who don't know how to drive, I have two very basic solutions.
1. Strictly enforce the 45mph speed limit. Set up cameras, set up a few CHP at each end to enforce it (the speeding tickets alone will pay for the 4 cops who need to be there daily) Publicize it and make sure that everyone knows they are under surveillance.
2. Create a "no passing zone" on the bridge. No more dotted lines - double yellows lining all lanes. This eliminates the need for the "barrier" and puts everyone on notice.
After a few news reports and some hefty fines, people will wise up and pay attention. Then they can all race each other around the S curves heading north out of the tunnel and smash into one another up there.
"idiots who don't know how to drive"
in order to find those who know how to drive with near-perfect caution and courtesy, you would have to go south of the Grapvine.
what?
surely you jest - nobody has posted that the volvo driver was arrested for shooting a mother with child with a pellet gun from his bedroom window?
There are something like 25-30 suicides every year on the GGB. I bet this exceeds the number of traffic deaths each year.
I would say it's of far greater importance to prevent an accident than it is to spend millions of dollars to prevent an intentional act.
Better they jump off a bridge than off a building (potentially landing on me).