Drivers, not the road, are at fault

Let’s get real about San Vicente Road: Seldom are roads really at fault. Engineers design them, contractors build them with supervision and inspection, and the public makes use of them.

What is at fault is the drivers who are either ill-prepared, negligent, drunk/drugged/sleepy, etc. I have driven that curvy, challenging route since I was a kid in the early ‘50s.

Then, it was merely graded DG and often rutted. It was always thus. Local guys loved to do power slides on it, and, at time, they came to grief. So be it.

I have seldom had to travel at a low speed on San Vicente; an occasional slow truck can cause that, but otherwise it is a worthy, well-maintained road, and $30 million or $40 million is way too much to “fix” it. Perhaps more radar enforcement is the key.

The two sisters who perished during a rainstorm were speeding, and the result was predictable: novice driver, celebration over a successful athletic event, a carefree attitude, and death.

Again, don’t blame the road. The girl who recently survived was not driving in accordance with conditions, or was not really experienced.

Years ago, I had a good laugh when, for the third time, near the T-intersection of Wildcat and San Vicente, a driver, on the STRAIGHT portion, went far to the right, off San Vicente Road, and hit a mature oak tree at least 12-15 feet out of the way.

A local wag posted a sign on the tree: “Oak tree - 3, Drivers - 0.” Then, our brilliant county cut the poor tree down.

Posting “Radar speed enforcement” signs, and pricey tickets to match, should do the trick for that falsely-accused road; the CHP and Jerry Brown can use the money.

A.G. Smith

Ramona