Subscriber Comments for
Accident on Hwy 154

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

EDONE	2010-05-03 03:10 PM
Accident just east of Rancho Alegre, according to CHP. Eastbound lane of the highway is blocked. Green Subaru Outback vs Blue Ford Mustang. CHP sites says other drivers got out of their cars and ran to the crashed cars to help.
COMMENT 73486P	2010-05-03 03:29 PM
Not seeing any details about injuries..Roger you got anything?
COMMENT 73486P	2010-05-03 03:50 PM
CHP says road now open again.
ROGER DODGER	2010-05-03 04:04 PM
Sorry I heard it posted it then had something happen I had to take care of.
COMMENT 73524	2010-05-03 05:37 PM
Jesus, people, just relax and slow down. I know this isn't an original rant, but flirting with a gruesome death by passing someone just because he's going 5 mph faster than you want to drive is stupid. Really. Take a deep breath, ease your foot off the accelerator and enjoy the scenery.
COMMENT 73524	2010-05-03 05:38 PM
... er, "slower" than you want to drive. Sheesh.
COMMENT 73531	2010-05-03 06:03 PM
It's these head-on collisions that made me buy a big pickup truck. Staring eye level at the front differential of a huge SUV driven by somebody talking on their cell phone is an eye-opener.
COMMENT 73545	2010-05-03 07:00 PM
Jay-Sus People.....It really makes no sense to berate people for doing stupid things while driving. You know passing only to gain 50', hammering on the gas only to smash on the brakes for the next inevitably red light. There are just a lot of twisted people out there. Nothing is going to change that. All we can hope for is they get their reproductive organs torn off in a solo car crash, prior to having kids.
COMMENT 73549	2010-05-03 07:16 PM
Seems to be an awful lot of collisions on 154 involving just cars, have they already outlawed BIG TRUCKS?
COMMENT 73551P	2010-05-03 07:27 PM
One word: CASINO
COMMENT 73576	2010-05-04 07:02 AM
Every time I come down the 154 into SB in my 1983 4x4 I'm always doing at least the speed limit, usually a margin above ... nonetheless by the time I reach the 101 there is a line of frustrated speed demons on my bumper, and as I exit to Cathedral Oaks they roar past and give me the finger, one by one. Bozos in ball caps in pumped up pick-ups (always with empty beds), and young women in brightly colored speedsters.
COMMENT 73578	2010-05-04 07:08 AM
Oddly I think the passing lanes they've added have actually made it less safe because now people have a greater expectation for speed.
COMMENT 73576	2010-05-04 07:37 AM
It is one way of keeping the population down in SB.
COMMENT 73595	2010-05-04 08:14 AM
Is this the 5th serious accident in the last 7-10 days on 154? That is way too many- what is the solution? I have to drive that route every day and it is starting to seem creepy. I think the police should stop people for tailgating. The tailgaters are endangering the car in front of them, and they are most likely to break into high speeds as soon as they get the chance. Could we close the road and keep it for local traffic and park traffic only? Completely unenforceable- but seems like 154 is not well designed as a freeway short cut. Were the comments about keeping the population down supposed to be funny? I know a little boy who lost his father in one of those accidents last week. And his mother may not survive. His parents were hit by a truck that crossed the line- there was nothing they could do. That is not funny.
COMMENT 73486P	2010-05-04 08:23 AM
Driving around on the 101 adds at most 15-20 minutes, it's prettier, and less stressful. I prefer it, and advise others to give it a chance.
COMMENT 73607	2010-05-04 08:38 AM
Yeah...for comment 73600p.....I never take the 154. Much faster and scenic to run the 101. Even use my cruise control and save gas and stress. ( cruise at 69 mph) Damn, and i'm not even "that old".
COMMENT 73609	2010-05-04 08:39 AM
I see more bad accidents and less law enforcement on 154 than any other road I drive. And it's no question the Casino plays a role in the bad driving... They should (at least help) pay for additional officers on both ends of 154.
COMMENT 73611	2010-05-04 08:44 AM
If you have a line of people tailing you on a one-lane highway, you are supposed to pull over into a turnout and let them pass. Regardless of your speed or their speed. It's the law and it's the safest way to deal with that situation: get the speeders and selfish drivers as far away from you as possible.
COMMENT 73576	2010-05-04 09:50 AM
Put up automatic devices that take a picture and send a ticket to anyone speeding. Issue tickets for tail-gating and other dangerous behavior. Install RED LIGHTS on the route to dissuade the majority of the users from using 154 as a short-cut. The very simple truth is the route IS a short-cut and it doesn't make sense for the majority of the users to use it unless they are speeding. They may be stupid (ie reckless) but not so stupid as to miss the point that going slowly negates the purpose of using said short-cut.   No, pull offs are not to be used regardless of the speed you're driving, unless you're going way slower than the speed limit. There is no obligation (or safe reason) to use the pull overs just because the dopes behind you are speeding.
COMMENT 73652	2010-05-04 09:58 AM
Someone tell me why the slower moving vehicles, especially semi-trucks, suddenly accelerate to 70+ when they get to the passing lanes, making it so very few other cars can actually pass? Then they slow down again and often much slower than the posted limits.
COMMENT 73656	2010-05-04 10:02 AM
It would be nice though if those who are going slower than the speed limit and have a train of cars behind them to use the turnouts and allow people who want to do speed limit have that option. I'm not saying speeding (but there are those who will), I just want to go the speed limit. This happened on Hwy 1 last year when a small Winnebago doing 10 to 20 mph under the posted limit wouldn't use a turnout for over an hour. He passed one after another. I think the line of cars was almost a mile long behind him. There were some PO'd people that just wanted a nice drive but instead were constantly having to hit the brakes.
COMMENT 73667	2010-05-04 10:26 AM
I like the idea of photo enforced speeding tickets! Seems a lot more cost effective than other options. If one knew there were multiple speed traps (say every 2 miles) don't you think they would keep their speed limit down? I think this idea should be pursued further ... seriously!
COMMENT 73682	2010-05-04 10:52 AM
EWWW.... I love the idea of photo enforced speeding tickets!! I've driven the 154 for many years, and in spite of the recent spate of accidents, find it safer than the 101. On the 101, during rush hours, we have what I call the 'Lompoc Crazies' entering off Hwy 1 or exiting on to it. They brake for no one. On both roads we have the folks in trucks hurrying to work - speeding of course. They don't often pay for the gas, so they just hurry along, having run up your rear until they can get by. Oh yes, then on the 154 you have them and the sports cars and kids and other impatient hot shots who know they will never get ticketed nor will they ever crash. They like to pass in no passing zones. Guess we need cameras everywhere. Frankly, there should be No Passing Allowed whatsoever except in passing lanes. HOWEVER, I must say, in many cases it is very safe to drive at least 5 mph above the posted limits on the 154. All in all, I prefer to drive the 154. I live in-between the 101 and 154 and will usually choose the 154. It is more relaxing for me. Odd.
COMMENT 73576	2010-05-04 12:41 PM
If you like the idea of radar/photo enforcement, check out GATSO USA. Leading traffic photo enforcement systems. This approach has worked in other municipalities, cities, States and countries. Why not in Santa Barbara?
COMMENT 73724P	2010-05-04 12:59 PM
The Chumash do pay for law enforcement, fire and medics as part of the gaming mitigation. They have also been very generous when other law enforcement, fire or EMS needs arise. Unfortunately, photo radar is costly, and has not been very effective. The firm handling the City of Santa Maria photo red light recently went bankrupt and removed their equipment. I guess that there is no an easy answer to this issue - perhaps CalTrans could consider several options: lower speed limits(?); increased enforcement/presence of CHP units on the pass; installation of radar 'signage' that tells motorists thier speed; more 'no passing zones and signage; larger botz dots to alert motorists when they go outside thier lane. There used to be some restrictions on commercial truck traffic, but I am uncertain if they are still in effect.
COMMENT 73531	2010-05-04 01:09 PM
How about a center divider?
COMMENT 73751	2010-05-04 02:43 PM
Check this out. The suicide barrier on the bridge costs about $4 million. A k-rail (a.k.a Jersey barrier) costs about $500. Each k-rail is 10 feet long. So, for the cost of the barrier, we could buy about 15 miles (80,000 feet) of k-rail. It would obviously cost some money to install, so let's say 10 miles of k-rail. What's a better use of $4 million -- a suicide fence on a bridge, or making 154 a divided highway for 10 miles?
COMMENT 73486P	2010-05-04 02:44 PM
But then people will just crash into the divider?
COMMENT 73751	2010-05-04 06:28 PM
73753P, better than into me.
COMMENT 73882P	2010-05-05 07:01 AM
A divider is stupid on what is a relatively narrow road. Ticketing would help. How expensive would it be to station a CHP radar-equipped officer there regularly, at different locations? I'd guess that the money received in fines would pay his salary. And since much of the accidents seem to be related to the Chumash, perhaps their $40,000/month income, not to mention the millions they've paid the Parkers for their property, could go into protecting those who gamble with their lives on this scenic Chumash highway?
COMMENT 73576	2010-05-05 10:45 AM
I got in touch with the leading company that does radar/photo enforcement. Here's his reply. Maybe someone who actually gets paid to watch out of the tax-paying citizens of Santa Barbara should get on the case. To: M.M. Cooper Mike, Good afternoon. Thank you for your inquiry regarding our photo enforcement solutions. Currently, there is no legislation in the State of California that would allow us to install a speed camera on a public roadway. The governor is considering legislation to allow speed cameras in the state, but we are not sure if the legislation will be approved. We would be interested in instituting a “pilot project” somewhere in the state if a municipality would be able to get the California Department of Transportation to approve such a project to demonstrate the value of the system in changing driver behavior; reducing speed related accidents and speed overall. If I may be of further assistance, please let me know. Best regards, Paul Paul Bazzano Vice President of Sales GATSO USA 10925 Hunters Trail Court Dunlap, IL 61525 USA Office: 309.243.9266 Cell: 815.830.8744
COMMENT 74257	2010-05-06 12:50 PM
The heck with Big Rigs on Hwy 154...Ban the cars....
COMMENT 74257	2010-05-06 01:13 PM
It's about time to be honest...Everyone I have ever talked to, when asked which route do you travel...154 or 101... ALWAYS say...154 it's QUICKER People it's all in your right foot. How many times has a cars passed you dangerously up on 154 only to find him waiting at the stop light at State St when you get there? Slow down and get off you cell phones.
COMMENT 74257	2010-05-06 01:23 PM
Everyone talks about trucks using the turnouts. I dove a truck up San Marcos Pass for years. Every time I got to the turnouts , if there was traffic i pulled over...and you know what, people following right behind would be asleep and and not take advantage of the moment. If a big rig stops at the turn out it takes him a long time to get moving again. Those turnouts are not very long. Be a little patient.
COMMENT 74257	2010-05-07 10:42 AM
These accidents are due to two things...impatients and a HEAVY RIGHT FOOT.

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