Edhat Staff
A series of vehicle accidents Saturday morning on rain-dampened highways in Santa Barbara County has spurred local authorities and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department to issue urgent warnings for drivers to exercise caution during the season’s first rain.
The incidents, including a single vehicle rollover and multiple vehicle collisions, were reported along Highway 101 and Highway 154, drawing attention to the hazards posed by slick road conditions.
One of the first incidents occurred at 8:04 a.m. on Highway 101 southbound near El Capitan, where a pickup truck veered off the road, tumbling down an embankment close to the railroad tracks, prompting a temporary halt of train services.
Shortly afterward, at 8:38 a.m., another report was made for a vehicle that had rolled over on Highway 101 southbound at Dos Pueblos. Additionally, a similar rollover was reported on Highway 154 at Alamo Pintado Road in the Santa Ynez Valley.
AT 10:51 a.m., another vehicle rolled over at the SR-154 and SR-246 roundabout with the vehicle landing on its roof.
Just before 11:30 a.m. a vehicle crashed into a power pole causing the pole to land across both northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 101 just north of Goleta. The vehicle, a blue Chevy truck, rolled over with power pole and lines on the vehicle.
An edhat reader that witnessed the collision stated the power pole is across all lanes and drivers are risking it by traveling down the muddy median to cross into the southbound lanes to head back to Goleta.
All southbound Highway 101 lanes and one northbound lane, just north of Goleta, are closed as of 11:45 a.m. Saturday.
These accidents have underscored the dangers of the first rain of the season, which can catch drivers off guard with suddenly slick roadways.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department and California Highway Patrol has advised motorists to ensure their vehicles are rain-ready, emphasizing the importance of proper tire tread, effective windshield wipers, and the necessity of maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles. Most critically, drivers are urged to reduce their speed to counter reduced traction, avoid the use of cruise control, and allocate extra travel time to reach their destinations safely.
The wet conditions significantly increase the risk of hydroplaning, where a vehicle loses traction and skids across the surface of the road. This risk is exacerbated by high speeds. Slowing down and allowing for more reaction time can prevent accidents.
As clean-up and investigations into the accidents continue, traffic advisories and delays can be expected in the affected areas. Commuters are advised to stay informed about current road conditions and to consider alternative routes where necessary.
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Hope everyone is safe.
But, wow!
So many accidents.
Are the roads really that slippery when it rains and if so they should put traffic controls in place like when there’s snow on the road making it slippery. Everyone knows the first rain is the slipperiest as the oils build up over the dry season. Is this our first rain ? So now roads will not be oil slicks going forward?
Or, do people not have safe tires on their cars. In numerous other states there have an annual safety inspection of cars, checking tread depth on tires, brakes, cracked windshields. Unlike CA with the highest DMV fees in the country which only cares about your exhaust not your cars safety.
A story like this needs to go deeper. Otherwise it looks like a bunch of incompetent drivers or really lousy roads in one of the world’s largest economies.
Why in the world would you ever think that it wasn’t incompetent drivers?
And somehow you want to blame it on the state?