There have been 42 significant crashes on the Bay Bridge in the two months since it closed for scheduled maintenance. This closure was longer than expected due to finding a crack on one of the eyebars. Then a tie-rod came crashing down in very late October, injuring one and damaging several cars. The bridge was closed again for repair for five days, causing gnarly traffic tie-ups and nightmare commutes.
Last night, tragically, a commercial truck driver crashed his big rig on the S-Curve of the Bay Bridge, sending his vehicle crashing onto Yerba Buena Island. The operator of the vehicle died from his injuries.
CHP is blaming speed, and no doubt the driver was moving quickly to have gone plunging over the side of the bridge. But, I repeat, there have been 42 significant crashes on the Bay Bridge in two months. Could more than driver error be to blame here? Is the Bay Bridge suffering from dangerously poor design?
Two commenters at CBS 5 have differing opinions on the matter.
One, ansfresident, writes:I don't think the issue is speed. The issue is poor design. What
freeway has speed changes on it? This is a major arterial. There should
not be radical speed changes, flashing lights etc etc on a major
arterial. 42 crashes in 2 months? How does this compare to the previous
rate.?
I am so sorry for this man and his family. I hope to god they sue the
hell out of CalTrans.
But another commenter, anothersfresident, disagrees:
Speed is definitely the issue here. I've traveled this bridge several
times since the "S" curve was added, and I've actually been honked at
for slowing down to the posted speed. Outside of CA just about every
freeway has speed changes - major arterial included. They do so to
prevent accidents on sections that contain turns which are dangerous at
high speeds. While this accident is very sad, the driver of the big rig
had to possess a class "C" drivers license which requires several hours
of specialized training to ensure safety. Personally I believe that it
is time for CalTrans to post security cameras at the "S" curve that can
document driver speeds. I'm positive that the majority of the 42
accidents can be traced by to driver error. Bottom line: Speed limits
are posted for a reason!!! SLOW DOWN!!!
So, what do you think? Is this case after case after case of wreckless speeding? Or is there something going on with this Bay Bridge design that is causing these accidents?
Weigh in below.
