Be cautious and considerate when ducklings cross the road
QI commute mostly via Interstate 880. The other day I exited at Dixon Landing Road onto Fremont Boulevard when I noticed a mother duck with two ducklings stranded in the second lane from right. This slowed traffic and I stopped when I noticed them.
One car went on while keeping a bit away from them but the next slowly drove through them. The mother duck moved away but the ducklings were right under the driver’s side wheel, and within a second they were taken away from their helpless mother.
I was left emotionless for few seconds and could hear the cry from the mother duck as she screamed quacks to her deceased ducklings.
I couldn’t help but sit there helplessly. The choice made by the driver of that car has left me disappointed. The person had a simple choice to make — to stay away from the ducks — but didn’t want to wait for them to move away, and decided to drive through them. This incident has left me by far the most disappointed during my 18 years of commuting.
Can you raise awareness among commuters to be more compassionate? Everyone is trying to return safely to their family, like the ducks were that night. — AnandMisra, Fremont
A There are a lot of ducklings and their moms crossing our roads and streets this time of year. Take care, go slow or stop and give them a chance to get to safety.
Q Why is Caltrans spending time and money paving the triangles at all the ramps along Highway 4, Highway 24 and Interstate 680? My father-in-law says they are doing the same thing along 101 on the Central Coast. — Eric Law, Lafayette
A The triangle areas are called gore points and Caltrans is doing similar work on Highway 237 and 101 through San Jose. These areas haven’t been repaved in many years, the shoulders also need paving and drainage systems improved. Work should last into the summer.
Q My co-worker’s car got hit by another coworker’s truck in our employee parking lot. He was very hostile with her, denying that he hit her car, enough for her to call police, fearing what he might do next. He refused to give her his insurance information. Was he breaking the law by refusing to provide it? — A.B., San Jose
A Yes. Every driver involved in an accident, if able, needs to exchange their name and current address, driver’s license number, vehicle identification number plus evidence of financial responsibility. If that is a form of insurance, then that person must supply the name and address of the insurance company and the number of the insurance policy.
Failing to do so can result in a fine of up to $250.
Follow Gary Richards at Twitter.com/ mrroadshow, look for him at Facebook.com/ mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup.com. Contact Gary Richards at grichards@ bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920- 5037.