Readers: Columnist should have told I-680 critic to slow down

QWere you having an off day?

Recently you had a letter from Dana Charles in your column about the nasty dip on Interstate

680 at Hostetter Road in San Jose.

When I read your response that a fix was coming, I sent you an angry message only to never hear back from you.

To be honest, I thought you might have been offended by my taking you to task.

Charles wrote you whining about how hard it was to go more than 10 mph over the speed limit. Gary, there’s a fix here right now: Obey the speed limit.

Nowhere is there a guarantee that all motorists will be able to drive at the speed limit on all roads at all times.

Sometimes conditions require that you go slower than what is the maximum permitted by law, not the suggested speeding for everyone.

Not just because of the recent COVID-19 effect on the amount of traffic, I’ve noticed that almost everybody views the speed limit as a minimum speed, not a maximum, even on local streets.

I virtually never see anyone going under the posted 25 mph limits in Willow Glen, where I live, and am unfortunate to cross the streets on a regular basis.

So, yes, that spot on 680 probably needs fixing, but not so that Indy wannabes can drive “more than about 75 mph” there.

— Jo Ann Lawlor, San Jose

A Hmmm. This hit a nerve with others.

QGary, Gary, Gary. You missed an opportunity for a moreto-the-point response to Charles’ assertion about dips in the road on 680 that caused him to nearly hit his head on the roof of the car while traveling “more than 75 miles per hour”!

It is not, as you suggested, something that would “be very difficult to fix.”

One easy solution would be to slow down!

The area has a 65 mph zone, and no one should be traveling over 75.

I expect you to use your forum to call out dangerous driving.

This is a prime situation for someone to lose control of their car and cause an accident, injury or worse, because of speeding.

— Amy Hight, Los Gatos

A Anyone else?

Q

Charles said, “If you drive more than about 75 mph over the dip, the top of your head bounces up close to your car roof.” Drive the speed limit, and God will not be reminding you to slow down by bonking your head.

— John Kelly

A

This dip has been repaired a couple of times to no avail. And readers are correct. The speed limit is 65 mph there. Mrs. Roadshow thanks you for keeping me on my toes.

Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat noon Wednesday at www. mercurynews.com/ live-chats. Look for Gary at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5335.