On Friday, highway patrols in 12 states will start targeting speeders

Q

It isn’t just drivers who illegally enter the express lanes on Interstate 880 that create the major problem.

It’s also their speed: 90 mph or greater. … The speeding on Highway 24 is out of control. … When will the CHP start cracking down on out-ofcontrol carpool cheaters on Highway 85 going 85 mph? — Mike Evans, Frank Ramos, Linda Jewell and many more

A

Beginning Friday, the California Highway Patrol and highway patrol officers across 12 states will be targeting speeding drivers.

The speed enforcement campaign was created following a significant increase in speed-related incidents and traffic fatalities in 2020. Speeding violations will be the target of law enforcement in California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

“Excessive speed and unsafe driving are a threat to everyone on the roadway,” said Amandathe-CHP Commissioner. “The CHP and our allied state partners will be out in force this weekend with the common goal of saving lives through speed enforcement.”

In California last year, more than 500 people were killed and more than 57,000 others were injured in crashes caused by unsafe speed. Also last year, CHP officers issued more than 28,000 speeding citations to motorists driving in excess of 100 mph — and 9,300 more during the first four months of this year.

Q

With gasoline prices bouncing around $4.50 per gallon, could refineries in the Bay Area crank out more than they have been? The Marathon refinery has been shut down for a while. What about others like Shell, Chevron and Valero?

— David Cohen,

Walnut Creek

A

Oh, this a toughie, but with a glimmer of hope.

Gasoline production is up 14% over the last two weeks, but crude oil supplies are 29% lower than the same period last year. This is the time of year when refiners scale back for maintenance and convert to the more expensive summer formula. Demand for gas will continue to go up as the pandemic recedes. Maybe we’ll see prices ease by the end of summer.

Q

I was shocked — shocked — to see you use the word “garbage” to describe older car alarm systems. It was very crude and uncalled for. Each of these alarms used the technology available at the time and they are not ”garbage” in any sense.

Please use something at least gentlemanly to describe them, such as:

• Less capable or less versatile.

• An older version or older type.

• Obsolescent or obsolete.

But “garbage?” I think not. — Bill Abbott, Saratoga

A

So “garbage” may have been a bit harsh, but these systems aren’t preventing thieves from breaking into cars the way newer systems can.