Recent fatal shootings on Bay Area freeways draw concerns

Q How do we protect against the lunatic killers shooting at cars driving on our freeways? Must we drive an armored vehicle? It’s getting worrisome traveling on Bay Area freeways. — John Baker, Walnut Creek

A That it is. While individual chances of being shot are still low, it is happening with increasing frequency. There have been four fatal shootings on Bay Area freeways in the past few months.

Last week David Nguyen was driving on westbound Interstate 580 near the Oakland Toll Plaza when some idiot fired a gun into his car, killing him.

This shooting was in the same area near the Bay Bridge where Amani Morris of Antioch was shot in the car she was in, killing her in front of her children and fiance.

A few months ago, a 23-month-old toddler was killed in his car seat when the family’s car was caught in apparent crossfire between two other vehicles in the East Bay.

And it’s not just here. A year ago, dozens of shots were reported from BB or pellet guns near Highway 101 south of Gilroy. Southern California freeways are experiencing a wave of similar incidents.

A 6-year-old boy on his way to kindergarten on Highway 55 in Orange was killed in May when, in an apparent road rage incident, someone fired a bullet into the trunk of the car he was riding in and it struck him.

This frightening wave has led to efforts to ban ghost guns, increased CHP enforcement, and in some areas, also led to more security cameras and license plate readers.

What else can we do? Install dashcams front and back to try to help catch these criminals, and share footage with law enforcement if it may help in an investigation. If you hear of an incident, call police. And avoid potential road rage incidents.

Q I was surprised by your response where you called signals on El Camino Real “wacky” because they showed a brief walk signal before the light changed to green.

We have these “wacky” signals all over downtown San Jose, especially near San Jose State and Naglee Park. I understand why they do that, to give pedestrians a little more time to get started before cars start moving,

Are they supposed to be that way, or are they all wacky? — Rick Holden, San Jose

A I turned to Glenn, a Roadshow consultant, who says these signals are not wacky.

“This is done deliberately to allow pedestrians to enter the intersection before right-turning vehicles get started.

“There is one such signal on Santa Clara Street at Notre Dame Avenue in San Jose. Notre Dame leads to the Highway 87 on-ramp.”