Have you driven the S-curve, and if so did it feel safe to you?
More than 40 accidents have taken place on the Bay Bridge since the S-curve opened Labor Day weekend as part of a temporary bridge bypass. Some critics assert the S-curve is too sharp to be safe for motorists, but CalTrans says it is safe if drivers follow the 40 mph speed limit.
Concerns about its safety continue to plague drivers and CalTrans. The fatality of a big-rig driver on Monday resulted in a lawsuit against the transit agency, which recently posted new speed limit warnings to encourage slower speeds and repainted the guard rails with a highly reflective paint. Late Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the California Highway Patrol handed out more than 35 tickets as it stepped up speed limit enforcement.
Have you driven the S-curve? If so, what were your impressions? Did it feel safe to you?
Comments
5 Responses to “Have you driven the S-curve, and if so did it feel safe to you?”
When I first saw the curve back in September, I was sure it would become a bottleneck. And it has — because it does force people to slow. It requires you to be extra-vigilant, but it's never felt dangerous. On the other hand, I don't really feel comfortable when I find myself next to a truck or bus on the curve.
Yesterday on KQED Radio News, we talked to Simon Washington, director of the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at UC Berkeley. His take: He doesn't feel the section is poorly designed or unduly hazardous. Interview is here, if you're interested: http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R911121730
The curve is dangerous… period.
The tendency of traffic on a freeway (never mind they are traveling on a bridge), is to move as fast as possible. As a result, drivers will take that attitude into that curve, and will collide with the wall, or worse, fly over it.
The solution… a LARGE wall with LARGE warning signs, as one might see in Europe where dangerous curves are encountered. Lots of flashing lights… the radar camera reminding them of their speed… all the above. If CalTrans doesn't take every effort to maximize the communication to drivers of the danger of the curve, there will undoubtedly be more accidents, and God forbid, more deaths.
I drove the S-curve only once. I drove our Toyota Camry, which handles very well and never before have I felt it was at the edge of its capacity to stay on the road in a curve when I was going at the recommended speed. I felt a pull on the steering wheel, and that the car was just barely under control at 40 mph. I slowed quickly and got through it OK, but from this I conclude that the speed limit of 40 mph is too high.
Yes the s-curve is quite safe but there have always been drivers who drive far too fast on the bridge even before the s- curve and those are the people who are having trouble with the bridge. I drive this bridge a lot as an Oakland resident who works in San Francisco. I maintain my lane at the s-curve and otherwise slow down to the posted speed limit. At 40 mph it was quite safe now the speed limit is 35 mph so even safer again. The S-Curve was designed obviously by people who knew what they were doing. As for steel dropping on the bridge is a different story which I believe is now being addressed. You cannot just interrupt a span of steel like that and expect it to be the same as before. Thanks so Much Ben
I haven't driven the s-curve on the Bay Bridge, but I believe it is safe if driven at the proper speed, which is probably 35 mph. Drivers should keep in the mind this is not the permanent configuration of the bridge's roadway, and be willing to accommodate the situation.