Coping With Freeway Danger

Drive enough miles on California freeways and it’s bound to happen: You come around a curve and find traffic stopped. A moment of panic and the squeal of brakes. With luck, disaster is averted.

Nearly two dozen motorists in Orange County this week were not that fortunate. A big rig rounding a bend on the Santa Ana Freeway in Anaheim at midnight hit six vehicles waiting to detour off a section closed by Caltrans for construction. The truck tore through a metal rail and into oncoming traffic lanes, setting off a major fire. More than 20 people were injured, three seriously.

Eight hours later, not far away on the Artesia Freeway, a woman was killed when her sport utility vehicle was crushed by another big rig unable to stop for slowed traffic in the morning rush hour. Two others were injured.

Construction is common on many area freeways these days. That demands that motorists drive slower. Eighteen-wheel tractor-trailers require more room to maneuver and stop than automobiles, and everyone on the freeways--both automobile and truck drivers--must take that into account.

Traffic will get even worse as the school vacations end. Drivers need to put down the coffee cups and cell phones and pay attention to freeway conditions. Traffic advisories, whether on the Internet, in newspapers or on radio or TV broadcasts, can help, and Caltrans can set up flashing warning signs miles in advance. But it’s up to the drivers of the trucks and cars to ease up on the gas pedal and be ready for the unexpected.