SR 67 Safety and a "Call to Action"

By Robin Joy Maxson

We need to work on what can be done now and not wait for a distant, multi-million dollar overhaul of the entire road.

I am asking that the SR 67 subcommittee work consistently on safety improvements to SR 67 instead of intermittently. I am asking that the RCPG task this group with implementing actions that can be accomplished right now.

Here are a few suggestions on what can be accomplished now: Reach out to our neighboring communities of Poway and Lakeside, communities who share our concern over SR 67 safety.

Invite representatives from these communities to be active members of the SR 67 subcommittee, adding their support to the subcommittee's actions. Reach out to our local media. Provide monthly updates on SR 67 safety goals and progress as part of an ongoing community dialogue. Reach out to CalTrans, SANDAG, the CHP and the County and request specific, small improvements that can be done now while we wait for the comprehensive highway upgrade that will be far in the future.

Focus on what can be done now. A small, tangible change that could be done now is to add flashing lights before accident-prone curves to warn drivers to slow down. This sounds both reasonable and possible to do now before the next winter rains.

Talk to the CHP to insure that enforcement of speed limits in the safety corridor is a consistent, ongoing activity. Verify that radar enforcement is being utilized at all times.

The RCPG must keep our community's safety in the forefront at all times and not only when prompted by the most recent of the ongoing series of tragic accidents. Accepting the status quo is not an option for our community. We must make progress towards improving safety on SR 67. I volunteer to work toward a solution.