Q: Is the time change dangerous for drivers?
Anonymous
A: It can be. The CHP and National Sleep Foundation recognize Nov. 5-11 as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. Time changes and insufficient sleep can affect drivers’ ability to drive safely.
Preliminary 2023 data from CHP traffic records show that there have been more than 4,000 crashes in California this year involving a drowsy driver.
The CHP reminds drivers to pull safely off the road whenever they feel drowsy. If you’re looking for a rest area, check Caltrans QuickMap. The CHP also cautions drivers against stopping on the side of the road where they risk getting hit by another car.
Q: Your recent column on blocked bike lanes included a great series of comments.
Did you know that the trash collection companies request or require that garbage cans be placed 18 inches from the curb? This puts cans squarely in the bike path in many locations.
Steve Brock
A: Jennie-the-city-Environmental-Services-spokesperson for San Jose provided an answer to your question about the city’s curbside setout instructions.
Cart wheels should be at the curb and yard trimming piles should be one foot from the curb. “We’re not aware of haulers instructing residents to set out differently,” she said, adding that these instructions have been in place for over two decades.
For more information, see San Jose’s curbside setout instructions here. Yard trimmings setout guidelines are here.
Colin-the-city-spokesperson said that in most situations, bike lanes are separated from the curb by a 7- to 8-foot parking lane, so carts 18 inches from the curb wouldn’t impede them, even if that were allowed or required. In cases where the city has a curb-adjacent bike lane, with parking on the outside (parking-protected bike lanes), the outside of the bike lane is treated as the “curb.” In places where such bike lanes are next to businesses or multi-family housing, San Jose has installed rubber curbing to prevent dumpsters from rolling back into the bike lane.
Q: In the Fair Oaks/Weddell story recently, your Caltrans contact is misinformed. City crews absolutely did not “remove the traffic signal pole without Caltrans’ permission.” The signal pole was installed on top of our water main. When the main broke, it undermined the pole and Caltrans removed it. Sunnyvale has since repaired the main. We also relocated it so it will no longer be under the signal poles.
Understandably, we’re not keen on having your readers think Sunnyvale removes equipment belonging to other agencies without permission. I’m hoping you can help set the record straight.
Jennifer Garnett, communications officer, Sunnyvale city manager’s office
A: Thanks for this information. I’ve also passed it on to Caltrans.
Look for Gary Richards at facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.