Safety issues along Highway 9 have been a concern for almost as long as the popular, well-traveled roadway has served as the major connector between Los Gatos and Saratoga.
Motorists drive much too fast on the highway, and they always have. The absence of streetlights allows the road to maintain its rural, country feel, but with nightfall, darkness envelopes the roadway, making it all that much more dangerous for travelers.
Tragedies have become all too frequent on the short stretch of highway, taking the lives of motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike. Most recently, the lives of cyclist James Dein and pedestrian Gina Loveday were lost because of Highway 9 accidents.
The tragic deaths of Dein and Loveday have spurred community groups to address the safety issues on the road. Monte Sereno residents Lana Malloy and JoAnne Peth are to be commended for their efforts in the initiation of a group called Citizens for Safety on Route 9, and city of Monte Sereno deserves praise for bringing together government officials with California Department of Transportation representatives to address the issue of safety on the highway.
But it's important, as any safety plan is proposed, to recognize the road for what it is—and what it is not.
Highway 9 is not, has never been nor will it ever be a calm, country road. It's a four-lane highway with a speed limit of 50 miles per hour. There are residences along the road, but this is by no means a residential road. And pedestrians and cyclists need to keep that in mind when using the gravel shoulders for recreation.
CalTrans maintains the short section of "Scenic Highway" that runs through Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga, including sections under Santa Clara County jurisdiction. But could the tragic deaths of Loveday and Dein been avoided by anything that CalTrans or any of the municipalities involved may have done? That's doubtful.
The driver of the vehicle in the hit and run accident that killed Dein and injured his cycling mate, Ted Aberg, was apparently drunk. And the accident that took Loveday's life took place at night when she was crossing the four-lane road while walking her dog. No efforts by CalTrans could have prevented those deaths.
If any progress is going to be made to make the road safer, users need to become more aware of the part they play in making the highway more safe. Drivers need to slow down and be more cautious; bicyclists need to remain on the shoulder, slow down and understand that this is first and foremost a roadway for motorists; and pedestrians need to remain on the shoulder, wear bright clothing that will be very visible to drivers and exercise extreme caution while attempting the cross the road.
Yes, the deaths of Gina Loveday and James Dein are tragic. And safety on Highway 9 is an important issue. But the only people who can truly make the roadway safer are those of us who use it.
