Some penalties suggested for Highway 17’s careless drivers

Q We really need some radical approaches to all the really stupid and uncalled for accidents on Highway 17. These are a terrible waste of time and resources. Getting super tired of idiots driving too fast or with poor-quality tires.

If you are at fault, we get to post your picture on the idiot’s page. You have to post a big yellow 1-foot-by-2-foot banner in each side of your car saying you are an at-fault driver. You get to host dinner for all the CHP, fire and other first responders who helped rescue your sorry rear. You are restricted from driving Highway 17 for three months. You are required to pick up car debris along 17 for five days.

We really need to do something different since we see this nonsense every day and it wastes the time of all the other drivers. Please help us. — Steve Burke, Santa Cruz

A I’m trying.

Q The headline in Monday’s story about the rise in Highway 17 crashes implies that the main problem is with the roadway, whereas the story confirms what I have witnessed in the 10 years I have driven the road since moving up off of Summit Road: It is the crazy drivers who think that 60 mph-plus is just fine, that tailgating 5 feet behind a vehicle is also perfectly safe and that it’s worth the risk to change lanes with inches to spare.

Increased enforcement is the only thing that will slow down these cocky drivers who imperil their own lives and the lives of so many others. — Bryon Foster, Los Gatos

A Look what happened on Tuesday.

Q I loved your Highway 17 story. Excellent to see the numbers behind what I observed daily. And Tuesday morning I saw seven CHP cars just on the hilly part. Seems they clearly upped enforcement as a result of your journalism. — Ethan Baron

A All right!

Q Maybe marginal improvement by giving big trucks a dedicated lane in some places, but I think a third lane would only result in more drivers speeding.

More interchanges would help and would make it easier to eliminate left turns. I like the idea of using electronics. Pavement or other sensors monitoring flow and speeds. — Patrick Love, San Jose

A The Safe on 17 group years ago considered adding a northbound truck passing lane, but the CHP raised valid concerns that it would lead to more speeding and constant lane changing. The idea was dropped.

Some day there will be more interchanges on the Santa Cruz side, but more electronic signs and antiskid pavement will be helpful.

Q I have had this idea for years. How about we build a gondola over the hills to Santa Cruz? — Pat McSweeney, Los Altos

A Now that would be interesting.