That seems to be their standard answer. The area I noted has been this way for at least four years now.

I know I echo many residents in the Santa Clara Valley when I say how bad our roads are! I voted yes for taxes associated with SB1 several years ago, but really see no improvement (except recently reviving Highway 17 through Campbell into Los Gatos). I will not vote yes on any proposed state or local road improvement ballot measures until I see tangible improvements to our roads.

Mark Milioto Sr., San Jose

A: The state has set aside more than $50 billion to smooth out roads over the next decade. The challenge is that the need is much greater than that, and the need has increased with all the rain these last three weeks.

Q: Roads in the Bay Area are in deplorable condition everywhere.

Interstate 880 through Fremont has become so rough and the noise level from it so high that I wear earplugs to protect my hearing. (We hear about air pollution, but noise pollution is significant, as well. Hearing loss is permanent!).

It seems like Caltrans took advantage of the pandemic to forge ahead on pet projects and neglected basic responsibilities.

Is there any way to compel Caltrans to prioritize restoration and maintenance of our roadways so they are at least safe to drive on? Who makes their decisions and who do they answer to?

Lynne Mercer

A: Caltrans has begun to prioritize maintenance over some other projects. Significant rain damage is going to require even more of that.

Q: After reading the recent front page story about potholes, I counted the potholes as I drove 101 in both directions between Whipple Avenue and 92.

I counted at least 46 potholes, varying in size from 1 to 15 feet long, within that 9-mile freeway stretch, 7 on the southbound route and 39 on the northbound route.

This roadway was completely renovated within the past 2 years. Until December, it had fresh, smooth, quiet pavement that was a joy to drive on.

I expect better results when Caltrans spends millions of dollars, and say a contractor owes us answers. Is this recently-completed project really degrading so badly so soon? And what does Caltrans say about this?

Richard Thomas, Redwood City

A: You’re right. This renovation should have held up better than it has. Roads and repairs need to handle greater extremes of weather now, from September’s searing heat dome to the deluge of recent days.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

She does not use a smart phone so can’t call Uber or Lyft. She has a GoGoGrandparent account, calls them by landline, and they call Uber/Lyft on her behalf.

www.gogograndparent.com

Janice Weaver

A: And another….

Q: I recommend GoGoGrandparent, designed to help seniors who don’t use a smart phone summon an Uber or Lyft. The drivers provide the extra care that seniors need, getting into and out of the vehicle, and up to the door of their building. The senior calls GoGoGrandparent, employees call for the car and direct the driver to the pickup or drop-off point.

Sue Kayton, Menlo Park

A: I love the moniker “Go Go Grandparent.” It seems like another good way to keep seniors as independent as possible.

Q: A Clipper card provides one “ticket” to public transit throughout the Bay Area at a discounted rate. The senior Clipper card is one of the best bargains in the area, especially once one has learned the many travel options it makes available.

Fremont provides training in using it and a senior Clipper card can be issued when a person takes the class.

A perk of completing the class is the local field trips available only to those who have taken the class. Travel for these trips, about one a month, is via transportation that uses the Clipper card. The best one I took was a tour of Oracle Park.

Linda Sepeda, Oakland

A: Still more…

Q: The Stanford Marguerite shuttle service is free, one doesn’t need to be a Stanford affiliate of any kind, and it has multiple routes. Now that Stanford has a presence in Redwood City, it even goes there, as well as to the Fremont and Union City BART stations! https://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite

Carol Zink, Redwood City

A: Good to know.

Q: I wish that, in discussions about getting people out of cars, regardless of age or infirmity, there were a focus on making it EASIER to leave the car behind, instead of making driving harder. Most transit systems seem designed by youngish, able-bodied persons who focus on commuter needs, not day-to-day needs of family care, socializing, errands, etc.

The places we need to go, things we need to do, and time we have to do them in makes public transit impossible. Infirmity also makes it impossible.

I grew up in Oakland and public transit was great as a kid and young adult, but has been a non-starter for many years now.

Claire Lomax, Oakland

A: That’s all for today, folks.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

I was involved in a three-car accident where a woman decided to stop on a four-lane road to let a driver enter from a side street. When she stopped, a car speeding in the same lane decided to go around her and was hit by the car from the side street. This caused the speeder to hit my car head-on while I was stopped, waiting to make a left turn. I saw it coming, but there was nothing I could do.

Henry Sorensen

A: This is an example of situations when drivers who don’t adhere to the rules of the road and right-of-way can cause confusion, or much worse, as your experience shows. It’s best, and nicer, for all if everyone follows the rules of the road. Anyone who needs a refresher can check the latest version of the California DMV’s Driver Handbook at ://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/

Q: While your answer to a question by Jeff E. recently about parking on a grassy area along a roadside is technically correct, drivers should be reminded of the hazards of parking a car with a hot exhaust/catalytic converter on dry grass. Many fires have been started this way.

Deborah Wettstein

A: And…

Q: Drivers should avoid parking on dry grass during the summer and fall (when it’s dry and there’s no rain). The hot undercarriage of a car can start a fire when it comes into contact with dry grass. So many people are unaware of this serious hazard.

Linda Landau, Orinda

A: An excellent reminder. While the risk of a hot car being parked on dry grass seems far away with all the rain now, the hot, dry days of summer will return.

Q: I’m emailing you on behalf of my 3-year-old son who has a question regarding the intersection and train tracks at Evelyn and Mary in Sunnyvale. If the power is out and the stoplights are not working, will the train crossing arms still come down to keep us safe if the train comes?

Elaine Wong

A: Most railroad crossings have battery packs to make sure the crossing arms will work when normal power is out. Sometimes, though, that is not the case. Use the same caution you would at an unmarked railroad crossing. Slow down and be prepared to stop. Look both ways, and listen carefully to make sure you do not see or hear a train coming from either direction, on any track. If you see or hear a train, stop at a safe distance from the closest track and wait to proceed until the train passes.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

A: This El Niño season provides a good opportunity to review best practices for driving in the rain. About 50 percent of flood deaths occur with automobiles. Here are tips from the California Highway Patrol, Ray-the-Tow-Truck-Man, and the AAA.

1. Slow down.
2. Wipers on, lights on. It’s the law.
3. Drive in the tire prints of cars ahead. When a car hydroplanes, it’s riding on a thin layer of water between the tires and road. Water in tire prints has already been displaced, so you get better traction.
4. Stay toward the middle lanes. Water tends to pool in outside lanes.
5. If your car hydroplanes, hold the steering wheel steady and lightly apply brakes.
6. If the steering feels light, gently ease off the accelerator and allow the car to slow. Don’t abruptly hit the brakes.
7. If in a skid, do not brake heavily, jerk the steering wheel or panic. Turn your steering wheel into the direction of the skid and gently brake. You may feel a vibration when pressing the brake pedal. Sensors in anti-lock brakes adjust to the wet road, which is why the pedal vibrates.
8. Never drive over a downed power line. If a wire touches your car, do not get out of your car unless it is on fire.
9. For motorcyclists, crosswalk lines and pavement arrows are super slick. Ease up on the throttle on takeoff. Limit lane-splitting.
10. Check tires and wipers. Many drivers in accidents say they couldn’t see because their wipers smeared their windshields on a rainy day.
11. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front.
12. Don’t brake while in a curve. Brake before entering the curve.
13. Use turn signals for lane changes and turns well in advance so it does not surprise another driver.
14. Don’t change lanes excessively or needlessly.
15. Dark traffic signals or blinking red lights mean everyone must stop.
16. Make sure tires have sufficient tread and are properly inflated.
17. Be aware of the spray coming from passing and oncoming vehicles.
18. Pay attention. Turn down the radio and turn off the phone.
19. Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it: Your car could be swept off the road. If water is deeper than the bottom of your doors or the bottom third of your wheels, turn around. It can take as little as 6 inches of water to cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Most vehicles will float if there is 18 inches of water.

Look for Gary Richards at facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

I totaled my car here the day before Thanksgiving in 2019. It was raining heavily and a large puddle had formed on the far end. My car hydroplaned and slammed into the center divider. About two weeks ago, I was following a semi truck in the opposite direction. When the truck hit the bump, it instantly jumped about a foot to the right.

I know that I am not the only person to have an accident here and don’t know who to contact about this area.

Can you help to raise awareness about this problem so that it can be corrected?

Chris Ciraulo

A: This has been a problem for years. Caltrans has made some attempts to smooth out the big differences between pavement levels here, but this has gone on way too long.

Q: I am a handicapped Vietnam vet. I did five tours and for that service got a Vietnam Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Achievement Medal and two Bronze Stars.

I have been informed by the DMV that I cannot get a REAL ID driver’s license because my only address is a P.O. box in Belmont. I’d better keep renewing my passport.

G. (Scooter) Schooley, Belmont

A: You may be right. All REAL ID customers must present one proof-of-identity document and two different printed documents that show their California mailing address. For REAL ID customers who use a P.O. box, at least one proof-of-residence document must show the applicant’s P.O. box, as well as their physical residence address. The other document only needs to show their P.O. box address. Both documents must show the applicant’s first and last names and the same mailing address as on their REAL ID application.

Q: My wife had a very bad experience getting her REAL ID. She did all her online paperwork, made an appointment at the Los Gatos DMV, arrived 10 minutes early, had her documents checked, then was told to take a seat and wait for her number to be called. She waited and waited. An hour and fifteen minutes later, she was finally called up. This was not the in-and-out experience some people have described. Total time at the DMV: over two hours.

Steve Brock

A: That is a long wait, especially with an appointment. Fortunately, most experiences with getting REAL IDs lately seem to have been positive.

Look for Gary Richards at facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

After we made it back to his house, I called my two siblings about this. Both had recently had the same experience. Later that night, I told Pops about our concerns, and a few unsettling things I noticed as he drove. He thanked me and said he’d consider it.

A few weeks later, he asked my sibs and me to send him a letter about our concerns. We immediately did and he then handed over his keys to our mom.

In an attempt to help him with his new non-driving status, I visited again for a few days and we explored the local bus system together (pre-Uber/Lyft), and transportation services provided through the senior center. We shopped, mailed some packages, and shot more pool. Once he realized he could still get around, and still play with his pals, he was a happy man, and we were relieved siblings.

Sky Wallace, Pioneer

A: You did him, and all, a great favor.

Q: Your columns on how to incentivize people to stop driving are interesting. I think most reluctance is due to the cold reality that a car is required for self-sufficiency. (This applies to anyone wishing to give up reliance on their own automobile.)

It would be a great service to your readers to ask for and then publish non-mass-transit alternatives that some have used (and please, no debates about bicycles, which is something different). I’m sure many people would be more willing to stop driving if they knew they could maintain self-sufficiency without a car. It would help us all.

Sheri Gish

A: Great idea. What suggestions do you have, readers, for non-mass-transit alternatives?

Q: I suggest that each year you repeat columns about older drivers giving up driving. It would be a saluted public service.

Although I passed my recent driving test, I was not as relaxed behind the wheel as I had been for years.

Now I am comfortably pledged to ask favors of neighbors and Silicon Valley relatives/pals, such as, “IF/when you next head to a grocery store and have time for a few extra items, please do check with me, as a giant favor to the ‘Aged Wonder.’” I rarely need more than three items.

I’m jubilantly a remarkably healthy and active 92-year-old who is currently being oriented/trained on — ready? — Zoom!

Vilma Kennedy Pallette

A: Thank you for your suggestion, your comfort with asking for help, as needed, and your jubilant spirit.

Look for Gary Richards at facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

This incident is heartbreaking and every person from the 911 caller, DOT, state patrol, traffic control, helicopter crew, medics to the hospital staff made this amazing rescue successful. Many of them risked their own lives to do so.

I would like these amazing people to be publicly honored for this heroic action! Also, my heart goes out to the Patel family.

Robb Kingsbury, Concord

A: Thank you for reminding us of the heroism involved in a complicated rescue, such as this one. This is a tragic situation, and it is miraculous that they all survived.

Q: A couple of years ago, I noticed anti-cyclist graffiti on nearly every sign on Kings Mountain Road, in San Mateo County. And someone has been putting tacks on that road for years now to discourage cyclists from using it.

With steep, fast descents on this road, someone will get killed sometime after a blowout. How could this go on for so long without a major investigation? Someone needs to take this problem as seriously as the crime it is, attempted murder.

N.C.

A: This is outrageous, and very dangerous. I will forward your story to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, CHP and Caltrans. In the short-term, the county will sweep the road more frequently, once the weather dries out.

Q: If you receive an envelope from the California Middle-Class Tax Refund, please do not discard it as junk mail.

It contains a debit card issued by the State of California, thanks to Governor Newsom, to return some money to taxpayers for high gas prices. It could be worth $200+.

You can register it online and transfer the funds to your bank account at no charge.

Prakash Tendulkar

A: Good advice.

Q: I’ve had my gas rebate in the form of a debit card issued by Money Network, for a little over a month. You can go to their website www.moneynetwork.com/faqs.html, for more details. The card is described as “Middle Class Tax Refund.” The California Franchise Tax Board posted information at: //www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/public-service-bulletins/2022-13-california-middle-class-tax-refund-payments.html.

Robert Andris, Saratoga

A: Thanks for this information. Most people have had a good experience receiving these refunds. Several readers have reported not having received theirs yet. In one case, a person reported that the funds had been stolen from their debit card before they even used it, and a replacement has not been sent yet, nearly a month later.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

It is time that the city of San Jose recognize this reality and adjust the residential speed limit to 20 mph to discourage excessive speed, frequently over 35 mph, on these streets.

Minneapolis just instituted a 20 mph speed limit in the entire city, “except where posted.”

Carlin Black, San Jose

A: Local jurisdictions in California must use the guidelines and criteria established by the state in setting speed limits on local roads, according to the City of San Jose’s Department of Transportation. The guidelines serve to prevent municipalities from arbitrarily setting speed limits too low, creating speed traps. If speed limits are set too low, and outside of what is permitted by state guidelines, speed limits cannot be enforced by police using radar speed guns.

The California legislature passed and the governor signed AB 43 in 2021, which gives local jurisdictions more leeway over setting speed limits, in certain circumstances. San Jose has taken advantage of provisions in the law that have been enacted thus far, including lowering speed limits in six business activity districts:

• Santa Clara Street (Almaden Avenue to Fifth Street)
• Almaden Avenue (St. John Steet to Santa Clara Street)
• Post Street (Market Street to First Street)
• Willow Street (Palm Street to Almaden Avenue)
• Evergreen Village Square
• Jackson Street (Third Street to Seventh Street)

Lower speeds will make the business districts safer and quieter, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists in high-activity areas. They will, hopefully, also help more customers notice local businesses as they move through these areas more slowly.

Lowering speeds in business activity districts is a first step allowed under the new law. Over the next year and a half, AB 43 provisions will also allow cities to start adjusting speed limits on other, larger streets. By June 2024, local jurisdictions will be able to reduce speed limits by an additional 5 mph beyond current law on higher-speed streets that meet certain criteria, based on safety needs.

Caltrans is still developing criteria for those faster streets. When the criteria are announced, the City of San Jose’s Department of Transportation will use them to assess the city’s high-injury streets, including the Vision Zero Priority Safety Corridors, and reduce speed limits, where appropriate.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

George Mathews, Antioch

A: Caltrans is replacing Botts dots with better striping. Visibility is a feature of the planned striping that is being tested statewide.

Q: I drove from Oakland to Milpitas in a huge downpour late Saturday. On Interstates 580 and 880, Botts dots were missing for up to 200 feet at a time. The road just seemed to disappear.

I heard that Botts dots are to be eliminated. Should I plan to get a bumper car in the near future?

Keith Scott, Milpitas

A: All new lanelines, edgelines, and centerlines will be 6 inches wide instead of 4 inches. When lines are refreshed during maintenance, they will be replaced with wider lines. An exception will be made for lines with reflectors on either side because wider lines will not fit without moving the reflectors.

This should increase lane line visibility. Wider shoulder lines have been shown to help reduce the rate of vehicles running off the road.

Q: Can you please provide information on dealing with pothole damage to cars? While traveling from San Ramon to Livermore on 580 east on Saturday night, my car hit a pothole. It was very dark and heavy rains had opened up a few potholes between First Street and Vasco Road.

Several cars were parked on the shoulder getting tires changed due to pothole damage. I got my car moved for repairs, but due to delays in parts shipments, it will sit in the shop for a week.

Zaheer Babul, San Ramon

A: You can file a pothole damage claim with the state, but not many are approved. You should also contact your insurance agent to see what they recommend to you.

Q: Could you please, please urge people to remember the law and, when their wipers are on, to also turn on their headlights? It’s not about whether you can see where you’re going, but about whether others can see you! Front “running lights” don’t cut it. You need to use the lights on both the front and back of your vehicle.

Even in the truly awful conditions last Saturday, people were driving 280 and other roads without lights.

If I can find the address, I’m going to urge Caltrans to add this to their highway-lighted signs/warnings/admonitions.

Chris MacIntosh, Redwood City

A: You were one of several people who made this plea following last Saturday’s storm. You are correct: if wipers are on, headlights must be on.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Paul Yamshon, San Ramon

A: Be patient. Gas tax rebates should all be out by later this month.

Q: I’ve long known that just before each off-ramp, there are white markers on the right shoulder in groups of 3, then 2, then 1, about 50 yards apart. This is presumably to provide drivers direction in heavy fog, helping them know that the off-ramp is just ahead. Sometimes instead of markers, the white line at the shoulder is broken just before the off-ramp.

On a recent trip from San Jose to Los Angeles, I noticed similar markers in amber on the left shoulder on Interstate 5 south and Highway 101 north. The markers on I-5 had a 4-3-2-1 pattern, but on 101, it was 3-2-1.

I tried to figure out what these markers could be for, but failed. Can you shed any light on this?

Bob Steiner, San Jose

A: You’re right about the white markers. In some cases, Caltrans puts yellow markers on the left side to alert drivers about how close they are to the next exit. The amber color means you cannot move onto the shoulder there.

Q: Trying to merge onto Highway 101 south from Trimble is ridiculous. The merge (or lack thereof) throws you immediately into a lane of oncoming traffic.

The area has been under construction for the past year, but they really need to extend the merge lane. It’s extremely unsafe.

Bobbie Fuller

A: This is a work in progress. More changes will be coming over the next year or so. Merge lane changes are part of the project.

Q: It’s great that they’ve been doing work on 101 around De La Cruz and the ramp onto Highway 87. But they labeled the lanes incorrectly just south of De La Cruz. There’s a big 87 logo painted in the right shoulder, which makes it seem like a lane. The 101 logos are one lane to the right of where they belong. A bit farther down, the 87 logo and 101 logos are placed correctly. Can anything be done about the incorrect lane markings? I regularly see people caught unaware, having to merge back into traffic when the lane they were in turned out to be the shrinking shoulder.

Becky Everson

A: This is another work in progress. The VTA will check this area and make changes if needed. Work in this area is now focused on the Trimble overcrossing to 101, and there may be lane changes ahead.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.