They call it
”
Nash Speedway
”
and we might as well add
”
San Benito Dragstrip
”
to the main street nicknames in Hollister.
Unless city and county officials and the three local law
enforcement agencies are trying to land a major Indy car race to go
with the Independence Rally, it is time for a plan to slow down
drivers.
They call it “Nash Speedway” and we might as well add “San Benito Dragstrip” to the main street nicknames in Hollister.
Unless city and county officials and the three local law enforcement agencies are trying to land a major Indy car race to go with the Independence Rally, it is time for a plan to slow down drivers.
Here is where the current race course runs: From the point where Highway 25 rolls into town down to San Benito High School, left on Nash Road to Airline Highway. In either direction on that route, at just about any time of night or day, week or weekend, it is ladies and gentlemen start your engines. They’re off…
Just stop at any point on the sidewalk along San Benito Street or Nash Road, including the supposed 25 and 35 mph zones. Cars, trucks and motorcycles whiz by as if they were in a movie chase scene.
Better yet, or maybe not, try to walk or run across the street at any of the intersections that don’t have a stoplight. You better look both ways all right – at the same time!
Trying to cross these two streets in your vehicle at any corner without a stoplight is also treacherous, a major collision waiting to happen.
It can also hurt much-needed foot traffic for downtown businesses if word gets around that you have to be a world-class sprinter to go from one shop to another one across the street.
Since Highway 25 runs this route through the heart of our town, it opens the speed limit enforcement avenue to finger pointing and excuses.
The California Highway Patrol, the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department and the Hollister Police Department all have jurisdiction to write tickets on and around these streets.
But we’re guessing the state budget crunch must have snatched up all of their ink pens since we rarely see any cops pulling over speeders and writing them citations.
Maybe the fines imposed will help make up for some of the loss of personnel or resources.
Especially with school in session, the odds of a deadly crash between vehicles or involving pedestrians are way too high. A car or truck or motorcycle doing 40 or 45 or 50 mph in a 25 or 35 mph zone can kill instantly.
You don’t have to be speeding on the outskirts of town to kill or get killed on the roads in San Benito County.
New Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller has said it is a high priority. We agree.
And he should get some immediate help, input and attention on this serious matter from the City Council, Board of Supervisors, CHP and Sheriff’s Department.
Let’s bust out the radar guns and speeding tickets to slow this dangerous situation down – before it’s too late.
