(This letter was also addressed to council members.)
Editor,
I am writing to ask you to prohibit speedboarding on Park Avenue. I live near the top of Park Avenue and I have been scared many times while driving up Park by speedboarders flying past my car while I’m travelling up Park Avenue. I am sure that if people are allowed to speedboard on Park Avenue it will only be a matter of a short time before there will be a horrific crash resulting in severe injury and/or death.
If a speedboarder crashes into my car while I am driving up Park Avenue, then, setting aside for the moment the risk of serious injury and death that speedboarder voluntarily assumes, I and my passengers will involuntarily suffer severe emotional injury and I don’t want to be forced to take that risk every time I drive to my home.
Whenever I see a speedboarder on Park Avenue, I try to pull over to the side of the road and stop while the speedboarder passes, because I have no doubt that if a speedboarder smashes into my car I will be sued by the injured speedboarder or his or her grieving family, and it will be much easier for me to defend myself in such a frivolous lawsuit if the collision occurs while my car is stopped. Hopefully I will not be rear-ended by the car behind me when I pull over! I should not have to feel like I need to stop my car while driving on a public road to accommodate a thrill seeker.
The safety problems with speedboarding on Park Avenue are exacerbated by the fact that speedboarders are physically unable to stop or even slow down at the stop sign at Park Avenue and Wendt Terrace. Additionally, speedboarders are unable to avoid drifting into oncoming traffic at the curve in Park Avenue just past that stop sign.
Please prohibit speedboarding on Park Avenue.
Bill Steel
Laguna Beach
