A straight answer on ‘Dead Man’s Curve’

I think it could all be corrected by controlling the speed. People

just drive too fast on it. I drive it every other day and I am going

my 35 to 40 mph, and they go by me like I am standing still. If you

take the curve out, you are going to have a raceway where they go 80

mph. I really think it could be controlled with speed.

I endorse Tom Neth’s letter to you about Irvine Avenue (“Safety on

Irvine Avenue a matter of being safe,” May 14). I say ditto to

everything he has to say. I have traveled it more than 40 years,

since it was built, and I go the speed limit, and everyone goes by me

like I am sitting still. It is a beautiful drive along Back Bay, and

if everyone went the speed limit, there would be no problems.

MARCELLE STELLER

Costa Mesa

I drive that avenue three to five times a day because it is right

in my neighborhood and I think it is sad to say that a road that so

many people travel on safely every day is being called something so

drastic and dramatic as “Dead Man’s Curve.” The curve where this last

fatality occurred was not the same curve as the fatality of the young

children. I don’t know who gave that information, but it is not the

same location of the teenagers that were killed.

I guess I would just like for the other side to be mentioned in

this. The Newport Beach police have done a great job of making this

road safe and putting in a new light. What people need to do is take

responsibility for their driving when they are on a road in a local

neighborhood.

RUTH CLEMENCE

Costa Mesa

I have been traveling on Irvine Avenue for 33 years and I am

appalled and upset that people still don’t understand that there is a

speed limit on Irvine Avenue and that speed limit is 35 mph and when

I go 35 mph, I am honked at, I am almost pushed to the side

sometimes, and everyone speeds around me and speeds in excess of 50

mph.

I think all we need to do is put stop signs at every intersection.

We do not need to change the shape of the road. It is not Newport

Beach city’s problem, it is the driver’s problem that they are

breaking the law.

JO BLACK-JACOB

Costa Mesa

I can live with the S curve, but I can’t live with no more lights

than are on that street. I drive it about six times a month and in

the evening I am very aware and alert to the fact that the lighting

is very poor and I am very conscious of the deaths there.

We’ve lived here for 35 years, so we know about that place. Put

some more lights there.

JIM LOUDON

Newport Beach

I definitely do not think they should spend money fixing it; it is

evolution in action. People that aren’t with it enough to learn to

slow down on curves, they need to see the consequences that are very

real, so maybe it is a good learning experience.

We can’t make the world risk-free. And if people expect us to

raise taxes to take care of their security, I think that is misplaced

use of taxpayer’s dollars.

STAN WINTER

Corona del Mar

If people drove the speed limit on Irvine Avenue, it probably

wouldn’t be “Dead Man’s Curve.” There is a 35 mph speed limit, and

everyone drives excessive on it. If you go the speed limit, they just

flip you off. So maybe more police or some speed bumps might help.

CAROLYN NEWCOMB

Costa Mesa

I feel it is not necessary to straighten out that street because

people will be driving even faster than they do now. It is very safe

at 35 mph, and if it was more posted, I think people would pay more

attention to the speed limit.

CAROL HAMILTON

Newport Beach

Straightening out the curve? I would say no.

FOTERA TOWNSEND

Newport Beach

Newport Beach needs to fix the curve? I would say no.

DAVID BRAKESMAN

Newport Beach