Letter: Time for ‘slower, safer speed’ on the beach

Published 2:08 pm Sunday, February 1, 2026

Is it time to put some new guard rails on beach driving at Fort Stevens State Park? It’s becoming increasingly dangerous for walkers sharing the beach with moving vehicles at Fort Stevens State Park’s River Beach, commonly known as Social Security Beach.

It’s always struck me as absurd that the legal maximum speed in Oregon for driving on the beach is 25 mph. It is the default. It is also the allowed speed at Social Security Beach.

Many Oregon beaches that allow driving have restricted the speed to 10 or 15 mph. A beach that is shared with walkers, families and wildlife of all sorts, cannot be treated like a highway. I would suggest that Fort Stevens limit the speed to 10 or 15 miles per hour.

In some places, like Manzanita, they have banned driving on the beach altogether. On Social Security Beach, the fishermen and regulars are mostly very considerate. Many are elderly, and a ban at Social Security Beach would deprive them of their community, their joys and the occasional fresh fish!

I would also contend that on a high tide, vehicles should not be driving through the water and splashing cold water on beach walkers. I suppose you can’t legislate good manners! Perhaps we can legislate a slower, safer speed.

JENNIFER NIGHTINGALE

Astoria