Laguna Niguel : City Reduces Speed Limits Along Street

Laguna Niguel motorists who speed along the city’s major roadways must slow down soon or face traffic fines.

As a result of traffic studies and a green light from the City Council last month, officials have launched an “aggressive safety program” that involves stepped-up ticketing of speeding drivers, said traffic engineer Jerry Crabill.

The first road targeted was six-lane Crown Valley Parkway, where speeds have been reduced an average of 10 m.p.h., from between 50 to 55 m.p.h. to between 40 to 45 m.p.h.

Next on the list are La Paz Road, Alicia Parkway and then Niguel Road, Crabill said. Eventually, the traffic pace will be slowed on all major streets.

City officials say residents have long fretted over excessive speeds on the city’s main arteries and are responding positively to the cutbacks.

“I’ve had people call me up and say the city’s doing a good job. Finally we’re recognizing those are not freeways,” Crabill said. “I haven’t had one negative phone call.”

For the past couple of weeks, traffic officers have given warnings instead of tickets to some Crown Valley Parkway motorists who seemed unaware of the change, Sheriff’s Deputy Mike James said. “But people can still get a ticket” depending on how fast they were driving, he warned.

In March, there were 65 traffic accidents in Laguna Niguel. Of those, 12 were “definitely” linked to speeding, James said, while the actual percentage of speed-related crashes could be higher.