Alhambra May Put the Brakes on Use of Streets by Student Drivers

Consider Alhambra’s Palm Avenue a kind of student driver Easy Street: tree-lined, residential and, best of all, wide.

In fact, city officials say, Palm Avenue and streets like it have become too attractive to driving instructors. The city fears its quiet suburban roads are turning into dangerous roller derbys where residents must dodge pedal-happy novices learning the finer points of parallel parking, three-point turns and driving in reverse.

Alhambra Councilman Boyd Condie recalls watching two cars, each from a different driving school, nearly collide. “My wife saw someone back up and just about take a tree out,” Condie said. “On one day, I counted a dozen out there. They’re backing and turning and parking and all this. It has the potential for being dangerous.”

So, in a novel approach to controlling the driving school traffic, the City Council has tentatively passed an ordinance assigning each school to a different area, kind of a Berlinizing of Alhambra.

“The idea is to share the wealth a little bit so they don’t over-clog the streets,” said Terry James, Alhambra’s public works director.

If a driving instructor is found outside his designated area, his license will be revoked.

Only driving schools with Alhambra business licenses will be assigned to specific areas; those who use city streets but are licensed elsewhere will be required to register with Alhambra if they’re caught.

The council is scheduled to take a final vote on the measure Nov. 12. If passed, it will be the only law of its kind in the region, according to Gil Smith, director of government and public affairs for the Southern California Assn. of Governments.

City officials admit the plan may be nearly impossible to enforce. Meanwhile, local driving instructors are bristling at the thought of being deprived of access to the open road.

“I have two words for it--dumb or stupid,” said a peeved Charles Corn, vice president of California Driving School Inc. in Monterey Park.

“Someone who learns properly doesn’t want to be restricted to certain streets. Why should they be second-class? Alhambra is the only place in the state and probably in the country that does this.”