Right Turn on Red Is OK Thanks to Work of Gardener

Dear Street Smart:

The intersection of Doris Avenue and Ventura Road in Oxnard presents a confusing condition that I am sure you can clear up for me.

There are signs posted forbidding motorists on northbound Ventura Road from making right turns on red onto Doris. It is not clear, however, whether these signs are also intended for Doris Avenue traffic.

Is it permissible for the westbound right-lane traffic to make a right turn on a red light onto Ventura Road?

Robert Amador, Oxnard

Dear Reader:

In a word, yes.

Motorists are allowed to turn right on red from westbound Doris Avenue onto Ventura Road, Oxnard Traffic Engineer Joe Genovese says.

Several years ago, that turn was not allowed because large bushes made it difficult for motorists to see oncoming traffic.

But the bushes have been hacked below the visibility line, and right turns on red are now permitted.

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Dear Street Smart:

I’m concerned about the safety of motorists at the intersection of California Street and the Ventura Freeway in Ventura.

Drivers going north across the Ventura Freeway overpass have to wait a very long time to get through the intersection because cars coming off the freeway block the road.

Usually if you block an intersection, you are subject to a citation.

Since drivers clog this intersection so often, could the city install “do not block intersection” signs near the off-ramp and on the pavement?

Also, when cars coming off the freeway aren’t blocking the intersection, they’re turning left at a high rate of speed, endangering those trying to drive across the overpass.

These are ongoing problems. Can anything be done about them?

Sidney S. Kampf, Ventura

Dear Reader:

The clogging that occurs at the Ventura Freeway’s California Street off-ramp is inherent to the design of the intersection.

Placing “do not block intersection” signs along the roadway would not do any good because motorists coming off the freeway don’t have anywhere else to go, Ventura Traffic Engineer Nazir Lalani says.

As for trying to control speeding, the city has posted warning signs along the off-ramp asking motorists to slow down, and that’s about all they can do, he says.

“It’s not really the sort of place where you can put speed bumps,” Lalani says.

But all is not lost.

A complete, $10-million reworking of the intersection is on the city’s list of long-term projects.

The new design includes a plan to separate ramp traffic from motorists crossing the overpass, helping traffic move along more smoothly.

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Dear Street Smart:

There’s a speeding problem in my neighborhood that’s gotten out of control.

I live in Oak Park at the corner of Conifer Street and Smoketree Avenue. In the last four months, speeding drivers turning from Conifer onto Smoketree have hit a tree, lawn planter, utility pole and, finally, a column helping to support my house.

There are stop signs on Smoketree, but they don’t do any good in slowing down cars that come screeching down Conifer.

I know it’s unusual for a stop sign to be installed on such a small street, so my wife and I have collected 75 signatures of neighbors who would like to see stop signs on Conifer.

Is there any chance that the county would agree to install these stop signs?

Jim Hamilton, Oak Park

Dear Reader:

Stop signs on Conifer may be possible.

Based on your request, county traffic workers are studying the intersection to figure out whether it would qualify for stop signs under state standards.

“We’re looking at the overall traffic situation,” said Butch Britt, the county’s deputy public works director. “We can’t install regulations for a few unsafe drivers. We need to look at the best way to handle the normal traffic flow.”

However, Britt cautions that stop signs are not intended to slow traffic.

“Putting in a stop sign isn’t going to stop the speeders,” Britt said.