New Stripes Will Clear Up Confusion at Left-Turn Lanes

Dear Street Smart:

There have been several letters lately concerning problems with multiple left-turn lanes.

I have noticed that the ones that work are clearly marked through the intersection.

One that doesn’t work for that reason is westbound Daily Drive onto southbound Las Posas Road in Camarillo.

Not only is the marking poor through the intersection, but the lanes on Las Posas have also been realigned, and the intersection marking no longer lines up with the lane lines.

These two left-turn lanes would work better with improved intersection striping.

Carol Semonian, Camarillo

Dear Reader:

You are in luck.

The city is in the process of re-striping several intersections, and Daily at Las Posas is on the list.

“We will be repainting in the next few weeks,” says traffic engineer Tom Fox.

The city will also check to make sure raised dots marking the lanes are properly placed and intact, Fox says.

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Dear Street Smart:

On the southbound Moorpark Freeway near the Janss Road exit, there’s a flashing sign that does not seem to be working properly.

This sign states that when its lights are flashing, there will be traffic information broadcast over the radio.

But there have been several occasions when the lights have been flashing with no broadcast on the designated frequency.

What is going wrong?

William Breitzman, Thousand Oaks

Dear Reader:

Caltrans set up the motorist alert signs with flashing lights after the devastating earthquake in January, 1994, as a way to help drivers quickly find out about road conditions.

However, there are some glitches in the system, says engineer Al Martinez.

The switches that turn the lights on and off are cellular-activated, prone to the same problems that afflict car phones.

Mountains, buildings and long distances can interfere with the signal. When it comes to the Caltrans signs, this means that at times it is difficult to turn the lights on, or once they are on, to shut them off.

“Sometimes we will have a broadcast, then it will be over, but the flashing light will stay on,” Martinez says.

Caltrans hopes to have the glitch worked out soon, Martinez says.

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Dear Street Smart:

The corner of Pederson and Olsen roads in Thousand Oaks is an accident waiting to happen.

Cars zoom down Olsen at high speeds. If you are waiting to turn left from Pederson onto Olsen, you literally have to floor it when you think it is safe, because your vision is partially blocked.

I’ve seen cars almost get hit when attempting this.

A four-way stop would not only solve the timing problem, but would also stop the speeding problem.

Joyce Standley, Thousand Oaks

Dear Reader:

Like many other busy intersections, the corner of Pederson and Olsen does not meet state requirements for stop signs or a signal: There is just not enough traffic to warrant it.

On a list of 53 intersections the city keeps a close eye on for a future signal or stop signs, Pederson and Olsen ranks 43rd, says assistant traffic engineer Jeff Knowles.

In fact, installing signs or a signal now, without a substantial increase in traffic volume, could make the intersection more dangerous, Knowles says.

“Because of the curvature of the roadway, it might be hard for some drivers to see a stop sign,” Knowles says. “Drivers coming from another direction will assume that the cross traffic will stop, and if it doesn’t, this could cause accidents.”