Rush to Develop Puts Lives at Risk

I have traveled on Highway 118 daily for the last 15 years and have seen traffic on the rural highway gradually increase in the ‘80s and then dramatically grow in the ‘90s. With the higher traffic volume, particularly large trucks, has come an increase in tragic accidents. Unfortunately, it is a trend which shows no sign of abating.

Clearly, the 118 situation is telling us something: Uncontrolled development, without infrastructure, is reckless and, in this case, deadly. In its rush to develop, the county is literally putting the life of its citizens at risk.

Recent proposals call for “improving” the 118. These include new striping, shoulders, left-turn lanes and passing zones. Unfortunately, these improvements will only result in a faster highway. On the contrary, this approach leads to higher fatalities, as commuters treat the “improved” highway as a freeway.

If the county wishes to truly increase safety on 118, it should implement the following plan immediately:

*See to it that the Moorpark Truck Inspection Station is manned from 6 a.m to 8 p.m. every day. This will remove the incentive for truckers to use 118 merely to avoid the 101 Freeway inspection station. And it is revenue positive.

*Stop all requests, such as that of Knightsbridge Holdings, to develop agricultural land.

*Instruct the Sheriff’s Department to patrol 118 and police it for speeding. The average speed is easily 70 rather than the posted limit of 55.

*Place stop signs at major intersections such as Bradley Road and Mesa School Road. This would protect cross traffic and eliminate the feeling that the highway is a freeway from Moorpark to Saticoy.

These measures would decrease speed, reduce truck traffic and eliminate the “freeway alternative” driver. It would not be expensive and would reduce traffic fatalities. Further, the area would maintain its historical role as a major center of gravity for agriculture in the county.

CLYDE R. PRATT

Somis