Fear of Speeders Ranks High in Survey

* Re “Fear of Speeders Ranks With Drugs, Crime, Police Poll Says,” Sept. 20:

Hasn’t Cmdr. Art Lopez, the Los Angeles Police Department’s traffic chief, driven in L.A. lately? If he had he wouldn’t be surprised that traffic was right up there in public worries, along with drugs and other crime. Maybe the cops who work for him are also oblivious to what’s going on in the streets.

Where are the cops when you need them? Stop at any red light and watch lines of cars run the light to get through an intersection. I’ve counted five making left-hand turns after the light changes. I hope camera surveillance can do what missing cops can’t. And is Lopez aware of what’s become the ubiquitous U-turn? Lately one sees it everywhere. Without regard to oncoming traffic, people U-turn in intersections, the middle of blocks, in business districts, in school zones, and always suddenly and without warning.

People are more apt to be victims of these selfish drivers than they are from gangs.

ROBERT MIRISCH

Los Angeles

* I too agree that the LAPD should go after the dangerous drivers, the incompetent drivers, the DUIs, the no-look drivers, etc. But wait! They instead decided to go after the speeders, even though there is no cause-and-effect evidence to relate speeding to accidents. Several logical fallacy books could be written on this subject.

It is lethargic of the police to use radar guns, since it is much harder to ticket for other offenses. Lower the bar if they must, but don’t expect the streets to be any safer.

WILLIAM CRANE

Sherman Oaks

* Although I am delighted to see that the LAPD, for which I have the greatest respect, has concluded that speeders and drunk drivers are regarded by Los Angeles residents as equal to crime and drugs as a source of concern, did it really take a publicly funded study by a college professor to figure this out?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that traffic-law violations are the most frequently committed, and therefore of great concern to the law-abiding driver.

Hopefully, this will result in more stringent enforcement of traffic laws, and the resultant saving of lives and property, and the improvement of our “quality of life.”

ROLAND BARRON

Woodland Hills