Unsafe Lane Changes by Compacts No Small Matter to Motorist

Dear Street Smart:

I drive a large, parent-volunteer-wise Ford Expedition 4-by-4. A source of constant major terror to me is the little compact cars I see cutting in and out of traffic without regard to the braking ability of vehicles larger than themselves. Most of these “urban insult vehicles” appear to think that they are the only ones on the road. I shudder to think of their fate if I were to rear-end one of them because they were so selfish as to suddenly squeeze themselves between myself and a big rig.

My question: Aren’t there regulations regarding making unsafe lane changes, proper use of a turn signal and/or using common courtesy? And since many times it is these little “hot wheel” cars’ own fault that they put themselves in an unsafe position, shouldn’t they be cited when they cause an accident due to their own “short-guy attitude?”

Teri Raymondo

Buena Park

Any driver whose violation of the law causes an accident can be cited, according to Jose Vasquez, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol. Compact cars getting in the way of larger vehicles is not something the CHP sees frequently, but officers take action when they do, he said.

All cars are required to use blinkers or hand signals before turning or changing lanes. In addition, Vasquez said, a driver must exercise “reasonable safety” when changing lanes.

What constitutes reasonable safety is left to the interpretation of individual law enforcement officers, Vasquez said, but most agree it means not forcing the car you are cutting in front of to swerve or abruptly slow down.

The CHP recommends getting at least 303 feet ahead of a car before cutting into its lane at 60 miles per hour. Recommended distances at other speeds are: 15 mph, 44 feet; 20 mph, 63 feet; 25 mph, 85 feet; 30 mph, 109 feet; 40 mph, 164 feet; 50 mph, 229 feet; and 55 mph, 265 feet.

Dear Street Smart:

On my way home from work every day, I travel Baker Street in Costa Mesa from the south Costa Mesa Freeway to Fairview Road. It is always heavily congested.

In the area between Bear Street and Fairview Road, there are always a lot of pedestrians jaywalking. The area is not well-lighted and they are very difficult to see. Drivers are frustrated by the slow pace and several traffic lights in that stretch, and the last thing they are looking out for are pedestrians.

I have seen small children unaccompanied by an adult dodging through rush-hour traffic in the dark.

This is a dangerous situation and it is only a matter of time before someone is hit. I have not seen any police presence in that area at rush hour. This may seem like a small problem in the larger scheme of traffic problems in Orange County, but the consequences are deadly. Is Costa Mesa aware of this problem?

Justin Clouser

Huntington Beach

That area is one of the Costa Mesa Police Department’s targets, said John Fitzpatrick, the department’s traffic commander. A man was killed jaywalking there last year, he said.

Fitzpatrick disputes your assertion that there are no police present during rush hour.

“We have officers up there every day,” he said.

Fitzpatrick attributes the high incidence of jaywalking to lazy pedestrians. “They don’t want to take the time to walk down to the nearest signal,” he said.

To improve the situation, the city is considering installing an extra crosswalk and signal in the area. “This would make the area a little more user-friendly,” he said. “We do need it.”

Fitzpatrick said he hopes that funding for the new crosswalk will be included in the city’s next budget, expected to be completed in July.

Street Smart appears Mondays in The Times Orange County Edition. Readers are invited to submit comments and questions about traffic, commuting and what makes it difficult to get around in Orange County. Include simple sketches if helpful. Letters may be published in upcoming columns. Please write to David Haldane, c/o Street Smart, The Times Orange County Edition, P.O. Box 2008, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, send faxes to (714) 966-7711 or e-mail him at David.Haldane@latimes.com. Include your full name, address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted.