‘No Turn’ Sign, Arrow Make the Same Point

Dear Traffic Talk:

I am writing about the intersection of Ventura and Reseda boulevards. If you are going west on Ventura and wish to make a right turn onto Reseda there is a sign that reads “no right turn on red.”

At the same time there is also a green arrow indicating a right turn is permissible.

Which is correct? I have had drivers behind me honk when I did not turn right on the red light.

Frances Stanley, Tarzana

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Dear Frances:

Both the sign and the traffic signal are correct.

At that intersection there are no right turns permitted when the light turns red unless there is a green arrow.

The arrow allows drivers to make a protected turn; oncoming vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians are stopped by a red light.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

With the addition of carpool lanes lately, I don’t think people realize the double yellow lines aren’t to be crossed and that the fines are pretty severe.

What exactly are the laws and fines governing these lanes?

Bruce Kuroyama, Canyon Country

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Dear Bruce:

Drivers who cross the double yellow lines can be ticketed and may have to pay a fine of at least $271.

Carpool lanes have the double yellow lines to prevent traffic from merging back and forth between the carpool lane and normal traffic.

Using a carpool lane requires a minimum of two people per vehicle including the driver.

There may be signs along the freeway specifying the size of the car pool needed to use the lane.

According to Pat Reid, a spokeswoman for Caltrans, the pavement is usually marked with the diamond symbol and the words “carpool lane.”

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Dear Traffic Talk:

The westbound Ventura Freeway’s Woodlake offramp has two lanes.

Previously, the right lane was marked for going straight or turning right and the left lane was marked for left turns only. This is the way it should be since most of the traffic turns left or goes straight to a one-lane road on Woodlake.

Recently, the lanes were repainted with a right-turn only lane and the left lane going straight or turning left.

Because many drivers have been using this offramp for a long time, they automatically assume that you can go straight from the right lane.

Traffic going straight into a one-lane road from both lanes can result in accidents.

Why did they repaint and change the arrows?

Eugene Wong, Woodland Hills

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Dear Eugene:

Two years ago Caltrans changed the markings at the start of an interchange reconstruction project, according to Pat Reid.

Recently, the agency simply put the arrows back the way they were before the project.

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