Diamond Lanes Are Forever in Southland

Dear Traffic Talk:

I fail to see the value of the diamond lane going south on the San Diego Freeway just past the Ventura Freeway.

Since the lane has been opened, the San Diego Freeway is at a standstill during rush hour while a small number of cars that can legally use the diamond lane go whizzing by, only to merge into the already jammed lane and add to the bottleneck.

Very often accidents occur when the diamond-lane traffic illegally tries to merge back into the mainstream lanes to get to an offramp.

As most of us have jobs that preclude car-pooling, allowing mainstream traffic to use that lane would result in smoother traffic flow, less pollution from idling engines, fuel savings, and fewer accidents.

Doesn’t anyone get it?

Marty Gold, Northridge

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Dear Marty:

Caltrans, the state transportation agency, said that in Southern California there are many reasons to warrant restricted use of carpool lanes 24 hours a day.

According Pat Reid, a spokeswoman for the agency, allowing general use of the lanes in the off hours could be confusing to motorists.

Law enforcement would be more difficult with a changing schedule, officials say.

Reid also said that half of all delays are caused by accidents or other unexpected incidents. The 24-hour carpool restriction lets riders set their schedules. Also, traffic is heavier in Southern California than in most areas of the country.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

I’ve lived all over the country and I can’t believe that in a state that has more people and more cars than any other state, Southern California doesn’t have many left-turn arrows at traffic lights.

Maybe officials should look around and see how other states handle traffic.

If someone did maybe it would cut down on the red lights being run and a few cars could get through an intersection at a time instead of the first one going through legally and then the next four going through on red.

Alan Gelman, North Hollywood

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Dear Alan:

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation coordinates the installation of traffic signals.

Before a left-arrow signal is added to an existing traffic light, a traffic study must be conducted to determine if the amount of traffic requires that an arrow be added.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

The street sign near my home is misspelled. Who do we call?

The street is Otsego but has been altered to O-s-t-e-g-o.

Trust me, it’s difficult enough for us to spell the name properly to our visitors.

Cary Baker, Sherman Oaks

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Dear Cary:

In the Valley, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has two districts, one east of the San Diego Freeway and one west. To make a complaint or to report an incorrect traffic sign east of the San Diego Freeway call (818) 756-8841 .

For streets west of the San Diego Freeway call (818) 756-8784 .

Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. To record your comments, call (818) 772-3303. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com.