Turn Light Has Mall on Its Side

Dear Traffic Talk:

They modified the traffic lights at the corner of Plummer Street and Tampa Avenue, wherein they have a left turn arrow for the eastbound traffic on Plummer, but no left turn signal for the same intersection going westbound.

While sitting in that westbound left turn lane on Tampa, you are blocked from any and all vision, and the temptation to turn left and go south while eastbound traffic is turning left to go north is great. People do it all the time and just barely miss eastbound traffic.

Why did they put an arrow light for eastbound traffic and not one for the westbound traffic?

Edward Housman

Northridge

Dear Edward:

The new Gelson’s shopping center at nearby Shirley Avenue is responsible for the left turn arrow for eastbound Plummer traffic turning north on Tampa.

“The developer of the mall paid for it, and that’s why it’s there,” said John Fisher, senior engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. “It was installed based on the traffic expected by the new shopping center. It was not projected to have the same amount of traffic in the other direction so the signal is not needed there.”

Fisher added that lengthy studies are performed before installing such signals and, because they’re costly, are only installed where absolutely necessary.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Traffic at the interchange of the 101 and 405 freeways causes me anxiety every morning. The fifth and sixth lanes of the 101 south (counting left to right) direct traffic to the crowded 405 south whereas the fourth, and far less congested lane, conducts traffic to the 405 north.

As I pass the Haskell Avenue exit and round the curve with poor visibility, there are always two or three cars completely stopped in the 405 north lane trying to merge ahead of the masses in the 405 south lanes.

Are these stopped cars creating a traffic violation or merely a hazard that I am responsible for avoiding?

Terry Dom

Woodland Hills

Dear Terry:

It is illegal for cars to stop on the freeway unless traffic has come to a halt, says Officer Lou Aviles of the California Highway Patrol.

“They are impeding traffic and will be issued a citation if caught,” Aviles said. “Just because they’re too impatient to wait in line doesn’t mean they can stop and cut across.”

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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. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com.