Left-Turn Signal Is There for a Reason

Dear Traffic Talk:

I would appreciate it if you would explain why the city installs left turn signals at streets that have no opposing traffic and not at streets that do.

For example, Woodlake Avenue in West Hills ends at Sherman Way, therefore no opposing traffic. So why a left turn signal?

Burbank Boulevard going east ends at DeSoto Avenue in Woodland Hills, no opposing traffic. Yet one block south, where Burbank Boulevard commences again going east, there is no left turn signal.

Cars turning north out of the medical center there or those turning south off of Burbank create a great deal of traffic.

Bert Lasky, Chatsworth

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Dear Bert:

You may believe the left turn signals are unnecessary at those two locations, but there’s a good reason why they are there.

In the case of double left turn lanes, which both those locations have, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation always installs left turn arrows so motorists don’t get confused.

“Also, with a left-turn arrow, pedestrian crossing is prohibited so it provides motorists the freedom to turn without having to be concerned about pedestrians,” said Tom Swire, assistant general manager of the department.

So, the city says, the left turn signals are a good thing for motorists regardless of their location.

As for the other locations you feel need signals, LADOT simply doesn’t have the resources to install them at every intersection.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

Some freeway offramps have the two right-hand lanes marked with arrows for right turns and there’s also a signal at these offramp street intersections.

I know it’s OK to make a right turn on red (unless there’s a sign prohibiting it) from the right-most lane, but I also see people turning right on red from the second lane from the right.

Is that legal, too? It certainly looks hazardous.

Nick Kurek, Granada Hills

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Dear Nick:

According to the California Highway Patrol the vehicle code says if it’s legal to make the turn on red from the right-most lane, it’s also legal to do so from the second lane from the right.

Sgt. Ernie Sanchez of the CHP, says doing so may at times appear dangerous because motorists fail to properly yield for opposing traffic.

“The close calls are probably because people are pulling out and trying to get through a little break instead of waiting,” Sanchez said.

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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.