Arrows Are on Target, Drivers Told

Dear Traffic Talk:

For over a year I have noticed that the green arrow light at Kester Avenue and Sherman Way in Van Nuys is out for those driving west on Sherman Way and turning left onto Kester. Westbound drivers go onto Kester even as the Sherman Way eastbound left-turn light for traffic going onto Kester is red.

This seems to be extremely dangerous to me because I don’t expect cars to be turning left in front of me when the traffic light is green for me.

I don’t slow down because I’m looking at a red left-turn light and assume westbound drivers have a red left-turn signal too.

I called the number for traffic-light repair over a year ago and the light still is not repaired. Anything you can do to get this situation corrected?

--Wilma Jackson

Santa Monica

Dear Wilma:

There is nothing to correct, said Irwin L. Chodash , a district engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Eastbound drivers on Sherman Way may turn left onto Kester only when they get an arrow because there were many accidents when they could turn left with a green light, Chodash said.

In contrast, a left-turn arrow is triggered for westbound drivers on Sherman Way when many of them line up. Otherwise, westbound motorists may turn left onto Kester with a green light, he said.

“Protected” left-turn signals where drivers may turn left only with a green arrow are installed where there is a sustained, high left-turn demand or where there is a pattern of accidents that can be reduced by installing a protected left turn.

Dear Traffic Talk:

For many years now, I have been turning left on Magnolia Boulevard from Sepulveda Boulevard in Sherman Oaks and have a question regarding the left-turn signal.

At that corner, there is a double light (the left-turn signal and a green light), and when I see the green left-turn signal, I proceed. When the green arrow turns red, but the green light is still on and there is no sign stating “left turn on arrow only,” is it still legal to make a left turn when the traffic allows for a safe turn?

--Gary Marc Remson

Sherman Oaks

Dear Gary:

It is illegal and may get you a $271 ticket if the police catch you, said Los Angeles Police Officer Connor T. MacIvor of the Valley Traffic Division.

A motorist cannot pass the first crosswalk marking and enter the intersection if the arrow is red, MacIvor said. “That red arrow is just as good as a red light.”

A driver may get out of the intersection if the light or arrow turns red, he said.

“[But] if the arrow shuts down . . . then it’s legal to continue to make a left turn until the light changes back to red,” MacIvor 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.news@latimes.com.