Right Turn on Red Here Is a No-Go

Dear Traffic Talk:

I am curious to know why turning right on a red light is prohibited between 3 and 7 p.m. for motorists heading south on De Soto Avenue who want to go on the westbound onramp of the Ventura Freeway in Woodland Hills.

There is only one left-turn lane to enter the freeway from northbound De Soto, but there are two lanes on the onramp. The volume of left-turn traffic entering the freeway from De Soto northbound is far less than the right-turn traffic entering the freeway from De Soto southbound. This results in terrible congestion on De Soto during the afternoon rush-hour.

By removing that sign, a lot of vehicles could turn right on an empty roadway, even while the left arrow is on for those turning left from De Soto to enter the freeway.

Ruth Abel

Woodland Hills

Dear Ruth:

Without the sign restricting right turns on a red, there would be insufficient space on the westbound onramp for the northbound left-turn vehicles and more congestion, said Ken Firoozmand, West Valley district engineer at the city Department of Transportation.

As it is, right-turn vehicles fill much of the onramp during afternoon rush hour and leave little space for left-turn motorists, Firoozmand said. The onramp gets especially congested when the freeway meter is on, he added.

The sign was installed seven years ago at the request of Caltrans.

Dear Traffic Talk:

I live near the intersection of Wells Drive and Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills. Vehicles travel in excess of 40 mph down the curved hill at nearby Don Juan Place.

I would like to see four-way stop signs put at Don Juan and Wells because it’s difficult to see the motorists speeding down that hill. Any chance for an evaluation?

Robert M. Weber

Woodland Hills

Dear Robert:

Following a comprehensive traffic engineering study of the Don Juan and Wells intersection, officials determined the location does not meet any city guidelines for all-way stop signs, said Firoozmand of the city transportation department.

Engineers who observed the area analyzed vehicle counts, reported accidents and drivers’ speed, Firoozmand 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.