Caught in the Maze of L.A. Traffic

Re “L.A. May Put More Motorists on Film,” April 13: Of course I am happy to see a drop in traffic accidents and give credit to the newly installed cameras that photograph cars running red lights.

At the same time these cameras are being installed, perhaps more left-turn signals could be installed to help move traffic faster and more safely and to alleviate the frustrations of the drivers who often run the red lights because they have so little time to get through the intersection. Oh, but the city does not collect revenue from left-turn signals.

Sheila Goldberg

Venice

I can’t imagine where Vicki Meagher was motoring in Los Angeles to find the experience “fun and safe” during her recent visit (letter, April 10). I am mortified daily in eight minutes (let alone her eight days) of driving by the bad habits of so many on our freeways and surface streets. In this city of practically invisible stop signs, excessive freeway speeds, tailgating, darting in and out of lanes between dangerously close vehicles, three cars turning left in the intersection after the light changes to red and nearly nonexistent turn-signal use, it’s amazing that so many selfish and incautious people are able to obtain a driver’s license.

But wait, that opens up another subject entirely. I will, however, cut some slack to those who can’t seem to use their turn signals; it is difficult to operate the signal lever while one’s free hand is juggling the cellphone.

“Magnificent” drivers? I shudder to think how the rest of the nation is behaving behind the wheel after witnessing so many “no rules” drivers loose on the roads of Los Angeles.

James P. Brymer

Eagle Rock

Handguns and kids? Gasoline and matches? Hybrid cars in the carpool lane (“Gov. Backs Hybrids in State’s Carpool Lane,” April 9)? Let’s see, folks watching a dashboard gauge in their overpriced little cars to see if they can’t eke out another mile per gallon if they slow down from 61 mph to 58 mph interacting nicely with other folks who relish “beating the system” (not to mention the speed limit) in the carpool lane! Who thinks this is a good idea?

Bruce Armstrong

Santa Barbara

Re “Train Beats Car for Easy Riding,” April 13: It is impossible to understand why the Westside and South Bay are excluded from Metrolink service when L.A. County owns the Harbor Subdivision, a track that stretches from downtown to LAX and San Pedro.

This 30-mile route, currently used by a handful of freight trains, could open Metrolink’s 500-mile system to Inglewood, Westchester, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Torrance and a slew of other communities, yet there are no plans to provide rail service.

Residents of these cities should not pay another penny toward Metrolink’s budget until they are added to the system.

Roger Rudick

Los Angeles

The article on the train-versus-car commute failed to mention that the Metrolink train makes eight stops along the way to Los Angeles. If the driver had to get off the freeway eight times to drop off and pick up passengers she might have made it to L.A. by noon.

The driver was also lucky to make it through the Mission Viejo, El Toro area. Most of the time it is one big parking lot. Each four-car Metrolink train can carry about 560 passengers. That’s 560 fewer cars on the morning commute.

Presently there are too many rail crossings that prevent Metrolink from exceeding the 80-mph speed limit. It’s a large, expensive task to eliminate rail crossings, but to make the next step to 150-mph trains, it will have to be done.

Dennis Arntz

Laguna Niguel