In all the recent discussion about
residential traffic concerns, one important point has been left out. Traffic engineers
will tell you, people drive as fast as they feel comfortable. In fact to set a speed
limit, traffic studies are done and the limit is set according to a formula related to the
average speed traveled on the street. That is the prevailing factor, up to a limit, or
unless there is another limiting factor such as the street is in a residential
neighborhood. Still the principle applies and should be
sought as we work toward solutions. Traffic engineers have a bag of psychological and
physical tricks, that once you are aware of, you notice they work better than police
enforcement or cameras posted at street signals. Prevention works better than detention,
because it is always present. Police officers aren’t.
For instance, the first trick to be tried on Via Cordoba, according
to Tony Chu, Engineer Technician for the City of Temecula, will be road striping. Anything
that encroaches upon the driver, slows him down. You drive slower on a narrow street, than
broad avenue. However, the city has limitations on their solutions. They can be sued if
the impediments they put in to slow traffic cause an accident. Even speed bumps can be the
object of litigation.
I love the idea of landscaped medians – they naturally slow
traffic and are beautiful. However, they can narrow the street so residents lose their
curbside parking or emergency vehicles have trouble getting through. The same is at issue
with landscaped circles at intersections, rather than stop signs. Residents walk a line
trying to obtain the traffic control they want without losing other esthetics.
For instance, residents on Calle Medusa years ago, complained a
stripe would bring down their property values and medians can force residents pulling out
of their driveways in only one direction. Good planning would provide landscaped medians
on long residential streets, with wide enough roadways to still accommodate curbside
parking. As Heather Johnson, a resident of Calle Pina Colada said, it is a shame the city
has spent millions on traffic plans and arterial roads and have still managed to form
pockets where residential streets are more attractive to drivers.
On another traffic issue, Assembly Bill 1573 recently passed the
legislature with an urgency clause, making it effective immediately. This bill was
introduced by Assembly Member Strom-Martin to address the dangerous situations created
when cars were required to stop for buses. The bill passed both houses overwhelmingly. Now
you are no longer required to stop for buses that are stopped at the school or to stop if
you are on the other side of a divided roadway.
Could things get more confusing? General rule of thumb, if you
approach a school bus from behind and its lights are flashing, even if the sign is not
out, you have to stop.
Final word, for those of you preparing to vote on annexation in
Redhawk and Vail Ranch. Temecula has enough traffic officers that I often feel my day
around town is a gauntlet of laser guns and watchful eyes. You will get more police
protection, but your auto insurance rates might also take a hit.