Kudos to M. Bernard Williams for his commentary in the Jan. 22 edition
of the Glendale News-Press. He is absolutely right about more enforcement
of the speed limit on our city streets.
I am going to add some items he left out.
* Drivers are changing lanes on surface streets without signaling
before they change lanes or do so when they are halfway into the lane
they've chosen. This is bad enough, but worse on freeways where the speed
limit is higher, and the risk goes up!
* There is an area Mr. Williams did not mention. Driving east on
Glenoaks Boulevard. As you approach the corner of Brand Boulevard, about
10-feet east of the Hilton Glendale exit there is a sign -- "Right lane
must turn right." I take Glenoaks Boulevard to Louise Street where I
turn right and head to my condo. Since 1996, I have been vulnerable to
drivers who ignore the sign and nearly sideswipe me. Beeping my horn and
stopping to allow the perpetrator to cut into my lane is all that
prevents a serious accident. Between 1996 and 1998, I was nearly creamed
16 times at that corner.
In one instance, the driver got out of his truck while we were waiting
for the light change at Louise Street and threatened me for beeping the
horn at him to prevent his hitting my car. Had there been more time, I
would have taken his license number, and turned it in to the police.
I spoke to Glendale Police Sgt. Rick Young in October 1998 regarding
the sign and the frequency with which drivers ignore the sign and put
people in jeopardy. I'm still waiting for a response.
Drivers exiting the hotel look west to see if there is traffic coming,
they then whip straight ahead and into the lane going east, creating the
potential for an accident. If the police would saturate the corner and
hand out tickets, the message to the dull brains behind the wheels of
many cars would perhaps register.
* Another thing that is occurring is tailgating on Louise Street,
Maryland Avenue and eastbound Glenoaks Boulevard. Louise Street and
Maryland Avenue are narrow streets, usually having bumper-to-bumper
parking on both sides -- except on street sweeping days.
I have elected to use freeways only on long trips. The rest of the
time, I use various surface street to my destination. It only takes five
minutes longer and there is very little traffic.
VINCENT A. CAMIZZI
Glendale
