Speed Limit

Give us a sign, traffic authorities What is the speed limit on Glenoaks Boulevard in Glendale? There have been a lot of complaints over the years about speeding on Glenoaks Boulevard. I have asked around and there seems to be a difference of opinion on what the speed limit is. While driving it the other day, I noticed that there are very few speed-limit signs posted along the stretch in Glendale. Also, due to the width of the street, they are not particularly visible as you whiz by. Along with the resurfacing that is taking place currently, I think it would be helpful if the speed limits were painted on the roadway itself at regular intervals.

Regarding traffic circles and Dave Moreno's article in the June 14 News-Press, I have a comment. It is fine to see a traffic circle at an intersection where wide streets meet and there is plenty of room to navigate safely around the barrier, as in the photo of a San Marino street. On Mountain Street, however, the intersections are much narrower, and not only avoiding the obstacles but staying out of the oncoming traffic lane is nearly impossible.

I have a bone to pick. Call me an old lady driver, but whenever I drive on the freeways I feel like I'm in a battle zone. I strongly oppose the 65 mph speed limit because no one obeys it. Typically, people drive 80 mph or even faster, unless there happens to be a highway patrol officer around. I am tired of fearing for my life. I am tired of people not signaling and almost getting clipped. And I am tired of driving 65 mph in the slow lane, and still be brighted, honked at or almost getting rear-ended.

Under California law, 25 mph is the default speed limit in residential areas. And 25 is the speed limit in school zones when children may be present. School starts at 8 a.m. for most students, but many also go to extra classes earlier at 7 or 7:30. Students do not all arrive at 8 or even 7:55 a.m., but may start arriving at 7:15 or 7:20. Additionally, the four blocks of Pacific Avenue between Colorado Boulevard and San Fernando Road are posted as 25 mph zone.

Janine Marnien LA CRESCENTA -- Apparently someone really, really thinks the speed limit on Shields Street should be 15 mph. He or she went to the trouble of finding a fake 15-mph sign and posting it a couple of curves shy of Briggs Avenue. However well-meaning the intentions, the era of artificially low speeds on the quiet street is soon to come to an end. County officials have discovered the sign, and will have it removed. The sign looked real enough to go undetected for more than a month by county and CHP officials.

Darleene Barrientos Speed demons beware -- the California Highway Patrol is breaking out the guns on La Crescenta Avenue. The radar guns, that is. Officers will be able to enforce speed limits with radar guns, thanks to a county speed enforcement study recently approved by Los Angeles County, CHP Officer Vince Bell said. Radar guns give officers extra evidence in defending a ticket in court. "The rules are changing, but the posted limit is not," Bell said.

Woman killed when car hits light post A 24-year-old Burbank woman was killed Sunday evening when she crashed her car into a light post on the corner of Western Avenue and Lake Street just after 9 p.m., Glendale Police Officer John Balian said. Claudia Chammas was headed south on Western approaching Lake when she swerved to avoid a car waiting at a red light at the intersection and hit the post, Balian said. Chammas died on impact when her 2006 Toyota Corolla hit the post at nearly 60 mph, he said.

I was mulling over writing another letter regarding flag lowering in order to make the number of such letters finally reach 1,000, when a letter on a different subject caught my eye, nearly buried in flag letters: Janet Walters' "State should reconsider freeway speed limits," May 4. Her lucid remarks markedly contrast with the insanity on our highways today. I recently bought a new car with a speedometer maximum of 160 mph, double my old car's 80-mph limit.

The dangerous drivers are one of the reasons I got out of Glendale after 46 years as a resident. Where I am now we have no on-street parking on arterials. Why can we not try that in Glendale? If you are cited by the police for not having insurance all they do is let you go to continue driving. Why not just ask you to step out of your vehicle and tow it away? You would get it back after showing proof of insurance for at least six months. When it comes to speeding, I would like driving privileges suspended for two days for each mile per hour over the speed limit with no excuses for hardship accepted.

I enjoyed and appreciated Ted Walter's letter in you Nov. 7 paper. Having moved here in 1937, it is still possible for me to remember the railroad train which delivered lumber to the Litchfield Lumber Co., located then, where the Old Better Drugs and present Albertsons Market on Glendale Avenue are. His comments are correct. Actually, it takes no longer to travel anywhere in central Glendale now then it did in the '40s and '50s, with the notable exception of areas where speed bumps are found.