Sound Off: Readers’ gripes and comments

Here are a few thoughts from Road Warrior readers:

A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION

Now that the Spring is here and people are out buying plants for the yards, perhaps you could help me understand a dangerous intersection.

People turning from Highway 12 to Calistoga Road and in the left left-turn lane sometimes then turn left into the nursery just when you turn on Calistoga Road immediately. Of course, this is a complete surprise to the drivers behind them and probably an accident waiting to happen.

Unfortunately for Prickett’s Nursery, this is a bad turning corner and the only safe way into the nursery is from Calistoga Road going toward the nursery before Highway 12.

Any idea on the number of accidents? And then there are the drivers who stop in the space for turning that clearly states on the road to keep clear. This sometimes makes this turn even worse. Thanks.

Andrew of Santa Rosa

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CAREFUL AT BROOKWOOD AND ASTON

After a long time of using the intersection of Brookwood and Aston, at the edge of the fairgrounds, I found out yesterday, almost the hard way, why there is a “keep clear” space in front of the stop sign for drivers going east on Aston.  I have seen that space but wasn’t sure why it was there (maybe for buses to use when turning right from Brookwood?).

I was in a line of cars waiting to turn left on Brookwood.  This was around 5:00 p.m., as I use this route on my way home from work.  The car in front of me turned left and I moved forward.  The next vehicle on Brookwood turned right.  So, I started to move forward when, all of a sudden, a pickup truck on Brookwood went forward into the “keep clear” space instead of turning right, as, so I discovered, there is a driveway entrance in that “keep clear” space.  Huh?  I stopped and didn’t do anything, totally confused.  I had never seen a vehicle do this before at this intersection.  I was wearing sunglasses so the two guys in the truck couldn’t see my eyes.  I didn’t give them the finger or say anything, though I was frowning.  I would have remained civil and silent except for the fact that my windows and their windows were down and I heard the driver say, “Pay attention (deleted)!”  Road rage took me over and I shouted back, “YOU pay attention (deleted)!” and drove away.

Maybe a sign could be put up there saying “caution, private driveway” or something.  I didn’t know a driveway entrance was there, didn’t know why the “keep clear” space was there, and did not expect a vehicle to drive forward in front of me instead of turning right on Aston.  I could have driven into that vehicle and probably would have been found at fault.  There are houses on that street and I’m always looking around for cars and people pulling out onto that road but I didn’t see a driveway there as I’m usually looking at the cars ahead and around me at that intersection.  And yes, yes, I have heard the tired old argument from traffic engineers (gee, how do I know this, because I asked them) about not putting up signs because people will eventually get “sign fatigue” and cease to notice them.

Anyhow, maybe let your readers know that, hey, there’s a driveway there at that intersection.

Evelyn

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CARPOOL LANE IS NOT FOR SINGLE DRIVERS

So is the carpool lane open between Rohnert Park and Petaluma, if so why are single drivers using it at carpool times? When are these people going to get tickets? I don’t get to use it being a single driver and I also thought it was still 55 mph. YA RIGHT!!!!! Getting my doors blown off everyday by drivers going 70!!!! WHERE’S THE CHP!

Karen

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THE CLEVELAND AVENUE SPEEDWAY

I work in an office building on Cleveland Avenue, located at the north end of the OSH parking lot. My co-workers and I, there is 4 of us, have desks that are MAYBE 15 feet from the street. Everyday we listen to the Cleveland Avenue Speedway or Drag Strip, if you rather. On occasion we discuss what could happen should one of these “race contestants” not have things go exactly right or their way. We are dead or pretty damn close should they enter the building in the course of their accident. There is not a day that goes by where there is not honking in close proximity to the building and then we pause for a few seconds looking out the window, just in case.

Of course, there is no good place for our men/women in blue to sit, where these race contestants will not have an opportunity to slow it down so they will not be ticketed. Only to get out of the line of sight and it’s back to green flag racing.

Now how would a concerned citizen and office building occupant, appeal to our police force to enjoy a beautiful day sitting on Cleveland Ave enjoying writing speeding tickets?

Of course, they might actually have to occupy 2 locations, instead of their normal one when “watching” a problem area. One being let’s say by OSH/Big 5 and the other by Redwood Credit Union’s office building, to catch those going back to green flag racing.

Oh, a nice little ditty about the driving in front of Herbert Slater Jr. High, you should experience it for yourself one day. I live just east of the school and leave earlier than I need to for work to avoid that *insert explicative* nightmare. It is far worse than just a U-turn.

Tonilee of Santa Rosa

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WIPERS ON, AND HEADLIGHTS TOO!

Everyday we hear about cellphone use and driving and how hazardous it is. What about all of these people who drive in the rain, windshield wipers going madly, and no headlights on? Last I heard, it’s state law that if your windshield wipers are on, your headlights must be on. I’d love to see a couple of CHPs along Highway 101, pulling people over and ticketing them. What a boon to the economy!

Jan

From the Road Warrior: Here’s what California Vehicle Code Section 24400 says:

Headlamps on Motor Vehicles

24400.  (a) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped with at least two headlamps, with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, and, except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the vehicle. The headlamps and every light source in any headlamp unit shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 22 inches.

(b) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be operated during darkness, or inclement weather, or both, with at least two lighted headlamps that comply with subdivision (a).

(c) As used in subdivision (b), “inclement weather” is a weather condition that is either of the following:

(1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.

(2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.

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This is an occasional feature in which we compile emails from readers commenting on road and traffic issues. You can email them to jim.fremgen@pressdemocrat.com. Please include your town.

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