signs for speeders?
“I’m calling because after about two months of phone calls to Gilroy Engineering and Gilroy Operations, I’m at a loss. I’m trying to have put onto my street a 25 miles per hour speed limit sign because there isn’t one and people go down my section of Westwood Drive doing 40 or more. Operations sends me to engineering, engineering sends me back to operations, each has taken messages and no one has gotten back to me and I’m at a loss. So if you can help me, I’d appreciate it.”
Red Phone:
Red Phone contacted city engineer Don Dey who said that if a decision to install a new sign is made, the first step is for engineering to investigate a possible need for it and then put in a request.
“Generally we don’t put up 25 mile per hour speed signs or we would be putting them up all over town. That is the general speed limit and just because there is a sign doesn’t mean people do it,” Dey said. “The only time we install one would be if there might be confusion where people think they should be going faster. If there is an enforcement problem, then contact GPD about the speeding problem.”
However starting January good caller, there will be a traffic officer patrolling neighborhoods specifically to crack down on speeders. If you would like to make Gilroy Police aware of the problem call them at 846-0350, hopefully they can help slow down drivers in your neighborhoods and keep your streets safe.
dyslexic driving directions
“Regarding the Santa Teresa Boulevard northbound before Sunset Drive. The right lane clearly is the dominant straight lane, and yet the sign shows that the right lane merges into the left lane which simply is not the case. The left lane merges into the right lane and I guess the question is, is the city engineer dyslexic? Because the sign is definitely wrong based on what the lane really does.”
Red Phone:
City engineer Don Dey does agree that the signage is backwards, but not because he reads that way.
“Following the Caltrans safety procedure, the left lane is the fast lane and is the lane you are supposed to merge in. The only thing we are doing with the designations out there is a sign for awareness of who’s responsible,” Dey explained. “It has been assigned to slow lane because it is easier and safer for them merge. It’s easier and safer because the driver’s on the left side of the vehicle and they’ve got clearer visibility of moving vehicles.”
It is true that it is the opposite when you are driving around the roadways, but in this instance the lane doesn’t terminate; it just curves. Good observation though caller, you obviously are a very alert driver and weren’t about to be fooled by some tricky signage.
readers:
Do you have a comment, compliment or complaint about an issue that affects Gilroy and its residents? Let the Red Phone know. But remember to leave a name and number when you call. The Red Phone won’t publish this information – it will only be used if verification is necessary. Contact the Red Phone at 842-9070 or e-mail
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