”
Dear Red Phone,
In the right turn lane of Camino Arroyo coming from Wal
–Mart, Costco, Lowes, etc. onto Pacheco Pass Highway, there is a
traffic signal just for that lane. Most drivers pay no attention to
the red light and drive right through the signal without even
stopping. Perhaps, they think a
”
right turn on red
”
is OK for this type of lane.
No Right on Red?
“Dear Red Phone,
In the right turn lane of Camino Arroyo coming from Wal–Mart, Costco, Lowes, etc. onto Pacheco Pass Highway, there is a traffic signal just for that lane. Most drivers pay no attention to the red light and drive right through the signal without even stopping. Perhaps, they think a “right turn on red” is OK for this type of lane.
From my memory of DMV regulations, when a right turn lane has its own signal, you must stop and wait for the green light to proceed. It appears the right turn lane traffic signal is sequenced to be green only when the other traffic signals at that intersection do not allow vehicles to head toward 10th Street. This allows the right lane vehicles to cross over the U.S. 101 north on-ramp to 10th Street safely.
Perhaps a sign should be installed at the turn saying “No Turn on Red” or something similar. Or, maybe the Gilroy Police should start citing drivers who drive through the red light.
I do stop when there is a red light, however, the vehicles behind me get annoyed and pass me, blowing their horns, and giving me the one-finger salute. My wife avoids the lane, instead driving across Pacheco Pass Highway, doing at U-turn at the next light, and then getting into the left-most left turn lane so she can drive up 10th Street.”
Red Phone:
Good caller, Red Phone apologizes for any road rage you have incurred, however according to city engineer Don Dey, standard “right on red” procedure should be followed.
“The traffic signal for that southbound turn is what we call a red ball. It’s no different than pulling up to any intersection, seeing a “red ball,” and then following procedure, Dey said. “The reason it is different, is because the state was concerned about pedestrians crossing Highway 152 and the busy intersection, but there is no reason a car needs to stop and stay stopped. It’s just like any intersection, green, go, and if it’s red, stop make sure the area is clear and then proceed. The only thing the drivers need to cautious about is pedestrians.”
Well, there you have it caller, the busy area with traffic heading in all directions may seem as though drivers turning right should have to stop, but they do indeed just need to follow standard “right on red” rules of the road.
Turn on the lights
“I’m calling with a concern that it is extremely dark on Arrroyo Circle. There are no public street lights all the way down to the Gilroy School District. I travel that road regularly at night and it is pitch black and I have to put my high beams on, and I wanna know why there is no overhead city lighting there in that gap there, but by the Home Buffet, the lights start up again and go all the way to the end at Gilman.”
Red Phone:
Contacted city engineer Don Dey about the lack of light.
“This roadway was actually constructed and street lights installed prior to the city engineer getting here, so the only explanation I have is whenever this roadway was constructed our street light standards were different than they are now,” Dey said.
However, the future for that area includes plans for a bridge that will connect the Gilroy Premium Outlets to the other side of town.
“Ultimately Camino Arroyo is supposed to go straight so it will become the main connection back and forth, so we will make sure it is up to current lighting standards. In the short-term as Camino Arroyo gets extended up to Leavesley, it will be up to standards,” Dey said.
