Cement Lumps May Mean Bumpy Ride on Valley Vista

Dear Street Smart:

I drive down Valley Vista Drive every day to get to my home in Camarillo.

About eight years ago, a liquid-cement carrier preceded me up the hill, leaving small deposits of cement on the roadway just south of Vista del Mar Avenue to Marine View Drive.

I’ve watched with fascination and wonder over the years to see how long it would take for these lumps to wear down. But they’ve managed to hold up pretty well.

Those of us who live up here have memorized where the lumps are and know how to drive around them. They don’t seem to be a real danger, but I wonder if the city has noticed them or has any plan to remove them.

Marguerite Partridge

Camarillo

Dear Reader:

The stretch of Valley Vista you’re referring to actually straddles the city of Camarillo and Ventura County, and neither has noticed the lumps.

Camarillo traffic engineer Tom Fox says he’s never received complaints about the lumps but will check them out to make sure that they are not causing traffic problems.

County workers agreed to follow suit.

Dear Street Smart:

Could you clear up a source of confusion for my wife and me regarding flashing yellow lights?

My wife insists that if you approach an intersection with flashing yellow lights and there is cross traffic, you are supposed to stop.

I always thought that it was OK to keep on going without stopping.

Who’s right?

Ben Perry

Ventura

Dear Reader:

You are, as long as you slow down.

Flashing yellow lights at intersections are meant to warn motorists to slow down, according to Ventura’s traffic signal systems brochure.

Obviously, you should stop if it looks like there is cross traffic breezing through the intersection.

For questions of general interest like this one, you may want to stop by Ventura City Hall and pick up the city’s series of traffic information brochures.

Or you can call 654-7887 and ask the city to mail you a set.

Dear Street Smart:

Heading down Madera Road in Simi Valley recently, I discovered a U-turn policy that is frustrating and seems to make no sense.

I was driving east on Madera near Wood Ranch when I realized that I needed to turn around.

I drove to the intersection at Presidential Drive planning to make a U-turn. But much to my dismay, U-turns were not permitted. I found the same restriction at the next two intersections.

I don’t understand why these signs are posted at every intersection. When there is no traffic coming, visibility is good and it seems like a U-turn would be very safe.

Why the restriction?

Dale Schaefer

Simi Valley

Dear Reader:

The city of Simi Valley does not allow U-turns if there is no left-turn lane because motorists waiting to turn could cause traffic backups, says Ron Coons, Simi Valley’s public works director.

Since there are no left-turn lanes at the two lights east of Presidential Drive--Wood Ranch Parkway and Country Club Drive East--U-turns are prohibited.

However, there is a left-turn lane at Presidential Drive, and Coons said the city will conduct a study to see if U-turns could be allowed.