Speeding drivers the biggest local traffic problem

Regarding the April 7 article "Something new: Spring break license/safety checkpoints" by staff writer Sylvie Belmond: first, I don’t see anything wrong with checkpoints for such issues as checking for valid driver’s licenses, insurance, drunk driving and crosswalk checks as long as they are done with respect and professionalism. It is important to remember that driving is a privilege and not a right.

However, while I fully value the work that Sgt. Kenney and the T.O. police do everyday in dealing with many issues, I would prefer the TOPD make a more prominent effort and better use of their time citing the growing number of speeding drivers. 

I believe this is necessary in many areas of Thousand Oaks, but I’ll suggest they begin this focus on those coming through my neighborhood in the North Ranch area on Westlake Boulevard and Valley Spring Drive. In many cases, some vehicles reach freeway speeds on these two streets, with Valley Spring being only a residential street. Try making a turn these days from one of the small side streets without merge lanes onto Westlake Boulevard north of Hillcrest without fearing for your life. It’s like attempting a left turn with traffic coming from both directions across a freeway.

Further, if anyone remembers, there was a teen killed here recently in a terrible accident when his friend was speeding on Valley Spring Drive at what the police projected was way over 65 mph uphill on tight, steep curves in a residential neighborhood where the limit is posted at 30 mph. This is not an aberration—high-speed driving here has become a common daily occurrence.

  Stronger regular presence, enforcement and serious consistent ticketing by the TOPD at random times both day and night on our residential streets for speeding, going through stop signs (without fully stopping) and cutting corners at high speeds will be more beneficial in making the entire community safer than the arbitrary stopping of vehicles checking for driver’s licenses during school breaks.

I wish they would have spent some of this "opportunity to use officers" here during spring break. In a letter dating back to 2001 from the T.O. traffic engineering division manager as a reply to a neighbor regarding this area’s ongoing speeding issue that "motorists are typically aware of their driving speed and can only be controlled by an encounter with a police officer." 

Without law enforcement presence, we don’t stand a chance.

Therefore, if committed efforts are made to address this real, ongoing problem and people actually get traffic citations from encounters, the word will get out very clearly throughout all neighborhoods that the city of Thousand Oaks is genuinely serious about speeding, safety and the quality of life.

Until law enforcement does this job on a regular basis (and not just for one week after an accident to make it appear as if something is being done) we’ll likely have more unnecessary deaths to read about in the future. 

How many will it ultimately take to get some real action?

Howard Weisenfeld

Westlake Village