14 May 2015

Carbon Canyon Road Patrolling/Traffic Enforcement News

UPDATE: 4:30 P.M., Friday:  Following suit, the sheriff's department in Chino Hills has taken their message board, which was over on the 71 Freeway warning locals to cut their brush to reduce fuel for wildfires, and placed it on westbound Carbon Canyon Road a little east of Canon Lane.  The message here is to reduce speed when driving on the state highway.

In the wake of recent accidents and road closures on Carbon Canyon Road, law enforcement officials in Brea and Chino Hills have been communicating with concerned residents about ways that they are exploring, planning and implementing to provide better patrolling and traffic enforcement along the state highway.

It is notable, as well, that the sheriff's department in Chino Hills and the police department in Brea have been talking to each other, so there may be some ways to facilitate actions between the two for more efficient and effective work--realizing that resource allocation is always a challenge.

A City of Brea electronic message board has been placed on westbound Carbon Canyon Road a little east of Olinda Village in response to a spate of accidents and road closures.  As noted here, the sign warns of a "High Enforcement Area" and reminds drivers not to pass within the canyon.  This is the first of what appears to be a series of steps taken by the Brea Police Department and Chino Hills Sheriff's Department to improve patrolling and traffic enforcement on the state highway.
Already there is a visible and tangible presence resulting from these efforts.  On the Brea side, just a bit west of the former Manely Friends stable on the westbound side of the highway is an electronic message board that reads "High Enforcement Area" and warns people to not pass--this already being proscribed via signage throughout the canyon.

What else is in the works remains, of course, to be seen.  But, there will be a citywide Public Safety Forum, sponsored by the City of Chino Hills and the sheriff's department, at the city's Community Center on Peyton Drive between Grand and Eucalyptus and across from Ayala High School, on Thursday, 9 July at 6:00 p.m.  Among many other issues, the question of traffic safety on Carbon Canyon Road will be addressed.

We have two well-managed cities in Brea and Chino Hills, so it is encouraging at this date to see what has transpired so far.  Stay tuned for more as further information becomes available.

6 comments:

  1. This is good news, as far as I'm concerned. Thanks -- I love your CC Chronicle site.

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  2. Hello Anonymous, yes, it is good news, though it remains to be seen what else will be implemented. The message boards are a first step. Thanks for the nice words about the blog.

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  3. How about some big signs telling panicked drivers going 30MPH with 10 cars trapped behind them to use the turnouts?

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  4. Hello Anonymous of 16 May, Agreed that it is very annoying to drive behind someone poking along way below the speed limit and holding other drivers up. The usual defense is that this safe driving, but it could also be simply called slow driving. On the other hand, likely none of the 12 road closures documented on this blog since 28 February 2014 was caused by someone driving too slowly.

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  5. I am also encouraged to hear of better enforcement of traffic laws in the Canyon. I agree that slow drivers aren't the *cause* of accidents, but I believe Cal. law does require you to pull over (safely) if there are five or more cars behind you. Encouraging compliance with this law, as well as with the speed and passing laws, will certainly contribute to a safer experience for all.

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  6. Hello Jeff, to your point (and that of today's Anonymous), here is the applicable section of the California Vehicle Code on this (not that anyone driving too slow will either a) know this or b) do what they're supposed to!):

    21656. On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of
    traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow-moving
    vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, behind which five or more
    vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the
    nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the
    authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever
    sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the
    vehicles following it to proceed. As used in this section a
    slow-moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed
    less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and
    place.

    Thanks for your comment!

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