Traffic Safety - Traffic Management - Congestion Relief

By Dwight P. McDonald

There's a major problem with traffic in the City of Santa Clarita, and it's getting worse, but with planinning and modifications, the problem can be resolved.

With a City owned Police Department, focus on the problem areas can be accomplished, and directed as needed to resolve problems associated with speeding, impaired drivers, and traffic collision paterns. The focus of the Police Department, as it relates to traffic movement and traffic problems, should be in those areas where the errant drivers in this city are violating the laws, and causing injury and death.

Traffic controls at intersections need to be coordinated, and adjusted according to traffic patterns, peak travel periods, and configuration of the road. The timing of signals across the Santa Clarita Valley would promote a more even flow of traffic, reduce waisted time, and impact vehicle exhaust polution.

Congestion from poor traffic movement, poorly controlled intersections, and traffic collisions can be resolved by better engineering, coupled with educating the motoring public of alternate routes available to ease traffic congestion, alternate modes of public transportation, and a more visual presence of law enforcement. Additionally, law enforcement needs to expidite the clearing of the collision scene to restore traffic movement, or physically direct traffic to keep vehicles moving, and reducing the "Lookie-Loo" effect which backs up traffic.