Category Archives: traffic safety

Video urges drivers to obey traffic laws

The Chicago-based Traffic Safety Coalition has released a new video urging motorists to stop at red lights. The video, “Victims of Red Light Running: More than Statistics,” features several people from around the country talking about loved ones ripped from … Continue reading

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Posted in Traffic collisions, traffic hazards, traffic laws, traffic light, traffic safety, traffic signal, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | View Comments

Skateboard rules vary from town to town

Dear Street Smarts, Q: Is it legal to ride a skateboard on the street like a bike? On my commute, I see a father on a skateboard accompanying his child — who’s riding a bike. Sometimes, the dad rides in … Continue reading

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Posted in Capitola, Capitola Police, CHP, law enforcement, pedestrian education, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, police, roads, skateboards, traffic, Traffic Enforcement, traffic laws, traffic safety, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , | View Comments

Road rules: the 411 on driving along the shoulder to make a right turns

Dear Street Smarts, Q: What are the rules for making right turns from the shoulder? I’m thinking southbound Highway 1 at River Street and/or northbound Highway 1 at Western Drive. Both these intersections have long, paved shoulders. Some drivers use … Continue reading

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Posted in bicycle, California Vehicle Code, CHP, driver education, Driver safety, Highway 1, pedestrians, Right-of-Way, Santa Cruz, traffic hazards, traffic laws, traffic light, traffic safety, traffic signal, traffic signs, traffic ticket, traffic violation, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | View Comments

Buses, traffic create blind spots for drivers near UCSC

Dear Street Smarts, Q: Due to the large amount of traffic at the east entrance to UCSC, in my opinion, left hand turn lanes large enough to accommodate buses are necessary for turning left northbound onto Glenn Coolidge Drive from … Continue reading

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Posted in bicycle, bus, California Vehicle Code, cell phones, CHP, commute, congestion, consumer affairs, distracted drivers, DMV, driver education, Driver safety, Highway 1, inattentive drivers, Intersection, law enforcement, pedestrians, public works, public works projects, road construction, road work, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Public Works, sidewalks, texting, traffic, traffic citation, traffic hazards, traffic laws, traffic safety, traffic ticket, traffic violation, transportation, UCSC, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | View Comments

Talking traffic to DeLaveaga school, commute solutions

Dear Street Smarts, Q: I was interested to read your Street Smarts column about how school traffic has been affected by the La Fonda overpass construction. Ms. Speiser may be accurate in her efforts to help ease traffic by encouraging … Continue reading

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Posted in Aptos, bicycle, carpool, children, commute, Commute Solutions, congestion, consumer affairs, county, crossing guards, crosswalks, detour, driver education, Highway 1, Intersection, law enforcement, merging, pedestrians, police, public transportation, road construction, road work, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, school zones, sidewalks, traffic light, traffic safety, traffic signal, transportation, transportation projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | View Comments

Crashes involving large trucks means death for those in the other vehicle

Fact from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Passengers in vehicles involved in crashes with large trucks are more likely to die as a result on that collision. “In 2011, 3,757 people were killed in motor-vehicle crashes involving a large … Continue reading

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Posted in big rigs, California Driver Handbook, DMV, driver education, Driver safety, NHTSA, Traffic collisions, traffic laws, traffic safety, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | View Comments

Why police officers can talk non-hands-free while driving

Q: I’ve observed Capitola police officers regularly use their mobile phones while driving! Why? Rick Caldarella, via email A: This topic has appeared in Street Smarts before. But being that this is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and officers will … Continue reading

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Posted in California Vehicle Code, Capitola, Capitola Police, cell phones, CHP, distracted drivers, DMV, driver education, Driver safety, emergency responders, law enforcement, police, Public safety, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Police, Scotts Valley, Scotts Valley Police, texting, traffic citation, Traffic Enforcement, traffic laws, traffic safety, traffic ticket, traffic violation, transportation, Uncategorized, Watonville Police | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

No dedicated left turn light coming to Cabrillo College Drive, Park Avenue

Dear Street Smarts, Q: I enjoy reading your advice on Street Smarts and appreciate the opportunity to have somewhere to voice my concerns. I live in Soquel, near the busy intersection of Cabrillo College Drive and Park Avenue. There is … Continue reading

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Posted in aggressive drivers, public works, Santa Cruz County Public Works, Soquel, traffic hazards, traffic laws, traffic light, traffic safety, traffic signal, traffic signs, Uncategorized | Tagged , | View Comments

Two lanes of traffic along Hwy 9 at Glen Arbor re-open April 6

Dear Street Smarts, Q: We had to laugh, just last week we saw in your column: “Scratch that July 31 date, said Susana Cruz of Caltrans. The actual date is March 29.” We immediately started taking bets on the March … Continue reading

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Posted in Ben Lomond, Caltrans, congestion, Highway 9, motorcycle, police, Public safety, road work, Scotts Valley, Scotts Valley Police, traffic laws, traffic safety, transportation, transportation projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | View Comments

School buses are allowed to double park to pickup, dropoff students

Dear Street Smarts, Q: I recently seen an article in your paper regarding driver’s bad behavior around schools (“Street Smarts: Dealing with school zone traffic scofflaws,” March 7) and wanted to clarify a statement made in the article. The statement … Continue reading

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Posted in bus, California Vehicle Code, CHP, crosswalks, driver education, Driver safety, law enforcement, parking, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, police, Public safety, Santa Cruz, school bus, school zones, Soquel, speed, Speed limit, traffic laws, traffic safety, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | View Comments