SLOWING DOWN TRAFFIC: County Road Engineer Lawrence Tai had two portable digital radar signs placed on Knabe Road after the Public Safety Committee meeting in May. The signs will be moved to other busy Temescal valley streets in the weeks ahead.

HAVE YOU SEEN DANGEROUS ROAD CONDITIONS such as blind corners, lack of left turn lanes or the need for stop signs? Send what you’ve seen and possible suggestions on how the problem can be fixed to Public Safety Committee Chairman John Watson at: jfwatson5@aol.com. Include the community in which the street is located, the problem, your name and how to reach you if necessary. A list is being compiled and all suggestions will be reviewed by the county.

The We Are Temescal Valley Public Safety Committee meeting in May focused on road safety in two areas – on surface streets and at the three schools located here.

Addressing the schools issue was CHP Community Service Officer Nate Jimerson who, along with other duties, is responsible for enforcing traffic laws at 24 schools within his CHP region. New to the position, Jimerson said he had visited the Todd and Temescal Valley elementary school campuses and hoped to patrol at Luiseno School prior to summer dismissal.

He said while the “dropping off” and “picking up” situations at the schools are less than optimal, parents are not justified in double parking, blocking driveways and parking in red zones. “Offenders will be cited,” Jimerson said.

Committee members commended Jimerson for fighting freeway traffic to attend the evening meeting on his day off.

Also attending the meeting was Renee Martin, a valley resident and the crossing guard at TVES. She said the flagrant violations by parents amaze her and she often worries about student safety. “Some people park in the red zones at both ends of the crosswalk and it’s the same parents doing it repeatedly.”

She said there are parents who will not follow her whistle commands when to cross and not cross the street. “I had the kids waiting to cross to let cars by and one dad grabbed his kid’s hand and said, ‘Let’s go.’ I was so proud of that little boy when he told his father, ‘No Dad, we can’t go until the guard says it’s safe.’ ”

Both Jimerson and Martin felt the best way to reach the parents about street safety was through their children. The Public Safety Committee, working with the CHP, will suggest to school administrators the possibility of street safety assemblies in the new school year.

Riverside County Road Engineer Lawrence Tai spoke about the public roadways in Temescal Valley. Tai said he was familiar with the county-maintained streets and knew of the larger traffic issues, i.e. Temescal Canyon Road, but wasn’t aware of all the individual issues within each of the neighborhoods. “I am aware, though, of concerns about speeding on surface streets.”

He described how speed limits are determined – not a simple process, and what it takes to get a new stop sign or traffic signal – also not a simple process but doable if warranted. What isn’t particularly doable are speed bumps, especially on arterials such as Knabe, Campbell Ranch, De Palma and Horsethief Canyon roads, and Trilogy Parkway.

“Speed bumps are hard on public safety vehicles such as fire engines rushing to emergency calls, as well as on the personnel inside the vehicles,” Tai said.

Several people at the meeting cited specific safety issues on neighborhood streets – blind corners, lack of left turn lanes, the need for stop signs. Tai said the county will investigate all concerns and possible solutions, but folks must let the county know where the problems are.

When asked, Tai said the county could install portable radar speed signs letting motorists know the speed at which they are driving. He said the digital displays are a good deterrent in slowing down speeders. Tai had two signs placed on Knabe Road and they will be moved to other streets where speeding is a problem.

Tai was impressed by the number of HOAs and neighborhoods represented by members of the Public Safety Committee, and said if the group could compile a list of concerns, he would look into all issues raised.

Send suggestions about street safety to Public Safety Committee Chairman John Watson at: jfwatson5@aol.com. Include the community in which the street is located, the problem, your name and how to reach you if necessary.

Committee members discussed launching a petition drive for the state to increase the number of CHP officers along the 1-15 Corridor. The committee also will create a campaign aimed at slowing down motorists on Temescal Valley streets.

If you would like to be notified of upcoming Public Safety Committee meetings, email your request to Watson.