Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
speed limits

Daily News Shocker: Wider 118 Leads to More Speeders

5_1_09_118.jpgEastbound traffic on the widened 118 Freeway in Simi Valley.  Image via Daily News

Earlier this week, Sue Doyle with the Daily News reported that with the expansion of the 188 Freeway, aka the Ronald Reagen Freeway, there has been an unexpected consequence.  Apparently, the wider highway has led to a pandemic of speeding:

"They're going way too fast," said Capt. CliffWilliams, who works out of the CHP office in Moorpark. "There's thepotential for not just one accident, but a very serious one."

Since construction ended March 17 on the eastbound lanes,authorities have issued 173 citations for speeding in the area, saidRandy Pickens, CHP administrative officer. By comparison, officersaveraged just 60 citations in March2007 and March 2008, Pickens said.

Over the past six weeks, motorists have routinely hitspeeds of 95 mph, said Steve Marchant, a CHP officer who has patrolledthe area for four years. Last Thursday, officers cited a motorist fordriving 101 mph. 

Just a reminder that a couple of weeks ago the LADOT and City Council were telling us that the way to decrease speeds on Valley surface streets was to raise the speed limits so the LAPD can try enforcing the speed limit with radar.  While that argument made sense to just about nobody, this new information presents a different picture.  If increasing road capacity causes people to drive faster maybe decreasing capacity in the form of traffic calming, narrower travel lanes or a road diet might have the effect of slowing car traffic down.

In related news, Paul Krekorian's legislation to change the way new speed limits are set on surface streets has been moved to May 11.  Keep checking back here for more updates on the Krekorian.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

SGV Connect 132: A Fond Farewell to Melanie Curry

This week’s SGV Connect Podcast features the entire Streetsblog in California team saying goodbye to the Streetsblog California editor, Melanie Curry, as she heads into retirement.

January 16, 2025

Where Metro and Caltrans Are Widening L.A. Freeways, Sabotaging the Climate, Fanning the Flames

Climate disruption is here. Right now. It's past time that Southern California transportation heavyweights - Metro and Caltrans - stop making the situation worse

January 16, 2025

Streetsblog California Editor Melanie Curry Signs Off

Pat me on the head and shoo me out the door, there's work to be done

January 15, 2025
See all posts