I would like to call the city’s attention to dangerous traffic conditions in several locations in Los Altos. There are many intersections where traffic islands exist to facilitate right turns without stopping. Drivers often merge onto roadways without pausing, thinking they are merging as if on a highway. It feels super dangerous.
I’ll focus on what I consider the extremely dangerous four corners where Edith intersects Foothill. Over the last two months, family members have talked abut four incidents that could have been catastrophic. Cars coming from Edith turning north towards Palo Alto often accelerate, looking only left, not seeing pedestrians and bike riders on their right side. Cars coming up from Fremont turning south on Foothill also accelerate, not seeing pedestrians on their right. Cars coming from the south on Foothill make the right turn and often a second fast right turn onto First Street, often never stopping, blasting through yellow and even red lights, right by pedestrians about to step into the crosswalk.
We often like to walk early in the morning between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., and have trained ourselves to be hyper-cautious, we warn all our guests and friends before they head out.
How has this situation been allowed to persist? Getting rid of the islands and making all cars stop before turning might create back-ups. That may have to happen. It is a complicated intersection but something needs to be done. Who will be the next person badly injured or killed because of our negligence?
