Keep tempers cool on roadways

This is in response to Lorena Billig's letter (July 12) complaining about the motorist she classified as "rude." I am assuming that her neighborhood is on a public street in a residential zone. If that is the case, then the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour. This speed limit was set by the proper authorities with the knowledge that children are frequently present. In school zones the 25 mph speed limit signs include the addendum "when children are present."

I am a concerned parent as well; however, neither Ms. Billig nor the "many parents" she refers to have the authority or right to confront drivers who are traveling at or below the posted speed limit simply because they believe the limit should be lower.

Ms. Billig acknowledged that the motorist rolled down her window and yelled "twenty miles per hour" when she was abruptly told to slow down. While the expletive may not have been appropriate, it was clearly inappropriate for Ms. Billig to confront a motorist traveling under the speed limit in the first place. If this motorist was speeding, that would be another matter. It is not the job of citizens to arbitrarily put themselves above the law and set their own speed limits.

I am curious about one important issue not included in her letter. Ms. Billig never clarified as to where these children were playing. When I was a kid, someone would only yell "car" if we were playing out in the street. Were the children she referred to playing out in the street? If so, then it is the children and their parents who are acting irresponsibly and possibly in violation of the law.

The California Motor Vehicle Code states that pedestrians do have certain rights; however, one of these rights is not to play in the street, creating a hazardous situation for themselves and other motorists. Rob Quinn Agoura Hills