Agoura Hills approves faster speed limits




BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers PULLED OVER- A  driver  is stopped by  the Highway Patrol  in Agoura Hills. Some speed limits in the city are being raised.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers PULLED OVER- A driver is stopped by the Highway Patrol in Agoura Hills. Some speed limits in the city are being raised.


Thirteen Agoura Hills streets that had been slammed as speed traps by ticketed drivers will have faster speed limits posted.

A recently completed traffic study also identified three sections of Agoura Road- – between Ladyface Circle and Kanan Road, from Kanan Road to Palo Comado Canyon, and from Palo Comado Canyon to Liberty Canyon- – for a change from 40 mph to 45 mph.

The speed limit on three sections of Canwood Street will rise from 35 to 40 mph. The locations include the area on Canwood between Reyes Adobe Road to Kanan Road, and from Kanan Road to Derry Avenue and Derry Avenue to Chesebro Road.

On Driver Avenue/Palo Comado Canyon Road, the speed limit has been raised from 30 to 35 mph from Argos Street to the 101 Freeway.

Areas of Kanan Road from Thousand Oaks Boulevard to Hillrise Drive and from Hillrise Drive to Canwood Street have also been raised from 35 to 40 mph.

The speed limit has also been raised to 40 mph on Liberty Canyon Road from Agoura Road to Country Glen Road.

Roadside Drive, from Kanan Road to Country Glen Road, was also identified for a boost in speed, and on Thousand Oaks Boulevard from Buffwood Place to Kanan Road, the speed limit has been raised to 40 mph.

City engineer Ken Berkman said that prima facie (posted) speed limits must be justified by an engineering and traffic study. If a motorist exceeds the prima facie (numerical) speed limit, he can be ticketed. But if the driver’s speed can be proven in court to be safe and reasonable under the prevailing conditions, the speeding charge could be dismissed.

In his report to the council, Berkman said the three elements of the survey included the measurement of the prevailing speed in each location, accident history and roadway characteristics “not readily apparent to the motorist.” If the majority of motorists travel at faster rates on certain roads, a traffic study is warranted, he said.

The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department reviewed the report and supports the city’s recommendations, Berkman said.

Councilmember Denis Weber asked if the speed limit would continue to be raised if motorists continued to go faster than the new limits. Berkman said that speed limits are determined by driver behavior.

As to the prevailing view that certain areas of the city are “speed traps,” Berkman said that higher posted speeds will help alleviate that perception.

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