Freeway Expansion Works Too Well
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Just leave the racing to the professionals.
More road means more speeding on the 118 Freeway.
An extra eastbound lane that opened last week on the 118 Freeway was designed to relieve traffic congestion. It also led to more speeding tickets.
Three times more speeding tickets than usual were issued along the stretch over the past six weeks, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The Daily News reported that officers cited 23 motorists for speeding in one morning. Those tickets were issued in just three hours.
The three-mile lane was added between Tapo Street and Kuehner Driver in Simi Valley.
Authorities plan to increase patrols on the freeway.
"They're going way too fast," Capt. Cliff Williams told the Daily News. "There's the potential for not just one accident, but a very serious one."
Construction was completed March 17.
The Daily News reported that 173 citations have been issued in the area. An average of 60 citations were issued in March 2007 and March 2008, the newspaper reported.
Motorists have been clocked at speeds around 100 mph.
