Laguna Hills commission urges enforcement and follow-up study after resident details near-misses at Bridlewood–Vista Viejo

City of Laguna Hills traffic commissioners voted unanimously to ask the city engineer to add Bridlewood Drive and Vista Viejo to the portable radar speed-feedback trailer rotation, request increased law enforcement presence, and conduct an expanded 90‑day speed survey that targets measurement locations residents say capture the fastest driving.

The action on March 19 followed a staff presentation summarizing prior studies (2018 and 2019) and a four‑day survey in January that showed low vehicle volumes but “unusual, spotty speeding,” with 80th‑percentile speeds about 35 mph on Bridlewood and 35.5 mph on Vista Viejo. City staff framed the recommendation as the incremental next step in the residential streets traffic management policy, which calls for stepped measures — from enforcement and feedback trailers to physical devices only if minimum criteria (including resident support and repeated high 80th‑percentile readings) are met.

Resident Aaron Myers, who lives at Bridlewood and Vista Viejo, told commissioners he has observed multiple near‑misses and questioned whether the placement of speed measurement devices understates peak speeds near the intersection. “By the time they get to the intersection of Bridlewood and Vista Viejo is when they're kind of at a maximum speed,” Myers said, describing cars accelerating after a downhill curve and entering the intersection faster than nearby survey points suggested.

Commissioners debated whether repeating prior incremental steps would produce different results. Commissioner Schaff and others urged the staff to place measuring devices at locations most likely to capture the worst‑case speeds Myers described. The sheriff’s representative said deputies had conducted additional patrols and would continue to respond as resources permit, noting dedicated motor officers have limited hours but that increased patrol checks had already been done in response to the concerns.

Chair Caputo moved the recommendation — adding the streets to the radar trailer rotation, conducting a 90‑day follow‑up survey with increased measurement locations, asking police services for increased enforcement, and directing staff to present a multi‑way stop analysis at the next traffic commission meeting — and Vice Chair Patel seconded. The commission approved the motion 4‑0.

Next steps: staff will run the expanded 90‑day speed survey and prepare a multi‑way stop analysis for the commission; physical traffic calming devices would be considered only if the city’s minimum criteria are met.