Deronda Drive Traffic and Safety Problem

Video evidence of emergency response and traffic problems at the dead end of Deronda Drive caused by tourist trying to see the Hollywood sign
THE PROBLEM ON DERONDA DRIVE
With the increased use of GPS, cellphone mapping and internet sites, more and more motorist are driving into Hollywoodland and and up Deronda Drive to see the Hollywood sign. Deronda Drive is a direct route to Mt Lee Drive where the Hollywood sign is located, however Deronda Drive is not a through road and is gated off at Mt Lee Drive. The amount of traffic that goes up and must come back down is creating severe traffic problems not only for the visitors and residents, but also for city, mail, police, fire and emergency services.

The increased traffic on Deronda Drive has created unsafe conditions and grid lock.
Deronda Drive is a narrow winding road with many pinch points and parking restriction to aid emergency access. The main problem area is the 3300 block at the end where it is narrow, steep and dead ends into a tight cul-du-sac. Long stretches of the road are less than 21' wide. Very often cars are parked along the entire stretch of road resulting in only one lane for two-way traffic. When the number of vehicles goes beyond a certain point, traffic is completely jammed. Traffic must somehow go up turn around and go back down on one lane. Drivers must tightly negotiate around each other and are often required to back downhill in reverse. This is very unsafe for the children in the area as well as causing vehicles and property damage incidents.

Disregard of posted signs.
Many of the people who drive to the end of Deronda do not (and sometimes cannot) drive back down the hill even when there is no stopping allowed. Many times a day the street is filled to capacity with cars parked illegally. Then when all the illegal parking spots are taken, people just stop in middle in the road creating chaotic traffic jams. The Police are frequently called to restore order. A majority are from out of town and are not aware of the problems they are causing. Ticketing is ineffective since most will never come back to this area again. They all just want a place to park and see the sign, but don't know where else to go.

*Blocked traffic on Deronda Drive is a significant safety hazard impacting area.*
Deronda Drive provides critical access to the fire roads and for emergency, police, communications and the emergency helipad operations. The gated at the end of Deronda is posted with multiple NO PARKING and NO STOPPING sign, But as stated above there is often a complete disregard of these signs and the free flow of traffic. There are several local initiatives to keep Deronda Drive cleared for emergency vehicles. But the majority of traffic on Deronda has no knowledge of these efforts to keep the road clear. Compounded with the previously stated unsafe conditions and traffic jams, emergency response to the Hollywoodland area is severely threatened.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• emergency
• response
• traffic
• problems
• Deronda
• Drive
• tourist
• Hollywood
• sign

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[Keydet1992]

The dirty little secret the residents of Deronda won't tell you is this. THEY REFUSE to make that street a NO PARKING zone. Five homeowners don't want to give up their street parking. They would rather have this gridlock instead! All they have to do is let the City designate a 100 yard stretch of the street a NO PARKING ZONE, and LADOT would be able to ticket and tow. If there is gridlock, it is DERONDA's OWN FAULT!

[Keydet1992]

So tired of this video. This video does not accurately depict the conditions on upper Deronda. Fran/BCNA found one day when the traffic was bad, and exploited it. Anyone can go to upper Deronda on any given day and see no more than a handful of tourists. In all my years living up here, I have never seen gridlock on that street, and I go up that street daily. Pure nonsense from a community activist with an agenda...

[TheBeachwooder]

This is crazy. This is the most important landmark for Hollywood but this is dangerous for the residents, the tourists, and houses in case of an emergency.

The City should use its power of eminant domain and purchase the commercial building just inside the stone gates to Hollywoodland (opposite the Market) and make a special lane for tourists to do a u turn in that commercial space. Most tourists will follow whatever signs you post.

[mcdfas88]

I believe that what needs to be done is for a gate pole to be placed at the intersection of Deronda & Rockcliff to block traffic from going up there. This would be similar to the poles on Woodley Ave between Burbank and Victory Blvds at Balboa Park during rainy days. Only residents, mail, police and emergency crew should be allowed in that street.

[jollyoly]

I say post up a security guard near the bottom end to turn tourist away or make it a even more gated community just saying