BILL NUMBER: SB 691 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 26, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 22, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Senator Lieu
FEBRUARY 18, 2011
An act to amend Sections 627 and 22358.3
Section 627 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 691, as amended, Lieu. Vehicles: reducing prima facie
speed limits: local authority. engineering and traffic
survey.
Existing law authorizes a local authority to decrease the
prima facie speed limits in a business or residential district or a
public park on any street having a roadway not exceeding 25 feet in
width to 20 or 15 miles per hour if the local authority determines,
upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey, that the prima
facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour is more than is reasonable or
safe. Existing law also authorizes a local authority to decrease the
prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour to a speed limit of 20
or 15 miles per hour, upon the basis of an engineering or traffic
survey. Existing law defines "engineering and traffic
survey" to include the consideration of, among other things, highway,
traffic, and roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver.
This bill would eliminate the width limitation of the
roadway for which the local authority may decrease the prima facie
speed limits. The bill would authorize the local authority to reduce
the prima facie speed limits to any speed lower than 25 miles per
hour that is found to be most appropriate and is reasonable and safe.
The bill would revise the definition of "engineering and
traffic survey" to specify conditions that are considered to be
conditions not readily apparent to the driver.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 627 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
627. (a) "Engineering and traffic survey," as used in this code,
means a survey of highway and traffic conditions in accordance with
methods determined by the Department of Transportation for use by
state and local authorities.
(b) An engineering and traffic survey shall include, among other
requirements deemed necessary by the department, consideration of all
of the following:
(1) Prevailing speeds as determined by traffic engineering
measurements.
(2) Accident records.
(3) Highway, traffic, and roadside conditions not readily apparent
to the driver including all of the following:
(A) Elevated accident frequency.
(B) Elevated accident severity.
(C) High percentage of usage by trucks or other slow moving
vehicles.
(D) Multiple uncontrolled access points or frequent cross traffic
conflicts from closely spaced driveways or jogged intersections, or
both.
(E) Poor pavement condition or rough roads.
(F) Roadway slope.
(G) Presence of horizontal or vertical curbs, or both, limiting
motorist sight distance.
(H) Presence of multiple uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.
(I) Presence of school zones, multiple uncontrolled school
crossings, and school bus stops.
(J) Proximity to parks with active use or playgrounds.
(K) Proximity to senior facilities or crossings frequented by
seniors.
(L) Roadway that is parking impacted with heavy parking turnover.
(M) Roadway with heavily used bike routes that are not afforded
with bike lanes.
(N) Equestrian activity or crossings.
(O) Roadway with heavy transit usage.
(P) Presence of nonlicensed electric or motorized vehicle
crossings, such as golf cart crossings.
(Q) Key roadway connections for neighborhood electric vehicles.
(c) When conducting an engineering and traffic survey, local
authorities, in addition to the factors set forth in paragraphs (1)
to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (b) may consider all of the
following:
(1) Residential density, if any of the following conditions exist
on the particular portion of highway and the property contiguous
thereto, other than a business district:
(A) Upon one side of the highway, within a distance of a quarter
of a mile, the contiguous property fronting thereon is occupied by 13
or more separate dwelling houses or business structures.
(B) Upon both sides of the highway, collectively, within a
distance of a quarter of a mile, the contiguous property fronting
thereon is occupied by 16 or more separate dwelling houses or
business structures.
(C) The portion of highway is longer than one-quarter of a mile
but has the ratio of separate dwelling houses or business structures
to the length of the highway described in either subparagraph (A) or
(B).
(2) Pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
SEC. 2. Section 22358.3 of the Vehicle Code is
amended to read:
22358.3. Notwithstanding Section 22358.4, whenever a local
authority determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic
survey that the prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour in a
business or residence district or in a public park on any street,
other than a state highway, is more than is reasonable or safe, the
local authority may, by ordinance or resolution, determine and
declare a prima facie speed limit of 20 or 15 miles per hour, or any
speed lower than 25 miles per hour, whichever is found most
appropriate and is reasonable and safe. The declared prima facie
limit shall be effective when appropriate signs or pavement markings,
or both signs and pavement markings, giving notice of the speed
limit are erected or placed upon the street.