[Ronald Moen] said he quickly realized the idea had too many drawbacks: What if the magnet fails as the car hovers 300 feet over a crowded freeway? How do you keep the occupants of the airborne car from jumping out? What if the suspect in the car wears lots of chains and medallions? Wouldn't the metal jewelry be drawn to the magnet, thus strangling the motorist?

Deborah Murphy, founder of the advocacy group Los Angeles Walks and head of the city's Pedestrian Advisory Committee, said motorists can make the right turn while a pedestrian is in the crosswalk, but only if your car is not in danger of hitting or blocking the path of the pedestrian. She suggests that drivers use common sense--oh, boy- -and remember that most pedestrian deaths occur at intersections.

Caltrans has for years maintained steel mesh "glare screens" along the top of the freeway dividers in many areas. The prime objective of the mesh is to block the headlight glare from oncoming cars. But the mesh routinely deteriorates because of exposure and auto accidents.