Traffic increases in Santa Monica and the Westside by about 2 percent a year, according to statistics. Every generation, the number of vehicles on our streets doubles.

Many Santa Monica streets were two lanes in each direction. Now, thoroughfares such as Montana Avenue, 11th Street, 14th Street and others are one lane in each direction. With curb extensions, traffic islands, pedestrian crosswalks and signals deliberately timed to make vehicles stop every block, traffic flow is even further reduced and gridlocked. No wonder going places has become a nightmare.

Politicians haven’t a clue how to deal with it. Last year, our City Council approved converting parking lanes into exclusive “bus and bicycle only” traffic lanes on Lincoln Boulevard during rush hour for that one bus that runs on Lincoln every eight minutes. Never mind that opening parking lanes to all users would increase the street’s vehicular capacity by 20 percent or more.

Recent columns by Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times lament that many Westsiders no longer go to the Music Center and other L.A. events because traffic is too much to deal with. It’s no secret that Los Angeles City and County politicians (like those who voted against mass transit for years) are now talking about turning Olympic and Pico boulevards into one-way streets or implementing variable direction lanes to increase traffic flow — all while their “Bus and Bicycle” lanes, like the one on Wilshire Boulevard in West Los Angeles, are empty 99 percent of the time.

The misguided, politically and ideologically driven traffic schemes have reduced our streets’ capacity to carry motor vehicles, created more congestion and are now having a measurable negative impact on local business.

Frustration with all the gridlock seems to be contributing to increases in reckless and dangerous driving. It’s the issue that’s driven the Friends of Sunset Park neighborhood group to suggest a whole raft of possible pedestrian “improvements” to Ocean Park Boulevard to make it safer. Among their requests is to consider installation of new a traffic signal at 16th Street, physical alterations to slow traffic, enhanced pedestrian crosswalks and new signage.

The problem is that Ocean Park Boulevard is a major East/West artery. Loading it with traffic lights and physical impediments creates more gridlock and forces motorists to shortcut onto residential side streets, as is already happening (according to FOSP e-mails) on Pearl Street, even though it has stop signs at every block.

Enforcement is an effective way to curb dangerous driving without using the physical road impediments that contribute to gridlock and accidents, yet do nothing to stop reckless motorists. I’d like to see SMPD Chief Timothy Jackman, request enough money in next year’s budget to hire a half-dozen more motor officers to supplement the eight traffic enforcement officers currently deployed. There’s no better way to ensure safe driving than a $350 traffic citation, a couple points on the old operator’s permit and jacked-up insurance rates.

More development means more traffic. Every new condominium project, apartment building, school, office complex and retail store increases traffic counts. City codes already address development’s affect on traffic. Those that substantially increase traffic can be denied or forced to minimize their traffic impacts — but it’s still not enough.

Unfortunately, the pro-development types and “smart-growthers” think that development won’t generate additional traffic if (1) it’s vertical and a mixed-use project, or (2) it’s on a transit line where residents can easily access public transportation. This is Voodoo Planning because there’s no guarantee people are going to work, school or shop near where they live, use public transit or surrender their cars wherever they live.

The dilemma of new development is dramatically demonstrated with the new Bundy Campus of Santa Monica College. Now, campus users want a new “left turn” signal on Bundy/Centinela. But, that thoroughfare is like Ocean Park Boulevard — a major artery that’s already heavily congested, especially during rush hours. Adding one more traffic light ... and then one more ... and then one more ... It’s easy to see why we have a traffic nightmare.

What’s the answer? Public transit must be more convenient and inviting. Streets must be utilized efficiently for traffic, not for decorative planters. Make developers pay dearly for street and traffic flow improvements, not day-care centers. Deploy more traffic enforcement. And, stop using streets to further personal social agendas.

Happy motoring.

Bill Bauer can be reached at mr.bilbau@gmail.com when he isn’t out driving around.