PUBLIC FORUM; TRY AN EXPERIMENT.

As a frustrated Los Angeles freeway driver, I've long thought of freeway traffic as a study in fluid dynamics (``Fix gridlock, save big bucks,'' April 13). While we await the super-sophisticated, hyper-costly, semiautomated smart freeway infrastructure of the future, I believe the following would prove to be an effective, less-expensive remedy for gridlock:

Drivers rapidly approaching backed-up freeway traffic brake just as rapidly, and cause traffic behind them to slow down because the sudden, collective, fast-braking of all the new arrivals propagates and maintains waves of additional braking behind them. Not only does this slow the overall speed of all the cars on the freeway, it also increases driving risk and air pollution.

To mitigate this phenomenon, variable-speed-limit zones should be established along urban freeways subject to regular rush-hour slowdowns. A series of permanent traffic sensors in the roadbed, such as those used by German researchers cited in a November 1997 Daily News article, ``Traffic Jams: Physicists turn talents to saving us from permanently clogged freeways,'' would gather continuous information on traffic volume and speed and display a temporary, lower-than-65 mph speed limit.

This would create a long stream of slower, smoothly flowing freeway traffic. This slower - but smoother - traffic stream would be easier on cars and drivers, reduce air pollution of every kind, from airborne brake lining to smog and greenhouse gases, and reduce rear-end collisions. In other words, all of the benefits of reducing gridlock cited in the Daily News piece - saving lives, helping the environment, saving time and fuel, and enhancing work productivity.

This is an experiment worth trying.

- Gregory Wright

Sherman Oaks

OBEY THE LAWS

Is everyone as sick and tired as I am with this Elian Gonzalez business? I can't believe that our government, which has stated its case clearly, is letting itself be held hostage by this family. I am angry that the INS continues to cave in to their demands. I am fed up with these relatives and their denying Elian's father custody of his son. What right do they have to have custody of this boy?

It seems to me that Cuban-Americans in Florida who were so anxious to get here could now obey the laws of this country.

- Margot Trasatti

Sherman Oaks

A BRUTAL DANCE

Since when does the United States sacrifice the well-being of a child to appease a communist tyrant? As the days pass, it is becoming clear this is the primary issue behind the Department of Justice's actions to deport Elian Gonzalez.

Sen. DeConcini stated only the rights of the father are important in this case. Isn't it time we stop treating children as chattel and begin recognizing their right to live without fear and brutality? Isn't it time we stopped pretending this is about a father's right and admit it is about appeasing Castro? The Justice Department is not concerned about the desires of either Juan Miguel or Elian. They are unwitting bystanders in this brutal dance between two countries.

We should stop caving in to the latest rampage of a murderous tyrant and take care of this vulnerable child.

- Loretta Kemsley

Sylmar

BEWARE THE BULLFROG

Beware the giant bullfrog, that rapist of the environment, that voracious predator, that non-native species (''Bullfrogs to bite bullets in effort to save fish,'' April 13). It is destroying other life forms, no doubt wants the right to bear arms and probably is a Republican to boot. It has no place here.

But wait. According to either the evolutionists or the creationists, man is the latest of the late comers. According to the environmentalists and the Department of Fish and Game, mankind should depart. If you think I jest, ask the farmer in Bakersfield persecuted for running over a rat, or the developers in Riverside stopped by a fly.

- James Menotti

Sunland

KEEP THE VALLEY FAITH

Our illustrious and always devious school board is playing games with us again, as they did with busing, early education, dumbing down test scores and hiring uncredentialed teachers.

Their ``thought of the day'' is to break us up into school districts (``School board votes to split L.A. district,''April 12).

Don't listen. These board members don't know the meaning of ethics, never mind how to spell the word. Control will still come from downtown, whose mentality has turned a decent school system into one that vies with Mississippi and Arkansas as being the worst in the nation.

Downtown power has never listened to our woes about airport noise, pot- holed streets, a nearby dump, street corners packed with undocumented workers, costly trash barrel charges, graffiti or gangs. Why would they listen to us about our nonfunctioning schools?

This is the school board's last-ditch effort. Let's not be bought with false promises. We need to keep the Valley faith, stand ground, not waiver and refuse to be herded like cattle to the slaughter.

- Paul Vaughn

Certified Educational Planner

Van Nuys

TAX PREP CHALLENGE

Regarding ``The cost of ignorance,'' April 17:

Amazing. The Heritage Foundation has come up with a ``new'' idea to do away with the withholding tax.

Here's a flash: That idea has been here since the withholding tax was initiated.

Now if the Heritage Foundation really wanted to break some ground, why not propose that all elected officials must do their own taxes, without the aid of a preparer?

- Mike Savell

Simi Valley

STOP THE HATRED

Patti Nielson, a Columbine teacher, made a most remarkable comment about the killings at Columbine (``Columbine legacy,'' April 16). It goes right to the heart of this senseless act.

Neilson said, ``I was wondering why hasn't Congress done anything to prevent what happened at Columbine from happening again?'' The government is not, cannot be and will not be the source to stop hatred. We must stop looking to the government to solve our problems. Society must all look inward to determine what changes have occurred to our culture. No amount of government posturing, law-making, money-spending or words will change people's opinion.

- Francis Jansen

Northridge

HOT AIR TO BLAME

Let's be clear on the missed point in "Ocean salt a factor in pollution" (Daily News, April 14). Ocean salt does not cause smog. Nor does sunlight, trees, nor any other naturally occurring condition.

Smog is muck in the air and is caused by humans. This miasma includes hot air produced by people with agendas other than the public good.

- Roger Walton

North Hills

A FOUR-HOUR NIGHTMARE

My wife commutes by bus to work on the Westside. We were very sympathetic to the plight of the janitors - that was until their civil disobedience impacted and disrupted the lives of many innocent people.

The bus that my wife was on could not (or would not) get past the illegal human blockades. As a result, she had to walk many blocks during the rush hour to find a bus to take her to the Valley. A one-hour commute turned into a four-hour nightmare.

We live in a wonderful country that allows workers to band together for a common cause, but when it turns illegal and infringes on the rights of other people, it is wrong. To all you janitors out there, you have taken a big step backward as far as I'm concerned. Strike and march if you will, but stop hurting other people.

- Mike Kirsch

Sherman Oaks

ADULT TICKET PRICE

Shame on you, Michael Eisner of the Disney Co.

You made $57 million last year. Now you want more by making a 10-year- old pay as an adult.

I guess it's true: The more you have, the more you want.

- Eugene Bliley

Northridge

DEPRESSION-ERA EARNINGS

Thank you, Steve Vlasich (``Depression brought great lessons with it,'') April 4).

When I explain the Depression to our children and my grandchildren, they don't believe me, think I must be exaggerating, and they laugh. When I baby-sat all night, I got a quarter and was happy to get it.

- Justine C. Moulton

Valley Village