After 60 car crash deaths on Pacific Coast Highway, state legislators say enough is enough

Last fall, four Pepperdine students joined the list of more than 60 victims killed by cars on the Pacific Coast Highway since 2010. Now, state legislators are working to prevent similar tragedies on PCH and across the state.

On Tuesday, two speeding bills designed with the PCH in mind advanced out of the Senate Transportation Committee — SB 1509, which would harshen speeding penalties, and SB 1297, which would install more speed cameras in dangerous traffic corridors.

SB 1509 was authored by state Sen. Henry Stern, D-Calabasas, and would make convictions for driving more than 26 MPH over the speed limit a two-point driver’s license violation on specific roadways, including PCH. It would be on par with the number of points given for DUI and hit-and-run convictions, putting speeding drivers at a higher risk of having their license suspended.

“SB 1509 isn’t just a bill; it’s my pledge to my childhood home, Malibu,” said Stern. “With each step as this bill moves forward in the legislative process, we’re honoring the lives lost on our roads, transforming tragedy into action.”

SB 1297 was authored by state Sen. Ben Allen, D-El Segundo, and would expand “speed safety system pilot programs” in areas of the state with high speeding fatalities. It calls for five speed-camera systems along a critical 21-mile stretch of Malibu’s PCH to alert drivers if they are traveling at dangerous speeds and, hopefully, slow down.

“As a father, I am heartbroken every time I see yet another news report of a fatal car crash on PCH,” said Allen, whose district also includes Malibu. “The Malibu community is devastated by far too many serious injuries and deaths each year. The passage of SB 1297 out of committee is the first step to providing the city with the necessary tools to crack down on reckless speeding and save lives.”

Both of the proposed bills have the support of the Malibu City Council, which has long called for increased safety measure along the beautiful, but deadly roadway.

“Speeding remains the primary factor in collisions and fatalities on PCH in Malibu,” said Malibu Mayor Steve Uhring. “SB 1509 represents a crucial step towards addressing this issue by holding negligent drivers accountable for their actions.”

Malibu has recorded more traffic fatalities and serious injuries over the last five years than any other similarly sized city in California. In 2023 alone, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department issued 7,580 violations for speeding in Malibu.

“We are taking an ‘all of the above’ approach to ensure the safety of all who travel along Pacific Coast Highway,” said Malibu Mayor Pro Tempore Doug Stewart. “In addition to legislative measures, the city is actively working with our law enforcement partners, the California Department of Transportation, the California Office of Traffic Safety, and other key stakeholders to implement comprehensive safety initiatives.”

The two bills also have the backing of parents who lost their children to traffic accidents on PCH.

During Tuesday’s state Senate Transportation Committee hearing, Michel Shane shared the story of losing his 13-year-old daughter Emily to a speeding driver in 2010. Barry Stewart recounted the loss of his daughter Peyton, and three of her Pepperdine University classmates, who were struck by a driver traveling at 104 MPH in a 45 MPH zone on October 17, 2023.

Speeding remains a primary cause of traffic fatalities across the state. According to Caltrans, more than 3,600 traffic fatalities occur in California each year, 34% of which are related to speeding and aggressive driving.