About Go Safely PCH

In November 2023, the Malibu City Council declared a Local Emergency aimed at addressing the risks of dangerous, illegal, and reckless driving on a 21-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH or State Route 1) locals call “Dead Man’s Curve” that is visited by millions every year. From 2011 to 2023, there were 58 people killed and more than 100 injuries to drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians on PCH. The dangerous driving behaviors on PCH culminated in the tragic deaths of four Pepperdine University students who were struck and killed by a speeding driver while walking along PCH on Oct. 17, 2023. That year alone, there were 220 crashes on PCH. Three of the crashes killed seven people and another 93 crashes resulted in injuries. The overwhelming majority of crashes involved speeding.

The situation is dire. Actions are being taken at the local and state level. The City of Malibu, City of Los Angeles, City of Santa Monica, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), and allied law enforcement agencies are committed to doing everything possible to improve safety on PCH, a top priority for the community and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).

Allies in Action

Go Safely PCH is a collaborative effort among local and state traffic safety stakeholders who are taking specific actions to reduce deaths and serious injuries on PCH.

City of Malibu

• Three CHP officers dedicated to traffic enforcement on PCH.
• $39 million spent on traffic safety improvement projects on PCH, with another $8 million dedicated to future PCH safety improvement projects.
• 2024 PCH Safety Report will track and update 130 improvement projects outlined in the City of Malibu’s 2015 PCH Safety Plan.
• 30 projects have been completed with another 50 projects in design and construction phases.
• 6 “LIDAR” speed guns for traffic safety enforcement activities by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD).
• From January to June 2024, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) issued 3,404 citations for speeding, an 82% increase over the same period in 2023.
• From January to June 2024, the stretch of PCH in Malibu saw a 36% decline in injury crashes compared to the same period in 2023.
• In 2023, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Malibu Lost Hills Station reported that 7,580 citations were issued for various traffic related violations in the City of Malibu. Of those, 50% were drivers between 20 to 34 years old, and 10% were Malibu residents.

Caltrans

• $4.2 million Director’s Order that includes 30 infrastructure improvements:
  • 13 speed feedback signs at 10 locations
  • Speed limit markings on the road
  • New safety corridor signs
  • Lane separators to prevent vehicles from drifting into oncoming traffic or making illegal turns.
  • New speed limit signs to enhance visibility at night
  • Curve warning signs at four locations
  • Three road safety audits that propose pavement upgrades, adding bike lanes and pedestrian access improvements at PCH/Heathercliff Road bus stop. Projects would be from Cross Creek Road to the Ventura County line. The bike lanes would be near Via Escondido Drive to Busch Drive and near Malibu RV Park Road to Via Escondido Drive.
  • Pedestrian signal upgrade north of Carbon Canyon to replace flashing yellow pedestrian beacon with full pedestrian signal. Construction start date is anticipated in Summer 2024.
• See the full list of current and planned PCH Safety Projects within Caltrans District 7, which includes Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Caltrans will continue to update this page as more projects are added and completed.
• Caltrans is holding a series of public engagement workshops for the public to provide feedback that helps shape the PCH Master Plan Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study focuses on the 22-mile portion of PCH within the city of Malibu and aims at identifying safety improvements for everyone using this vital PCH corridor. Additional information is available on the PCH Master Plan Fact Sheet.
• Caltrans PCH Master Plan Community Engagement Survey released July 15, 2024 asking the public for feedback on infrastructure improvements they would like to see on PCH. Survey results indicated residents would like to see more bike lanes, replacement of center-turn lanes with legal U-turns at signalized intersections, more sidewalks, center medians with concrete barriers and/or landscaping, gateway monuments, and bus stop improvements. Concepts for improvements will be developed in Aug. 2024.

California Highway Patrol

• Traffic enforcement task force in Malibu that will assist LASD on 21-mile stretch of PCH in Malibu.
• Zero tolerance for speeding. If you are stopped for speeding on PCH, you will be cited.
• Patrols on canyon roads leading into Malibu to deter speeders.
• More than 1,200 citations issued in 2024 through April by the CHP Task Force in Malibu. The overwhelming majority of the citations were for speeding.
• July and August, and September 2024 Weekly Enforcement (Monday to Sunday)
  • July 1 – July 7: 94 citations issued. 79 for speeding.
  • July 8 – July 14: 99 citations issued. 78 for speeding.
  • July 15 – July 21: 104 citations issued. 61 for speeding. Eight for distracted driving.
  • July 22 – July 28: 70 citations issued. 53 for speeding. Three for distracted driving.
  • July 29 – August 4: 42 citations issued. 27 for speeding, including one for exceeding 100 mph. Three for distracted driving.
  • August 5 – August 11: 71 citations issued. 34 for speeding. Four for distracted driving.
  • August 19 – August 25: 84 citations issued. 34 for speeding. Four for distracted driving.
  • August 26 – September 1: 135 citations issued. 79 for speeding. 10 for distracted driving.
  • September 2 – September 8: 67 citations issued. 51 for speeding. One for distracted driving.
  • September 16 – September 22: 129 citations issued. 103 for speeding. Three for distracted driving.

California Office of Traffic Safety

• $555,000 in additional funding for grants with LASD, Los Angeles Police Department and Santa Monica Police Department to conduct traffic enforcement and purchase three changeable message signs and trailers, as well as a speed radar trailer.

Page Updated: September 2024