On Wednesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state would be taking action to address reckless and illegal driving along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
Since 2010, the governor’s office said, nearly 60 people have died along the 21-mile stretch of roadway. Now, an effort to change that, called the Go Safely PCH, will make use of infrastructure upgrades, increased traffic enforcement and a new public education campaign. The effort is in addition to work the state is already doing to strengthen sections of the highway that have been and continue to be impacted by storms.
“The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most iconic drives in California, if not the world. But far too many have lost their lives along this corridor,” Newsom said. “We’re taking action with innovative safety upgrades and increased enforcement that will save lives.”
The effort includes investing $4.2 million into safety upgrades including lane separators, crosswalk striping and more visible road striping, as well as more speed limit and curve warning signs; $555,000 in additional funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety for increased law enforcement; and a new education campaign to alert drivers of the increased law enforcement presence and to remind them to slow down or face the consequences.
“Go Safely PCH is more than a campaign – it’s a movement demonstrating our collective commitment to making this beautiful corridor safer for everyone who travels on it,” California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said. “Through infrastructure improvements, increased enforcement and drivers doing their part by slowing down, we can and will save lives. I thank all our partners for coming together to say in a strong, unified voice: One more life lost is one too many.”