PCH Safety Upgrade: Speed Cameras Hit Southern California

Key stretches of Southern California's Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) are set to receive crucial safety enhancements, mirroring initiatives in Northern California. Following a local emergency declaration in Malibu due to fatal crashes, speed cameras will be installed from Zuma Beach to Carbon Beach starting in September 2024. These cameras will issue warnings and then citations for drivers exceeding the speed limit by 11 mph or more, a pilot program authorized by state Senate Bill 1297.

Further south, Long Beach is pursuing similar speed enforcement measures for its 8-mile segment of PCH through Senate Bill 1279, which Governor Newsom may sign by September 30, 2024. This initiative aims to address the high number of traffic fatalities on the roadway. In Orange County, Huntington Beach is investing over $10 million to construct new bike lanes along a 10-mile stretch of PCH, a project expected to be completed by December 2026.

These upgrades are a response to alarming accident statistics, including multiple fatalities on Malibu's PCH in recent years and a significant number of deaths in Long Beach. The addition of bike lanes in Huntington Beach addresses a long-standing need for safer cycling infrastructure, spurred by recent tragic incidents involving cyclists. Orange County is actively working to improve its cycling network amidst a rise in cyclists, including those on e-bikes.