Press Conference on Safety Initiatives Following One-Year Anniversary of Pepperdine Student Tragedy

The City of Malibu will host a press conference on Friday, October 18 at 6:00 PM, marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic loss of four Pepperdine University students in a speeding-related incident on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The event will highlight the infrastructure and safety initiatives that have been implemented over the past year by the City of Malibu, State of California, Caltrans, and law enforcement agencies to improve safety on PCH, while acknowledging the work that remains.

The goal of the press conference is to honor the memory of the four Pepperdine students lost in last year's tragedy and to provide updates on the actions taken by the City, County, and State to improve safety on PCH. Speakers will discuss the ongoing work to prevent future tragedies and outline the next steps in infrastructure, enforcement, and public education.

Friday, October 18, 2024, 6:00 PM Ghost Tires Memorial, Pacific Coast Highway at Webb Way (23661 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu)

The press conference will focus on key initiatives, such as:

• SB 1297, recently signed into law, which will enable the installation of speed cameras at critical locations on PCH in Malibu.
• Increased enforcement efforts, including the creation of a Malibu CHP Task Force and collaborative operations with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), which have already led to a 36% reduction in injury collisions.
• $4.1 million in short-term infrastructure improvements funded by a Director's Order from Caltrans to address immediate safety concerns on PCH, along with a Strategic Master Planning effort for the redesign of PCH. This long-term plan will transform PCH from a high-speed highway into a safer, community-focused corridor, providing safe access for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
• Grants and educational campaigns funded by the Office of Traffic Safety to further support enforcement and raise awareness about road safety.

While important progress has been made, the City, County, and State agencies are committed to ongoing collaboration to make PCH safer for all roadway users.

SPEAKERS:

• Damian Kevitt, Fix PCH & Founder of Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE)
• Senator Ben Allen, Author of SB 1297
• Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, Primary Co-Author of SB 1297
• Mayor Doug Stewart, City of Malibu
• Capt. Jared Perry, California Highway Patrol
• Capt. Jennifer Seetoo, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
• Lee Haber, Chief Safety Officer, Caltrans District 7
• David Rolston, father of Niamh Rolston, one of the four students tragically lost