MALIBU—On Tuesday, August 18, the city of Malibu announced that it is nearing completion of the construction phase of its Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Speed Safety System and is officially starting the program’s public education and outreach phase. During the next few weeks, the city will provide residents and motorists with details about how the system works, where cameras will be located, when enforcement will start, and how the program is designed to reduce dangerous speeding and improve safety along Malibu’s 21-mile stretch of PCH.
“Our goal is to improve safety for everyone who uses Pacific Coast Highway, whether they are driving, biking, walking, visiting, or commuting through Malibu,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein. “We have seen unimaginable tragedy on Pacific Coast Highway caused by excessive speeding, and we must do everything we can to prevent future loss of life. This program honors those we have lost, protects those who use this roadway today, and encourages safer driving behaviors that save lives.”
Improving safety on PCH has long been one of the Malibu community’s highest priorities. Since 2010, more than 60 people have died in traffic collisions along Malibu’s 21-mile section of PCH. In 2023, there were 220 reported crashes on PCH resulting in 93 injuries and 7 deaths.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, speed is a primary factor in a majority of traffic collisions resulting in injury or death. Speeding remains a significant concern on Pacific Coast Highway. In October 2023, four Pepperdine University students were killed by a speeding driver while standing along PCH.
Fraser Bohm, who was 22 at the time, was charged in a fatal car crash that killed the four Pepperdine University students. He was charged with four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. He pled not guilty to all charges at an arraignment. He was allegedly speeding in the 21600 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu when witnesses saw him lose control of his car causing him to crash into nearby parked vehicles before hitting four pedestrians who were standing on the side of the roadway. All four pedestrians died at the scene. They were identified as: Niamh Rolston, Peyton Steward, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams.
Following the incident, the city of Malibu declared a PCH safety emergency and formed a coalition with state and county elected officials, LASD, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Caltrans, and community partners to identify and advance solutions.
The Speed Safety System was made possible through legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen and signed into law in September 2024, following advocacy by the city, community members, and partner agencies.
Initial Public Information and Education Phase – August 18, 2026 to September 31, 2026.
The city of Malibu will provide information about the Speed Safety System, including how it works, the implementation schedule, and the program’s safety goals. A 60-day warning period will begin when the system is activated in late September. During this period, motorists who exceed the speed threshold will receive warnings only.
After the 60-day warning period concludes, qualifying speeding violations will result in civil penalties. Violations issued through the system do not result in driver’s license points or insurance penalties.
Non-violation data will be deleted immediately, and stored violation records will be destroyed within 60 days after resolution of the case. The system will not operate as “surveillance,” meaning that will only begin recording when a speed violation is detected. Data collected will not be shared with other government agencies.
The City plans to have a Speed Safety System performance update regularly on the Public Safety Commission’s agenda so Commissioners and the public can stay informed about the program’s effectiveness. Malibu will track and share program data with the public, while protecting personal information, including names, addresses and license plate numbers.
The program includes protections to support fairness and due process, including a diversion program for eligible low-income residents, an appeals process, and ongoing public oversight through the City’s adopted use policy. To learn more about the Speed Safety System visit: www.malibucity.org/PCHsafetycameras.
