Publisher’s Notebook:

Traffic Tribulations

BY ANNE SOBLE

Malibuites seem to thrive on no small element of contentiousness in their public policy perspectives, but one of the few areas of general agreement is that traffic problems abound on Pacific Coast Highway and the canyon routes that traverse the land slide of the PCH and spill into it. The PCH serves for all practical purposes as a mini-freeway without the freeway constraints. Whether it’s congestion, illegal U-turns, drivers under the influence, or the lack of convenient parking, the coast route is beset with so many woes that it has been classified as over capacity by every criterion of road evaluation. Whether the problem is locals with a sense of entitlement, commuters who don’t understand the signage or visitors awestruck by the ocean view, the accident statistics are cause for alarm.

In this week’s issue alone, concerns are being raised about the number of traffic accidents on the stretch of roadway across from Zuma Beach. Calls for the return of a median in the area or the installation of those bright yellow plastic divider paddles becoming increasingly prevalent wherever drivers think that traffic laws don’t apply to them are echoed by growing numbers of residents. In addition, concern about speeding motorcycles and cars is addressed from the residents’ and the accident victims’ points of view. Irresponsible drivers may be a very small minority, but they are a minority that represents a danger to everyone driving on local roads. Manufacturers market machines that far exceed legitimate onroad capacity, and the auto and biker media flog and flack a cult of speed and engine power, contributing to a mindset of driver recklessness. Anyone who wants to let a vehicle rip can take it to a track or other closed course. Drivers should stay off Malibu’s roads unless they agree to follow the law.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol talk the talk about traffic safety, but until they ride the ride and are out on the roads in sufficient numbers to cite, cite and cite again, making it clear that local traffic laws are here for a reason, traveling through Malibu is a game of chance. A game where the odds are in no one’s favor.