• The Publisher’s Notebook •

CHP Acknowledges Speeding Problems on Malibu Canyon Roads

BY ANNE SOBLE

Those who think that government is, as a rule, unresponsive and intransigent are all too often correct. But that doesn’t mean that prodding by constituents can never accomplish its goals. This might now be happening on a local issue. For the last few weeks, The News has been running letters from canyon residents concerned about the perils associated with speeding, illegal passing and other unsafe driving practices. The unprecedented fire danger has nerves frayed about the possibility that errant sparks could ignite a wildfire. Last week’s Notebook tried to summarize these concerns and the frustration that compounds the apprehension of those who believe that no one is paying attention to them.

On Monday, one of the first telephone calls of the day was from Captain Steve Webb of the West Valley California High Patrol Office that serves unincorporated Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains. Webb said the column “was passed around the office last Friday,” and he wanted to make an appointment to stop by and discuss what he acknowledges is “a real safety problem...one that I take very seriously.” Webb said, “I want residents and visitors to know the CHP will have zero tolerance for unsafe canyon driving.” He indicated that he will be out in the field in person this weekend to monitor the situation with backup from additional motorcycle officers and black-and-whites. In addition, a special mobile command unit will be set up and the air operations division will provide aerial support in hard-to-monitor areas.

Webb knows the “culture of the speedometer” is a difficult challenge. The West Hills CHP crew experienced the painful loss of one of their bright young colleagues behind the wheel of a speeding sports car on these very roads last year. That the current outcry could help prevent future tragedies like this compounds its merits. I welcome input from canyon residents on whether they see a difference on the roads on Saturday and Sunday. I will share these observations with the captain on Monday.