Speed cameras in Malibu one step closer to reality

A bill that would pave the way for the use of speed camera systems in “high-risk” areas of Malibu has cleared a major hurdle.

Senate Bill 1297, drafted by California Sen. Ben Allen, whose district includes the city of Malibu, passed out of the State Assembly’s Transportation Committee on Monday.

Allen called the advancement of the bill an important step for public safety in Malibu.

“Speed cameras have proven effective in reducing speeding and saving lives in other communities, and I am confident they will do the same here,” he said.

The bill has seen bipartisan support, officials said, including from community and safety advocates and law enforcement officials.

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Malibu Mayor Steve Uhring has also voiced his support for the effort.

“We are thrilled that SB 1297 has taken this significant step forward,” Uhring said in a news release issued Tuesday. “The implementation of speed camera systems is a crucial measure to protect our residents, pedestrians, and visitors from the dangers of speeding.”

Uhring said the technology will serve as a deterrent and encourage responsible driving, which he hopes will ultimately save lives.

Data gathered from other communities and countries have shown a 41% reduction in fatal or incapacitating injuries, according to the City of Malibu.

The bill now advances to the California Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee for further consideration.

If eventually signed into law, speed camera systems would be placed in five areas in Malibu identified as “high-risk” and where speeding poses a serious threat to public safety.

Pedestrian safety in Malibu has been a major concern of residents for years but recently made international headlines after four Pepperdine University students were hit and killed by a speeding driver on the Pacific Coast Highway last year.

Bridget Thompson, a classmate of the four women killed, testified in Sacramento to voice her support for the bill.

“This legislation is a necessary step towards ensuring that no other family or community has to endure the pain we have experienced,” Thompson said at the state capital. “Speed cameras will make our roads safer for everyone.”

Michel Shane, whose daughter, Emily, was killed on Highway 1 in 2010, called the bill a “beacon of hope for those of who have lost loved ones to reckless driving.”

Shane said the bill’s passage would be a crucial step toward preventing future tragedies on Malibu roads.

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