10 most dangerous PCH intersections in Malibu

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Pacific Coast Highway

Using data from the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department collected over a three-year period and recommendations released this month by LSA Associates, which conducted a citywide analysis of Pacific Coast Highway safety, The Malibu Times compiled a list of some of the city’s most dangerous spots for drivers and pedestrians. Ten or more accidents at an intersection were considered “high accident rates” by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department between 2008 and 2010. 

1. Las Flores Canyon Road 

26 collisions 

35% injury rate 

58% caused by speeding 

Issues: Speeding, congestion, poor signal timing and too many vehicles parking along the shoulder to get to nearby businesses, such as Duke’s Restaurant. 

Recommended solutions: Make the traffic signals more visible by placing traffic lights on top of existing signal poles. Additionally, modify the timing on the eastbound left-turn signal to get onto Las Flores from PCH. 

2. Malibu Canyon Road 

23 collisions 

34% injury rate 

70% caused by speeding 

Issues: Malibu Canyon Road has the highest volume of traffic in the city, according to the Sheriff’s department, and poor turn signal timing can cause traffic wanting to turn southbound onto PCH to back up for up to half a mile during peak hours. 

Recommended solutions: The city’s safety study makes no specific mention of improvements needed at the intersection, but in 2011 the sheriff’s department suggested Caltrans install “smart” technology to automatically adjust signal timing at the intersection for cars waiting to turn onto PCH. 

3. Kanan Dume Road 

19 collisions 

16% injury rate 

41% caused by speeding 

Issues: The route suffers from over-congestion of tourists and commuters from the Conejo Valley who rely on the road to get to Malibu. 

Recommended solutions: The sheriff ’s department suggested installing a second left-turn lane for eastbound drivers on PCH who want to turn onto northbound Kanan Dume Road and installing “smart” technology at the traffic signals to improve traffic flow. 

4. Webb Way 

18 collisions 

33% injury rate 

44% caused by speeding 

Issues: Left-turn pockets of PCH at the intersection are not long enough to accommodate cars during peak congestion hours. 

Recommended solutions: Modify left-turn signal phasing as cars approach Webb Way from either direction of PCH. 

5. Paradise Cove 

16 collisions 

25% injury rate 

63% caused by speeding 

Issues: Left-turn lane back-up for cars trying to get into Paradise Cove from westbound PCH and too many drivers attempting to park in the narrow shoulder of PCH. 

Recommended solutions: Earlier this year, the City of Malibu installed no-parking signs, which had been suggested by LSA’s study. The signs have successfully deterred drivers from parking on the narrow shoulder and pedestrians crossing through vehicle traffic, according to the city. 

6. John Tyler Drive 

16 collisions 

37% injury rate 

50% caused by speeding 

Issues: The intersection’s location just west of Malibu Canyon Road and PCH makes it susceptible to a high volume of incoming Malibu traffic, causing the majority of collisions. 

Recommended solutions: The sheriff’s department recommended installing acceleration and deceleration lanes for traffic turning onto PCH, but LSA Associates made no mention of the intersection needing specific improvements. 

7. Cross Creek Road 

14 collisions 

21% injury rate 

43% caused by speeding 

Issues: Signal timing often leads to a gridlocked PCH headed east from the intersection, while westbound traffic from the intersection is much less congested. “Serious attention to this signal timing issue could greatly improve the efficiency of the highway,” according to the sheriff’s department. 

Recommended solutions: Convert Cross Creek Road to a one-way southbound street, lengthen turn lanes from PCH onto Cross Creek. Additionally, explore installing an overhead crossing for pedestrians to keep them from congesting the intersection. 

8. Carbon Canyon Road 

12 collisions 

8% injury rate 

75% caused by speeding 

Issues: High reported accident rates during peak hours of congestion.

Recommended solutions: Buffer residential driveways from the travel lane or adjust timing of traffic signals to allow for more gaps in traffic, according to LSA Associates. 

9. Corral Canyon Road 

10 collisions 

30% injury rate 

67% caused by turning/broadsiding 

Issues: Too many pedestrians traverse PCH to get to the Dan Blocker Beach area after parking at the Solstice Canyon Park parking lot just north of PCH. The area also lacks signage to point tourists in the right direction toward Solstice Canyon or other nearby businesses. 

Recommended solutions: The sheriff ’s department suggested construction of an underground pedestrian tunnel to keep pedestrians off the highway and improved signage. 

10. Westward Beach Road 

10 collisions 

50% injury rate 

50% caused by speeding 

Issues: Cars in search of beach parking crowd Westward Beach Road, with several backing up the left-turn lane from westbound PCH and others wanting to make a left onto PCH from northbound Westward Beach. 

Recommended solutions: Consider aligning Westward Beach Road with Bonsall Drive and installing a traffic signal where they meet at PCH. 

To read the study by the Sheriff’s Department, visit ci.malibu.ca.us/ DocumentCenter/View/86. 

To read LSA Associates’ safety analysis and recommendations, visit malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/ View/4922.