Malibu - The Guide - 2016 Malibu Chamber of Commerce Business Resource & Community Guide

SaFETy iN malibu
Pay aTTENTioN!
Article and Photos By Meril May – Realtor, Resident, Cyclist – Meril.May@gmail.com
The City of Malibu had a
Public Service
Message produced in
2015, "Pay
Aמּention. Be
Safe on PCH"
was the title.
Living and visiting
Malibu presents a
unique set of safety
related considerations.
Whether you are on Pacific
Coast Highway, planning
for events such as
wildfires, or
managing safety
around your
home…paying
aמּention seems to
be a fundamental
first consideration.
The City of Malibu has
many helpful safety
related messages, links, and
notification options on their website:
www.malibucity.org
I highly recommend familiarizing yourself
with the site, signing up for notifications
which are safety related or important to
you, and guiding friends and family to the
useful information.
Pacific Coast Highway is a California State
Highway and thus under the management
of Caltrans, not The City of Malibu.
Although PCH is Malibu's "Main Street", The
City requests of Caltrans maintenance and
safety improvements. In 2015 a significant
plan was approved and many safety
improvements are in process to improve
the safety of PCH.
You may also call Caltrans District 7 at: 213-
897-3656 to report a safety issue, and or
file an online request through a link on the
City's website under Public Works/Pacific
Coast Highway.
a FEw SimPlE SaFETy
SuggESTioNS:
1. Pay aTTENTioN. Focus on driving if you
are driving. Dangerous conditions can
arise in an instant, alert focus might
avoid an accident.
2. Slow DowN. Most of the accidents on
PCH are speed related. This does not
mean the vehicles were speeding, rather
they were going too fast for the traffic
conditions. The faster a vehicle is
traveling, stopping distance is increased,
and a shorter time to react and avoid
danger exists.
3. Slow DowN. Wet conditions worsen
the stopping factor, and can cause
hydroplaning when surfaces are flooded.
4. waTCH For THE uNEXPECTED. Erratic
drivers exist. Our beautiful coastal
highway provides many visual
distractions. Many accidents are caused
by slowing traffic, vehicles parking and
exiting parking spots, and driving
maneuvers which are not safe i.e.: the
U-turn from a shoulder parking spot.
5. PEDESTriaNS aND CyCliSTS EXiST oN
PCH. With the complexity of PCH, please
be especially considerate to all who use
it. This includes the pedestrian who may
have virtually no shoulder to walk on,
the cyclist who may be avoiding a pot
hole or a parked car door opening, or a
Caltrans worker making repairs. The
volume of cars and speed vary
dramatically. Safety can be improved
with alert, aמּentive, aware, focused
driving at a reduced speed.
6. THE HazarD oF wilDFirE CaN EXiST
iN our CommuNiTy. Preparation to
help reduce your risk, such as clearing
brush surrounding your property. Be
especially aware in high wind events.
Review your insurance coverage with
your insurance agent, especially
knowledgeable with Malibu’s
unique aspects.
7. CHECK aND CHaNgE baTTEriES iN SmoKE
aND CarboN moNoXiDE DETECTorS.
Read instructions for the suggested lifespan
of the device. Technology changes, consider
optimizing safety related devices. Have you
had a furnace checkup by a qualified
service professional?
Malibu’s local source for Lumber and Hardware!
Only
3 miles from
the PCH!
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Electrical • Wood Burning Stoves • Landscape Timbers & More!
506 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga
www.topangalumber.com • 310-455-2047 • FAST DELIVERY
24 • Malibu Chamber of Commerce Business Directory & Community Guide