The 'Safety on Sunset' banners went up only a couple of weeks ago along Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades, but the culture of dangerous driving in the area kept the week of March 11 a busy one in the 90272.
The community council got an earful of information at the Thursday, March 14 meeting from Council District 11 about public safety concerns.
Although it's not Sunset Boulevard, the Pacific Coast Highway (and any cross streets in Pacific Palisades, like with Sunset Boulevard, Temescal Canyon Road and Chautauqua Boulevard) is just as notorious for its history of accidents and fatalities.
On Monday, March 11 at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Temescal/PCH, a woman was struck and transported to the hospital with serious injuries. No further information has been made available from the Los Angeles Police Department West Traffic Division.
On Thursday, March 14, around 2:30 to 2:45 p.m. at the intersection of El Medio Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, a woman in her 80s was struck at the crosswalk and the driver did not stop, community council members told District 11 Field Deputy Joaquin Maceas.
"That sort of highlights need for the 'Safety on Sunset' campaign," Maceas said. "To know what’s around them. It doesn’t matter who's paying attention at this point."
He added that Brentwood should be getting its banners up by next month, and said educational programs for the schools will be rolled out next fall. Maceas credited Amy Kalp, vice president of LAPD's West Bureau Traffic Committee, for spearheading the campaign, organizing the educational aspects coming up, as well as pushing forward to address the motorcycle safety issues on Wednesday nights. That effort helped LAPD use grant funds to form a task force to further police Sunset Boulevard.
Local drivers disobeying school bus traffic stop laws
Maceas also addressed, and community council members confirmed, of drivers in the Palisades not stopping when school buses are picking up and dropping off, flashing the red stop signal. Member Geoff Sheldon said he's witnessed drivers not stopping for school buses putting out stop signs, and drivers honking at him when he stops and waits for buses.
"It has to be a change of culture and people have to be ticketed for that to get the message," Maceas said, adding that Brentwoods LAPD Senior Lead Officer Maria Gray has already beefed up ticketing drivers in her community for driving dangerously near stopped school buses.
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