Assembly Bill 1014: Traffic safety: Speed Limits

The Consequences of Speeding

It was less than two years ago when four Pepperdine University students—20-year-old Niamh Rolston, 21-year-old Peyton Stewart, 21-year-old Asha Weir, and 21-year-old Deslyn Williams—were struck and killed by Fraser Michael Bohm while walking to a mixer at a home along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu, in an area known by locals as “Dead Man’s Curve.” 

Bohm was driving at 104 MPH when he lost control of his vehicle, hitting multiple parked cars before striking and killing all four women and injuring two others.

Since 2010, 61 lives have been lost along PCH—a road with a posted speed limit of 45 MPH through residential areas. This speed limit has enabled drivers to frequently exceed 50 or even 60 MPH, creating a deadly environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists. (Source: LA County Sheriff’s Department and TIMS)

Statewide, speeding remains the leading cause of severe traffic injuries and fatalities in California. In 2021, there were 4,161 traffic fatalities and nearly 20,000 serious injuries in California alone. Unsafe speed was the primary collision factor in 45.3% of all crashes. In 2023, Los Angeles recorded a staggering 336 traffic fatalities—many of them caused by speeding.

Speeding isn’t just dangerous—it’s an epidemic. Without swift action and meaningful policy change, more lives will be lost.

Slow to Respond, Not Enough Action

Despite ongoing safety concerns on Pacific Coast Highway and other state highways, Caltrans has been slow to act and has largely failed to implement the necessary changes to make roads safer.

For instance, construction on the PCH Traffic Light Synchronization Project only began last year—seven years after the funding was approved. However, this project still doesn’t address the major issues on PCH or other state highways, as it fails to confront the fundamental problem on many of these roads: the speed limit.

While Caltrans does have the authority to lower speed limits in specific cases—such as in areas with high pedestrian or cyclist activity—it is often limited by the 85th percentile rule. This method sets speed limits based on the speed at or below which 85% of drivers are traveling. But the rule is flawed: since drivers routinely speed, it can raise the 85th percentile threshold, potentially justifying even higher speed limits.

Caltrans must have greater authority to lower speed limits in a more protective and proactive manner. This is where Assembly Bill (AB) 1014 comes into play.

AB 1014 and How it Will Reduce Speeding on California Roads

AB 1014 aims to strengthen Caltrans' ability to lower or maintain speed limits on state highways where conditions are dangerous. The bill would give Caltrans greater authority to set safer speed limits, allowing the agency to reduce speed limits by 5 miles per hour if a highway segment is designated as a safety corridor or is located in an area with high pedestrian activity.

Additionally, the bill authorizes Caltrans to lower speeds by 5 miles per hour if an area:

• Is designated as a safety corridor,

• Has a high concentration of pedestrians and cyclists,

• Is a business activity district on a highway that is not a freeway, or

• Requires maintaining or reverting to a previously established speed limit (on a non-freeway), provided a registered engineer confirms that no general-purpose lanes have been added since the last engineering and traffic survey (ETS) that established the speed limit.

By granting Caltrans the authority to reduce speeds in these circumstances, AB 1014 has the potential to significantly reduce serious injuries and traffic fatalities—saving lives and making roads safer for everyone: drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users.

Taking Action

Every day, lives are impacted—or lost—across our state due to unsafe, high-speed road conditions. With your support, we can create safer roads for all Californians by prioritizing safety and taking meaningful steps to save lives.

AB 1014, Traffic Safety: Speed Limits, offers a concrete solution to the epidemic of speeding—and it will save lives.

California legislators now have the opportunity to pass a bill that will reduce traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities on our roads.

We urge lawmakers to support AB 1014.

If you want to be part of the movement to save lives through smarter legislation, join our coalition today.