A Lexus Hybrid SUV, pulling out of Lower Palisades Circle to make a left hand turn, was struck by a truck heading up Palisades Drive this morning. Only minor injuries were reported.
Several accidents have occurred at the intersection and residents of the Palisades Highlands have asked city officials, in the past, for a controlled intersection at Palisades Drive and Lower Palisades Circle. The requests were denied. The intersections in this part of Palisades Drive are particularly dangerous because the slope of the incline prevents good visibility for both drivers coming up the hill and drivers attempting to turn left.
On November 17, around 4 am a car driven by a teen ran off the road and crashed in the canyon. This car was caught speeding a week ago by the speedwatch team, doing 56 in the 35 mph zone. We were not in time to head off this near tragedy but we are on the right road.
Captain Lauer from West Los Angeles Traffic has provided overwhelming police presence over the last several days. Let me make it clear once again, we and the police are here to try and send a message to slow down. This has nothing to do with raising money, they can catch speeders in any of dozens of locations but we are fortunate to have them here. If the canyon is determined to be a construction zone due to the reservoir, your speeding tickets will go to about $800-$1000. What can you do to prevent the next fatality?
- Slow down
- Tell your kids to slow down
- Pay attention when driving.
The life you save, may be your own.
LAPD West Traffic Commander Captain Nancy Lauer dispatched police officer D.D. Gregg with a speeding task force to Palisades Drive on Saturday to make drivers aware of the speed limits that they routinely ignore. The team, armed with the latest laser speed guns pulled-over 25+ motorists per hour during the morning and early afternoon.
The team, made up of active duty and police reserve units, was practicing and coordinating their efforts for upcoming deployments. Police say that they will be in the canyon on nights and weekends, at all hours. Some drivers still warn speeders of the police presence, by flashing their lights, and their pictures appear below.
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- Using laser speed guns to monitor traffic
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- Laser speed gun teams working in coordination with motor units
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- Using laser speed guns to monitor traffic
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- Police cars and motocycles worked in a coordinated effort
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- This task force has been assigned to the Palisades
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- Speedwatch coordinator David Eagle talks to officer D.D. Gregg about Laser Enforcement
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- LAPD Motorcycle Officer pulls over a speeder
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- Laser Gun Operator and Spotter
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- LAPD Reserve Police Officers
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- LAPD Reserve Police Officers
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- California License Plate “Bobby”
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- California License Plate “BF OK”
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- California License Plate 5NFZ747
The Palisades has lost many fine members of its community in local road related accidents in the last few years. In memory of all the victims of our dreadful roads, can we finally say enough is enough? Can we say never again? Can we make a stand and make a change? Pledge today to help save lives.
The PLEDGE to SAVE LIVES
http://pledge.safewestside.com
In order to prevent the senseless deaths of more members of our community, I hereby pledge not to speed, drive recklessly or drive under the influence. I further pledge to watch out for my friends and loved ones, and it is my hope that they will watch out for me. I pledge to communicate my concern to any friend or loved one driving in an unsafe or dangerous manner. If my suggestion does not cause that person to change his or her driving habits, then I pledge to communicate this information to his or her parents, partner or family member. If I’m told that someone close to me is speeding, driving recklessly or driving under the influence, I pledge to take immediate action to help change his or her driving habits. If I’m a parent and I’m given such information, I pledge to take immediate steps to restrict my child’s ability to drive a motor vehicle.
The Pledge to Save Lives exists as part of an ongoing effort to help prevent future road related accidents in the Westside community, part of the grassroots Safe Westside effort. Sunset Boulevard, Palisades Drive, and Pacific Coast Highway, three of the most dangerous roads in Los Angeles, see countless accidents each year, many of them extremely severe. While engineering conditions are partially to blame, they are mostly out of our hands. As responsible members of the community, though, it is our job to do our part to help prevent senseless losses on our roads in any way we can.
By pledging, one agrees to drive safely and responsibly and to do one’s part to encourage others to do the same. This means personally not speeding, driving recklessly, or driving while under the influence, and it means taking steps to protect others as well. Those who pledge agree to speak to their peers and explain the dangers of our roads. Some will listen, and some will not. For those that won’t, pledgers agree to speak to their loved ones – a parent might be able to better stop their child, or a wife to better stop their husband. But, we understand that this is not always easy, and thus, on this website, one can ask for an anonymous intervention by a concerned member of the community.
LEARN more. What you can do for yourself. What you can do for others.
PLEDGE to save lives. Join your neighbors, family, and friends in making a stand.
TELL those you care about. Be proactive. Communicate the dangers of speed and reckless driving.
INTERVENE for someone. Help save the life of someone you care about.
This is a map of the signatures collected in the first 36 hours that the petition went live… So far, we’ve collected over a thousand, and we’ll make another big push in coming weeks to broaden the base, especially in the Highlands.
[youtube]e0O9BxjAWgA[/youtube]
LADOT tries to shift issues to Drivers. John Fisher claims there is “No Defect”.
Bill Rosendahl, John Fisher LADOT, Captain Nancy Lauer LAPD, Captain Randy Beaty, and Richard Cohen address the Safe Westside Committee Meeting to advise the community on steps towards a safer Westside.
Bill Rosendahl speaks with John Fisher from LADOT
L.A. City Councilman, Bill Rosendahl brought representatives from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to Wednesday’s meeting to discuss proposed engineering solutions. Assistant General manager, John Fisher, presented a variety of short and long term engineering solutions to the problems on Palisades Drive.
Fischer explained that the current roadway could be quickly (2-3 months) converted into a three lane “Traffic Calming Alternative” with a 5′ grooved strip in the middle to separate oncoming traffic (see 2nd illustration below). With more planning, engineering and budget approval (which would be significant), two other proposals were made with concrete and landscaped center divider areas, street lighting and bike lanes. The landscaped alternative would narrow the roadway to two lanes, with bike lanes in either direction. Fisher reported that the traffic volumes on Palisades Drive did not necessitate more than a two lane roadway, and fire captain Randy Beaty confirmed that the Fire Department and emergency vehicles would still be able to manage with a narrower and safer roadway.
The panel fielded questions regarding different solutions from the audience. Fisher was asked what it would take to change the road’s current classification as a Class II highway, and he said that “it was possible when the community plan came up for renewal”.
Next steps, the Safety Committee will meet with community leaders to discuss the proposals.
Existing Conditions on Palisades Drive
Traffic Calming Alternative
Concrete Divider with Street Lighting
Road Diet: Landscaped Median wth Street Lighting
[vimeo]3102463[/vimeo]
A Tribute To Nick Rosser
Source: vimeo.com
“On January 31, 2009, my friend Nick Rosser was killed in a horrific car crash in Pacific Palisades, CA. In memory of Nick and his passion for cars, on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, countless friends of Nick lined up along Palisades Drive and proceeded up the canyon in his memory…” – Sam Dublin
You cannot schedule these things… but bad design creates everyday opportunities for disasters… A pregnant woman lost control of her BMW SUV at turning left onto Palisades Drive at Ave de Santa Ynez and plowed into a parked Volvo. The left turn onto Palisades Drive is dangerous, as cars coming down Palisades drive are often exceeding the speed limit. Visibility for cars turning is limited in both directions by the slope the hill.
The evening before the last community council meeting that I attended, a BMW M5 launched itself traveling up and off the steepest grade on Palisades Drive. I took the front end of the cat to the meeting as Mo Blorfroshan, from the LADOT, was pronouncing that Palisades Drive was “much safer” than it used to be… The BMW hit the sidewalk fast and hard enough to launch the car into a tree 7′ off the ground. Police said the man claimed to have “fallen asleep at the wheel”, no charges were pressed.
On November 5th, 2008 I heard a bang… Lucily, no one was seriously injured. The 78 year old driver told witnesses that she had taken Vicodin. The car carreened out of control hitting a Lexus SUV before zig-zagging into the tree. No charges were pressed.
The hits just keep on coming… more pictures here
