CA Roads Should Not Be Places Of Tragedy: Governor Signs Murrieta Lawmaker's Bill

MURRIETA, CA — A Murrieta lawmaker's bill aimed at cutting road deaths in the Golden State was signed by the governor this month.

Senate Bill 78, introduced by state Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-32), directs Caltrans to submit a comprehensive report to the state Legislature by January 1, 2027, identifying roadway safety improvements, causes of project delays, and strategies to deliver projects more efficiently.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Oct. 13.

"California’s roads should not be places of tragedy," Seyarto said. "SB 78 will help us pinpoint the causes of delay, cut through unnecessary red tape, and get safety projects completed faster to save lives."

As an example of project delays, Seyarto's office pointed to the crash two years ago that killed four Pepperdine students on Pacific Coast Highway.

The crash scene, long known as "Dead Man’s Curve," further underscores "the urgency of fixing years of delayed safety upgrades," according to the state senator's office.

"Despite nearly 4,000 collisions over the past decade, progress on PCH and other dangerous corridors has been repeatedly stalled by bureaucratic barriers," the office reported.

Vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of unintentional injury and death in California. Disparities are also growing, with low-income and minority communities facing higher risks of fatal crashes, according to Seyarto's office.

California’s current housing landscape has also strained roadways in areas like the Inland Empire, where families seeking more affordable places to live now rely on infrastructure not originally designed to handle today’s heavy traffic volumes. As more residents move inland, the surge in commuter traffic has increased congestion, wear and tear, and safety risks on roads that were never built for such demand, the state senator's office reported.

"More people are spending longer hours on roads that were never built for today’s traffic," Seyarto said. "Too often, critical safety projects get stuck in bureaucracy while risks keep rising. SB 78 identifies what’s causing these delays so Caltrans can respond faster to the needs of local communities."

The new report mandated by SB 78 is expected to identify the types of safety enhancements that could be implemented statewide, examine the causes of project delays, and provide recommendations for improved interagency coordination.

"By accelerating the delivery of critical safety improvements, SB 78 aims to reduce injuries and fatalities while easing the long-term burden on infrastructure, emergency services, and taxpayers," according to Seyarto's office.

SB 78 received unanimous bipartisan support in the state Legislature.