After the deaths of four Pepperdine seniors on PCH in October — Deslyn Williams, Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir and Peyton Stewart — there is a heightened anxiety level for students, faculty and community members in Malibu due to the danger of Pacific Coast Highway.
Many Pepperdine professors have to commute to campus every day. Tragedies like this have not made that commute easier for a lot of them.
“When I enter and see the sign that says ‘Welcome to Malibu,’ my guard is up a little bit higher than it might be if I’m just traveling through Santa Monica,” said Gary Metzker, adjunct professor in the Communication division.
Metzker lives in Long Beach. He said most of his drives home are in the dark since his classes are later in the day.
“With the recent rains and everything, maybe I may not have the radio on so loud,” Metzker said. “And [I] really try to make sure I have both hands on the wheel and that I’m really focused on driving.”
On the other hand, Lauren Amaro, associate professor of Communication, lives in Cambria. She commutes about four days a week, and usually, three of those days, she takes PCH. She has been doing this for nine years, she said.
“I would not say I experienced stress driving on PCH,” Amaro said. “I’m not on that stretch of PCH, and I think that’s an important distinction. I’m coming from the north, and so, while it’s curvy, the main risks on that road in the area that I drive, are rock slides.”
She said she has only had to drive down PCH to Santa Monica a handful of times when teaching at Pepperdine.
“Generally speaking, from Pepperdine toward Santa Monica, there’s ugly traffic, weird parking situations — the road seems to be in a general state of disrepair,” Amaro said. “It’s not an enjoyable stretch.”
“PCH has become one of Malibu’s biggest concerns,” Mayor Steve Uhring said.
He said there is just too much going on this road. There are people who come in with supercars and use PCH as a “race track,” visitors who park along the beaches, drivers who take pictures and videos or mothers crossing PCH with baby carriages trying to dodge traffic to get to the beach.
“This is nuts,” Uhring said. “I’m surprised we don’t have more bodies up and down PCH.”
Uhring said he has lived in Malibu for over 30 years and now drives a pickup truck.
“I’ve become much more aware of the road and much more aware of the need to be safe when I’m driving on it because it’s just the reality of what’s going on today,” Uhring said.
He said PCH safety is one of the primary goals the city council has for the upcoming year.
Something that always reminds Metzker about the danger and sadness of this road is the ghost tire memorial, he said.
“When the event first happened, I could feel goosebumps on my arm, you know, and a real sense of sadness,” Metzker said.
Amaro said she has become more cautious over the years since she became a mother.
“I need to be extra, super mindful, but because I’m their mom, I want to come home at the end of the day,” Amaro said.
Something Amaro said she has noticed is student anxiety related to driving. She said this has been more apparent in the last five years than it was in the first five years she taught at Pepperdine.
Despite how dangerous PCH is, Metzker said it is a beautiful experience to drive on it so often.
“I just feel so blessed,” Metzker said. “I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to come and teach in Malibu, and the drive is just breathtaking.”
He said there is a balance between making sure he is careful and watching his driving and appreciating the ocean, waves and sun.
“It really is a miracle,” Metzker said.
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Contact Anežka Lišková via Instagram @anezka.liskova or email: anezka.liskova@pepperdine.edu
