By Jorge Casuso

September 4, 2024 -- Drivers will be required to slow down -- and, in some cases, share roads with motorized scooters -- after the City Council lowered speed limits on select streets in Santa Monica.

The ordinance, which is meant to curb fatal and serious injury crashes, sets lower speed limits on 47 stretches of boulevards and major cross streets and near schools during school days.

The lower limits pave the way for scooters, which under the California Vehicle code can be operated on streets with speed limits of up to 25 mph.

Of the streets where speed limits will be reduced, 16 will see the maximum speed drop from from 30 to 25 mph, while a stretch of Pico Boulevard near the beach will see the speed limit drop from 35 to 25 mph.

On those streets, the scooters will have to travel slower than cars to abide by the 15 mph maximum speed required when operating on all highways "regardless of a higher speed limit," according to the code.

The Council did not address the issue last Tuesday when it voted unanimously to adopt the first changes to Santa Monica's speed limits since 2014, four years before the City launched its first shared mobility pilot program in September 2018.

Asked if the Police Department anticipates any potential issues caused by cars and scooters sharing the road, Lt. Ericka Aklufi, the Police Departments spokesperson responded:

"No, not until we have some experience / feedback / data," she wrote in an email. "The main thing we will be able to monitor is collision data, unfortunately."

"If we see anything concerning pop up, we will work with our colleagues in the City’s Mobility Division to come up with solutions to present to Council," Aklufi wrote.

The new speed limits were approved as fatal and severe injury crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians in Santa Monica have increased in each of the past three years, despite major investments in traffic safety.

In 2023, pedestrians were involved in 16 severe injury crashes and five fatal crashes, while six bicyclists were severely injured and one was killed, according to traffic data compiled by the City's Transportation Department

Three severe injury crashes involved scooters ("Rising Number of Pedestrians, Cyclists Killed or Seriously Injured in Santa Monica," August 12, 2024).

In addition to efforts undertaken by municipalities to curb serious collision, State lawmakers last week approved the nation's first bill requiring speed limit alarms and detectors on newly built cars.

Senate Bill 961, sponsored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), would require that all new cars manufactured or sold in California beginning with 2030 models include "speed warning technology."

“The evidence is clear: Rising levels of dangerous speeding are placing all Californians in danger," Wiener said in a press release last week.

"By taking prudent steps to improve safety, we can save lives," he said. "California should lead the nation with action to improve the safety of our streets.”

The bill -- which "builds on similar requirements that went into effect in the European Union beginning in July" -- is headed to Governor Newsom's office after being easily approved along party lines.

Santa Monica's new speed limit signs will be installed 30 days after the Council approves the ordinance on second reading, which is scheduled for next Tuesday.

For a list of streets covered by the ordinance click here