Driverless Cars Okayed On PCH And Up Canyon Roads

Waymo has been given permission to operate driverless robot cars in Malibu … including on PCH, Malibu Canyon and other mountain roads.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles yesterday announced that the robot cars are now permitted on all roads, from Los Angeles  as far west as Camarillo. 

That includes Malibu … with no restrictions on operations on any roads. 

It’s not clear what Waymo’s intentions are … in terms of running driverless cars on PCH or up canyons and mouton roads.

That’s up to the company. 

City governments are powerless to regulate Waymo ..in most cases.

But yesterday … the company was ordered to cease and desist from operating a Waymo recharging station in Santa Monica late at night. 

The cars have federally-required back up beepers.

And they move around at night in the Waymo charging station at 12th at Broadway. 

The City of Santa Monica calls that public nuisance.

Again … it is not clear if Waymo will exercise its new permission … to send robot cars up PCH or canyon roads. 

SCE Playing Nice-Nice With City Hall

Southern California Edison officials have promised to expedite the undergrounding of power lines along Latigo Canyon Road …as well the underground the notoriously shaky Cuthbert Circuit.

Acting city manager Candace Bond told the city council last night that the power distrobuiton company is speeding up its efforts to replace overhead wires 

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“We continue our talks with them and they continue to be cordial, and we are trying to secure as many benefits for our city and residents as possible, but we are excited that they have agreed indeed to expedite undergrounding.”

Malibu city manager says the city has applied for a federal grant to finish the job if undergrounding all power lines .. and importantly .. the thick black fiber cables …. In the Malibu fire zone. 

The problem is that … while SCE is under grounding its power liens … there is no requirment that the various communications companies like Verizon or AT and T put their liens underground as well. 

Chance Of Wildfires Drops To Zero This Winter, UCLA Meteorologist Says

Malibu has been drenched by more than six inches of rain this month.

That leaves the wildfire risk right now at zero … a very unusual place … for Santa Ana season.

Daniel Swain … a meteorology professor at UCLA.

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“there isn’t risk of meaningful destructive wildfires in the most fire corridors in California at this point there is a 0% chance that we’re going to see conditions like last January, this January.”

Howling Santa Anas usually develop 8 times per fire season n Malibu … so far this year … we have had two mild Santa Anas.

And there have been no intentional power cutoffs this fall … another astonishing and unusual stroke of luck.

Swain says this month’s rainfall will keep the fire danger low through at least April.

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