WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:08.480 You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand, I AM. 2 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:12.279 Six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. Tiffany Hobbs 3 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:15.400 here with you. It's Saturdays with Tiffany, and we're here 4 00:00:15.480 --> 00:00:18.679 until seven o'clock and then Michael Monks comes aboard. At 5 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:22.280 six thirty. I invite you to make sure you are listening. 6 00:00:22.399 --> 00:00:25.719 We will be talking to Marcus Coval. He is that 7 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:31.399 marathon runner, mma fighter, all things, but most proud to 8 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:34.719 be a dad who was on a courageous mission to 9 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:39.079 bring awareness about what happened to his son Liam almost 10 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:42.799 one decade ago, and in the pursuit of justice for 11 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.960 his son, Liam is running the La Marathon tomorrow barefoot 12 00:00:47.240 --> 00:00:50.479 and hopes to be able to raise awareness about driving 13 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:56.119 while drunk and the blood alcohol content level which Liam's foundation, 14 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:00.759 Liam's Life Foundation is working to lower to point zero 15 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:04.239 zero two. So we have Marcus on to talk about 16 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:08.159 all of that at six thirty. Now let's get into 17 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:12.599 our Deeper Dives segment where we take a deeper look, 18 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:15.599 more of a look at an issue that is affecting 19 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:19.920 southern California. And this segment we're going to ask the question, 20 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:26.239 how safe are your neighborhood streets. Now, statistics show that 21 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:30.200 crime around Los Angeles as a county is in fact 22 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:33.760 down major crime. When we're out there, the optics matter, 23 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:37.000 so you may not feel like crime is in fact down, 24 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:41.120 And there are many crimes that are up, they have increased. 25 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:46.000 One of the crimes that's down is luckily murder. Homicide 26 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:51.400 is down, but something that has been rising steadily is 27 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:57.640 vehicular homicide. And car crashes overall, be them severe or minor, 28 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.400 due to the conditions on on Los Angeles streets. And 29 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:06.879 I'm not talking about just potholes or dimly lit intersections 30 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:09.800 because the copper is gone and there are no street lights. 31 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:13.360 While those are all factors, this has to do more 32 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:19.240 with driver error, impairment, speeding, and other factors. 33 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:20.800 So let's get into it. 34 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:25.159 When you think about driving on LA streets, you might, 35 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:29.240 like me, immediately start to tense up a bit. If 36 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.960 you've driven, which most of us do because this is 37 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:38.000 a commuter city, then you've experienced traffic, You've experienced aggressive 38 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:42.159 driving and drivers. You may have been flipped the bird 39 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:45.360 or done the bird flipping because someone cut you off 40 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:48.479 or didn't thank you for letting them merge whatever the case, 41 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:53.159 driving in Los Angeles is a contact sport, and that's 42 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:55.840 not a sport that we should be contacting each other, 43 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:59.080 especially when we're dealing with our vehicles. The last thing 44 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:03.199 you want to do is have an accident. However, accidents 45 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:08.400 are increasing, and everywhere you look there are billboards for 46 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:13.280 accident attorneys personal injury traffic accidents. They're on the back 47 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:16.520 of buses, they're on the bus benches, or on the billboards. 48 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:21.120 When you're driving, they are literally everywhere. Because personal injury 49 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:27.560 due to vehicular crashes again has increased exponentially, and again, 50 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:32.240 many residents around LA agree that driving has become increasingly 51 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:36.919 more dangerous. Many can look back to the early days 52 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:39.800 of the pandemic, of which we are now five years 53 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:43.719 practically from the start to the day of the COVID 54 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:48.280 nineteen pandemic. During the lockdown period, of course, the streets 55 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:48.879 were empty. 56 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:49.960 We loved it. 57 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:54.080 We were driving if you were driving anywhere within that 58 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:59.680 twenty minute kind of stereotype about Los Angeles very antiquated 59 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:01.960 at this that you can get anywhere around LA in 60 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:02.719 twenty minutes. 61 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:04.719 Long gone or those days. 62 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:07.759 But during the pandemic there was a resurgence of that 63 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:10.520 you could get anywhere, and you could get anywhere quickly 64 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:14.840 and relatively safely because the streets were empty. But as 65 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:17.800 things opened back up and we returned to normal in 66 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:22.240 the months after March when the pandemic first began, of course, 67 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:26.279 traffic was one of the most noticeable increases, one of 68 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:32.920 the most noticeable returns to normalcy. La is synonymous with traffic, 69 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:38.040 and now five years later, the statistics for collisions across 70 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:43.319 the board, in severity, have gone up. In twenty twenty four, 71 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:48.319 data was collected for certain areas. There are certain areas 72 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:52.560 around La County that have it really, really bad. They 73 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:57.439 are considered to be the worst areas for traffic collisions. 74 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:00.560 And let me tell you a bit about those areas. Now, 75 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:03.959 pay attention to this because it's likely that you drive 76 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:07.199 on these roads. If you come to the intersection of 77 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:11.920 Devonshire and Resita out there in Northridge that has been 78 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:16.439 flagged as one of the most dangerous intersections in California, 79 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:20.279 Devonshire and Resita. If you're still out there in the 80 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:24.480 San Fernando Valley and you find yourself at Balboa and Nordoff, 81 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:28.920 you are at yet another intersection that tops the lists 82 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:34.879 due to its wild traffic patterns and frequent congestion. If 83 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:39.800 you go to Supovida and Sherman Way, yet another valley intersection, 84 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.079 this one sees a lot of commuter traffic. It's a thoroughfare, 85 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:49.040 and accidents usually occur due to speeding and improper lane changes. 86 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:50.959 People are trying to get where they want to go. 87 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:55.480 They're not necessarily doing it safely. If you find yourself 88 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:58.720 on freeways, which we all do, I'll be hopping on 89 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.360 the one on one shortly to get back to my area. 90 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:06.519 If you're on the four or five, you are experiencing 91 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:14.240 the least safe interstate in all of California, arguably in 92 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:18.199 all of the United States, due to its traffic jams 93 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:22.560 and accident rates, especially during those peak hours of morning 94 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.519 commutes and your afterwork rush, and those times seem to 95 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.879 have blurred even more so. At first we could really 96 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:34.000 define what those periods were, your morning commute and traffic, 97 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:37.560 and your evening commute. But now it seems that traffic 98 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:41.800 is all day and sometimes all night long. If you 99 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:45.199 find yourself on the five and you are near San Diego, 100 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:49.279 the five has been ranked as one of the deadliest 101 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:55.439 freeways in all of California, and it has seen its 102 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:59.240 own spike in accidents since the pandemic. If you get 103 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:01.199 on the one on one like I am, and you're 104 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:05.079 going through downtown LA, which I fortunately will not be 105 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:08.839 going through Downtown La, that freeway, the one on one 106 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:12.639 near downtown the five and the ten interchange, is considered 107 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:17.720 to be one of the worst freeways for averaging averages 108 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:21.879 for crashes per mile. It's considered a high risk freeway. 109 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:28.480 So what factors are contributing to these high accident rates? Again, 110 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:32.439 you can point to poor lighting in certain areas, perhaps 111 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:38.240 residential areas. Sure, you can point to potholes after rain, absolutely, 112 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:46.839 But the main issues are heavy traffic volume, distract it driving, Hello, 113 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:48.079 distract it driving. 114 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:49.519 You look over and you're in traffic. 115 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:55.680 Everyone's on their cell phone, everyone's manipulating their screen. There speeding, 116 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:59.439 everyone thinks they're in the new Vin Diesel movie. We're 117 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:01.720 all fast and furious, trying to get where we gotta 118 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:07.079 go right. Driving under the influence, and this is a 119 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:09.439 touchy topic, and we'll be getting into this more with 120 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:13.199 our interview with Marcus Coval. But driving under the influence, 121 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:16.680 whether it is alcohol or whether it's something else, some 122 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:21.439 other substance. We see lots of young people using alternative substances. 123 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:26.120 Those issues impair judgment and motor skills like crazy, and 124 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:31.480 they are very prevalent on our Southern California streets. And 125 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:35.600 then again lastly, you can point to regular road conditions 126 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:39.879 that can lead to accidents, inadequate signage again, poor condition 127 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:41.000 for the roads. 128 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:44.320 But overall, there's. 129 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:49.279 Been a twenty nine percent increase in traffic accidents since 130 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:53.759 the pandemic in the last five years, compared to a 131 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:58.320 twelve percent increase nationwide. So we've more than doubled the 132 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:02.960 national average for increases in traffic accidents in Los Angeles. 133 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.679 And there are dangerous times to drive. 134 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:10.240 There are situations that are in environments that are more 135 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:14.039 accident prone than others. I'll tell you when the worst 136 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:18.000 times to drive are, as well as other factors that 137 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:24.919 are contributing to our dangerous streets, including street takeovers and 138 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:28.879 other issues that are plaguing Los Angeles. And some of 139 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:32.799 the ways in which our city leadership is aiming to 140 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.159 combat what's going on to make our roads safer. We'll 141 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:38.759 talk about that on the other side of the break. 142 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:40.639 And then at six point thirty. We have Marcus Colval 143 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:42.200 coming on, so stay tuned for that. 144 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:47.639 You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand if 145 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:48.279 I AM. 146 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:52.000 Six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. Tiffany Hobbs 147 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:56.559 here with you, and we're continuing our Deeper Dives segment 148 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:59.840 where we take a closer look at an issue that 149 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:06.240 directly impacting Southern California, California at large, even and this 150 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:10.879 one specifically deals with the question of why are our 151 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:16.120 LA streets so unsafe for drivers? And you might be 152 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:21.000 yelling that answer into your radio, and I understand you. 153 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:23.600 I hear you. Stop yelling at me. I hear you. 154 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:26.759 I know why they're unsafe. You know why they're unsafe. 155 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:29.720 We're all on there together, and we see day in 156 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.559 and day out causation. 157 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.000 We see day in and day. 158 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:40.039 Out, poor drivers, bad habits, poor roads, and the like. 159 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:42.639 So we can all list many of the ways in 160 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:48.679 which these issues arise. But specifically, when we think about 161 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:52.480 LA drivers and driving on our LA streets, a lot 162 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:55.879 of the vehicular issues, a lot of the accidents are 163 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:01.360 due to driver error, and some any of those errors 164 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:05.120 can occur during very specific times. I was telling you 165 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:10.679 where a lot of these accidents take place. Newsflash, Valley people, 166 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:14.679 You guys have quite a few issues, a lot of 167 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:19.440 issues at your intersections, your major thoroughfares. But if we 168 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:22.799 look at the times in which accidents are likely to occur, 169 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:26.120 then maybe we can kind of avoid some of the 170 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:28.720 patterns that we might find ourselves in so that we 171 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:33.039 don't fall victim to these vehicular errors. So what are 172 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:36.639 some of the more dangerous times to drive in and 173 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:41.919 around Los Angeles Between seven and ten am? And you 174 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:47.080 guessed it, four and seven p m. Seven to ten 175 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:52.799 am and four to seven pm seven to ten am. 176 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.159 That's morning rush hour. 177 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:56.799 Everyone's trying to get to work, they're trying to get 178 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:58.840 to school, or we're trying to get home from a 179 00:11:58.919 --> 00:11:59.519 late night. 180 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:00.399 Whatever it might be. 181 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:05.039 Morning rush at hour deals with people who are distracted, 182 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:09.639 They're moving quickly, they maybe don't maintain a safe following distance, 183 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:15.080 They're tired, they might be a bit agitated. Who knows. 184 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:19.519 Many people aren't mourning people. You might not be. Maybe 185 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:22.639 you are, but driving in the morning trying to get somewhere, 186 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:25.320 especially if you're running late or something at home has 187 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:31.960 stressed you out already. Can become a hazardous event. Weekend nights. 188 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:37.360 That's probably not news to anyone. Weekend nights. Tonight's today's Saturday, 189 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:41.120 So tonight's a weekend, Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night. 190 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:47.360 Those nights are very risky. You have impaired drivers, whether 191 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:51.960 they're drinking, whether they are doing something else, they're impaired. 192 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.159 Perhaps you have tourists who are out who are trying 193 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:57.720 to get home to their hotels and they're unfamiliar with 194 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:00.799 the routes. You might see that. I see that quite 195 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:03.159 a bit here near the studio. People are coming and 196 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:06.320 going from Universal Studios. You can tell that it's a 197 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:09.120 visiting family. They're in a rental car and they don't 198 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:11.519 know how to merge off the one oh one, and 199 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:14.639 they almost take everyone out with them because they're just 200 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:19.080 trying to get over on Barrom. Well, that's a big issue, 201 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:22.480 and please keep visiting, but be careful. Be careful, of course. 202 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:28.360 And then you have increased pedestrian activity in entertainment districts. 203 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:32.440 So if you are near Santa Monica Promenade, you have 204 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:35.000 all those people out there walking. If you are near 205 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:38.759 Third Street Promenade, all those people are out there walking 206 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:41.960 if you are near Santa Monica Pier, you have all 207 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.879 those people up and down PCCh and Ocean who are 208 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:48.879 just you know, trying to get around and figure out 209 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:53.000 their way, but they can become a hazard. And then 210 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:56.960 you have special events and holidays. Well, we have a 211 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:01.440 special event coming up. Monday is Saint Patrick's Day, and 212 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:07.799 Saint Patrick's Day is typically associated with what drinking. It's 213 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:11.600 synonymous with being a drinking holiday. And with all of 214 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:15.480 that drinking that's occurring throughout the day and evening, not 215 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:20.000 everyone is getting back into their car. Sober people are driving, 216 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:23.879 drunk people are driving tipsy. They think they got it, 217 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:29.440 but they really don't. Uber and Lyft typically offer many specials, 218 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:32.919 many freebies on these special event days and holidays like 219 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:36.279 Saint Patrick's Day to try and thwart some of that 220 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:42.399 dui propensity, but not everyone takes it. And if you're 221 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:44.279 in an Uber or a Lyft or a way Mo 222 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:47.480 for that matter, and you get smacked by somebody who's drunk, 223 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:50.960 you're not in good shape either way. So the best 224 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:54.759 rule of thumb is, of course, not to go out 225 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.279 and drink. 226 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:57.120 Stay at home. Stay at home and drink. 227 00:14:57.159 --> 00:15:00.600 If you're going to find yourself driving and then and 228 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:05.080 then there are even more times where issues occur, but 229 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:09.440 the main times again seven to ten am, four to 230 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:14.720 seven pm, weekend nights, and these special event days like 231 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.120 Saint Patrick's Day, which is just around the corner. If 232 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:21.679 you find yourself out on the roads tonight tomorrow, be 233 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:25.600 very vigilant because you are going to be driving amongst 234 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.679 people who are celebrating, who might be a bit buzz 235 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:32.720 might be a bit tipsy, whatever it is. And then 236 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:35.519 you add this next factor in and it just takes 237 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:39.480 a whole other turn the safety on La streets. That 238 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:43.960 factor is the street takeover. You know what a street 239 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:46.639 takeover is is when all those cars show up at 240 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:49.600 one place and they block an intersection and you find 241 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:53.399 cars doing tricks donuts, spinning around in circles in the 242 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:56.000 middle of the intersection while others stand by and watch 243 00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:00.600 or crowd the intersection themselves, putting themselves at arm's way. 244 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:04.039 But you are now beholden to this spectacle that you 245 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:07.240 did not sign up for, and until they leave, you 246 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:09.000 are effectively stuck. 247 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.039 Well. 248 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:13.039 Street takeovers are a huge issue in the city of 249 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:18.679 Los Angeles, and they have increased sixty four percent since 250 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:25.480 October sixty four percent. There are hundreds of street takeovers 251 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:29.519 happening all around Los Angeles, and because they are such 252 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:33.440 an issue, because they have become such an added hazard, 253 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:36.159 there are some ways in which the city is hoping 254 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:41.679 to respond. One such way is offering youth education and prevention. 255 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:45.120 They're going into the schools and they're talking to students 256 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:48.600 and they're saying, hey, don't involve yourselves in this activity. 257 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:51.720 It's an issue. I don't know how successful that is. 258 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:54.519 You ever talk to teenagers. You probably are a little 259 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:59.440 cynical yourself, but it is a start. Another thing that's 260 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:03.440 happening is that law enforcement is looking to enhance their 261 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:09.440 coordination between agencies and they want to increase penalties for 262 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:15.599 organizers and spectators and issue even more tickets. They're also 263 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:21.319 looking into city leadership identifying potentially designated spaces for legal 264 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:25.799 street racing events. And then lastly, there's a new regional 265 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:29.920 Task Force on street takeovers that will address what's going on. 266 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:35.240 They're proposing ordinances to increase fines, expand penalties, and target 267 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:40.680 spectators and organizers, amongst other things. So there are ways 268 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.960 in which our city is looking to make us safer 269 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:48.400 but so far not so good. Something that is so 270 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.440 very good is this upcoming conversation that we are going 271 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:55.400 to have with Marcus Coval. He is a pro MMA fighter, 272 00:17:55.640 --> 00:18:00.160 self defense trainer, activists, and dedicated dad. He's running in 273 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:04.359 the LA Marathon tomorrow in honor of his son, Liam, 274 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.640 who was unfortunately killed. 275 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:07.440 By a drunk driver. 276 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:12.599 And we will hear from Marcus Cobal about Liam's life, foundation, 277 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:16.839 his mission, and what he hopes to come out of 278 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:20.799 this marathon and all of the publicity for this run 279 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:24.680 when we come back. I am six forty live everywhere 280 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.920 on the iHeartRadio app. Tiffany Hobbs here with you. 281 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:31.359 You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand. 282 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:36.440 Kf I AM six forty Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. 283 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:41.279 It's Saturdays with Tiffany and I am very, very, very 284 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:46.640 proud and inspired to talk to our next guest. As 285 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:51.359 thousands of runners prepare for Tomorrow's LA Marathon, there is 286 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:56.720 one runner in particular who is participating barefoot to push 287 00:18:56.839 --> 00:19:03.480 for stricter drunk driving laws. Professional MMA fighter, self defense 288 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:09.160 expert and activists, Marcus Coval, will run the LA Marathon 289 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:15.880 again barefoot less than two years after undergoing a hip replacement. 290 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:18.480 There are superheroes amongst us. 291 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.759 Everyone. 292 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:24.279 His mission to raise awareness and funds to lower the 293 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:31.400 legal blood alcohol content limit to point zero five in California, 294 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:35.960 a change that research shows could save over two thousand 295 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:40.839 lives per year. In the United States, currently, our blood 296 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:46.440 alcohol content level is point zero eight, so lowering it 297 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:54.039 again would have dramatic dramatic results. Coval, a dedicated advocate 298 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:59.759 against drunk driving. Unfortunately and very sadly lost his fifteen 299 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:05.960 monthote's son, Liam in twenty sixteen when a repeat offender 300 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:10.920 hear me again, a repeat offender ran a red light 301 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:16.720 and struck Liam's stroller. Since then, Coval has committed his 302 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:20.599 life to fighting for stronger drunk driving laws through the 303 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:26.039 Liam's Life Foundation, an organization he founded in his son's memory. 304 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:30.279 Marcus Coval is running the twenty six point two miles 305 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:37.319 Barefoot Why as a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the 306 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:41.720 power of pushing through pain for a greater purpose. His 307 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:45.640 journey mirrors the physical and emotional trials he has endured 308 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:50.359 since Liam's passing. His goal is to get Liam's Law, 309 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:54.160 a bill to lower that BAC limit two point zero 310 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:59.640 five reintroduced in California, a measure supported by the National 311 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:04.759 Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering. There are similar laws 312 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.200 across the world in Europe and Australia and even stateside 313 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:11.400 in Utah, and that those laws have led to dramatic 314 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:16.599 increases in alcohol related fatalities. Liam's Life Foundation is calling 315 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:23.039 on supporters to donate, spread awareness, and demand legislative change. 316 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:28.599 Marcus Coval believes that with enough public support, California can 317 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:32.720 become the next state and should become the next state 318 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:38.279 to lead the life saving drunk driving prevention crusade. I 319 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:42.079 would say this is a crusade in every way. Marcus Coval, 320 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:44.799 thank you so much for your time and for being 321 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:46.119 with us here at KFI. 322 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:50.039 Thank you so much for having me on. I appreciate it. 323 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.200 No, thank you again. 324 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:57.359 I learned about you through social media as I have 325 00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:00.720 shared that we would be having this conversation, and others 326 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:05.960 have sent me many posts going back to twenty sixteen 327 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:10.640 because they recognized your story. After I shared that we 328 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:14.359 would be talking on Instagram, people remembered what happened. It 329 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:18.759 really made and left an impact on so many people, 330 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:22.640 and that nine years later, we are here one day, 331 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:26.960 just hours before the start of the LA Marathon, which 332 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:30.480 is yet another goal that you've set for yourself. I 333 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:33.960 have a question for you, of everything that you do 334 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:39.240 mma fighting your self defense classes. I was looking at 335 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:42.680 your social media. You're teaching self defense to so many people. 336 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:47.079 I plan hopefully to take a class from you of Yes, 337 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:50.759 of everything that you do and have done, what is 338 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.799 your most rewarding job. 339 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:58.200 That's a great question that I've never been asted for. 340 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:02.519 It's hard to pick one because I know that they 341 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:07.880 are all important. Teaching people to be empowered, to be 342 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:12.160 able to stand up not just for themselves, but for others. 343 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:15.480 From you know, children who have been believed in knowing 344 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:19.400 that the building the confidence to stand up for oneself 345 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:23.079 would change the trajectory of their lives, to law enforcement 346 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:27.000 offices and even military that work with you know able 347 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:29.680 to go home to their families because of the training 348 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:32.680 that they've received. So that's the one side on the 349 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:36.160 self defense side. But self defense starts with awareness and 350 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:42.279 nothing is more important to me today than saving lives 351 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:44.079 in Lims in Liam's honors. 352 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:48.000 I think that if we were to ask people closest 353 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:53.680 to you, especially your family. They would cite that your fatherhood, 354 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:58.079 being a father is most likely the most rewarding job 355 00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:03.480 that they have experienced because your crusade, your mission stems 356 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.640 from your love of family and speaking and in speaking 357 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:12.319 about family, can you take some time tell us about Liam, 358 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.279 your beautiful boy. 359 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:19.839 You know, Liam was fifteen months when we lost him, 360 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:24.039 and you're right, you know, I've done a lot and nothing, 361 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:27.839 nothing compares to becoming a father. It changed me as 362 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:32.599 a as a man and my values and you know, 363 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:36.920 wanting to make the world a better place for him, 364 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:41.039 and you know, being someone in the industry that I 365 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:43.359 am in. If someone would have told me that as 366 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:45.880 seventy two year old woman was going I take my 367 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:49.920 son's life, I would never leave them. And that's what happened. 368 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:54.680 And you know, I'm from Sweden originally and we have 369 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:59.119 a point zero too vac over there. I wasn't aware 370 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:01.079 of big of a problem of drunk driving is in 371 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:03.480 the United States until this, so. 372 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:08.680 You know, it's a massive problem. 373 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:12.559 It's a massive problem that I think is wept under 374 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:14.400 the rug way too often. 375 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:18.440 It is, it is, and I I've learned that since. 376 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:23.640 But you know, I I it's hard to to to 377 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:28.480 understand for anyone who's a parent, when you know, when 378 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:32.799 what's more important in life in itself is uh is 379 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:36.079 taken from you? How do you find a way back? 380 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:40.759 And how can you how can you take that love 381 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:44.440 that you have and and make something beautiful out of it? 382 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:48.240 When when when this comes with the most I can't 383 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:50.839 think of when it worse pain and I've I've endured 384 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:54.599 a lot of pain as a professional fighter, and none 385 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:58.319 to lose my son son? Did I learn what real 386 00:25:58.359 --> 00:26:01.839 pain is? And it's not physical pain, mental pain, emotional pain? 387 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:05.519 Marcus, I think what you said there, I know what 388 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:09.200 you said there is extremely profound. How do you find 389 00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:14.160 a way back from tragedy, from some extenuating circumstance that 390 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:19.759 could have halted everything and instead you found momentum, You 391 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:23.000 found a purpose And I would like to talk about 392 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:27.079 that purpose and Liam's Life Foundation if we can, if 393 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:29.079 you stay with us for one more segment on the 394 00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:32.240 other side of the break, as well as what Liam's 395 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:37.039 Life Foundation is striving to do through you tomorrow running 396 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:40.279 in this marathon barefoot, and what you hope to gain 397 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:44.039 from all of the exposure, the donations and the spotlight 398 00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:47.359 that is now on this cause. Can we continue after 399 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:52.319 the break? Absolutely, we are talking with Marcus Coval. He's 400 00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:56.400 a professional MMA fighter, a self defense trainer and activist, 401 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:00.440