Nine Warnings About Driving in Los Angeles

Last week, my husband, Dan, and I spent two days driving from Los Angeles to New Orleans via I-10. We had been in the City of Angels for what amounted to a long weekend – basically, just enough time to oversee our seventh annual Beverly Hills Shorts Festival. Neither of us had been in L.A. for the past year – since the time of our sixth annual festival – so admittedly, we experienced a bit of culture shock while there, particularly in regards to the unique demands of driving in that sprawling Southern California city. In fact, due to the brief length of our stay, we never quite grew accustomed to the perils of driving in L.A. – and, instead, faced constant reminders of our gratitude for living elsewhere.

view from atop the getty center in los angeles
Get an amazing view of Los Angeles from the Getty Center. Photo © Jon Bilous/123rf.

I apologize if that sounds harsh – especially to residents of Los Angeles County – but I’m not exactly speaking as an outsider. Dan and I lived in Los Angeles for roughly five years, so believe me when I say that driving there is no picnic – a fact that one especially appreciates after visiting or inhabiting other U.S. cities. Here, from my humble perspective, are four (of nine) warnings for those planning to drive in Los Angeles for the first time:

Intense traffic: If you’ve never been to Los Angeles, then you probably can’t imagine just how snarled the traffic can be at times. Rush hour seems to last all day there. So, unless you’ve lived in places like New York or Chicago, you might not be prepared for the traffic in L.A., where a distance of 20 miles could take you three hours or more. Needless to say, it’s best to allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, whether that’s Pasadena, Santa Monica, or somewhere in between.

Aggressive driving: Beyond the intense traffic, you’ll also face a lot of aggressive drivers – not only those afflicted with road rage but also ordinary motorists who, out of sheer habit, routinely cut off other drivers, stubbornly refuse to let them into their lane, and mercilessly ride the bumpers in front of them, often causing accidents – minor or otherwise.

While we were living in L.A., my father and stepmother once visited us from New Orleans, and they were both shocked to witness such a “road rage” incident on the freeway. Mired in a typical L.A. traffic jam, the four of us watched as one oblivious motorist rear-ended another, then bolted onto the shoulder, trying to shirk his responsibility and ultimately inciting a dangerous car chase. To say my father, a lifelong New Orleans driver, was flabbergasted would be an understatement.

Distracted drivers: In spite of California’s requirement that motorists use hands-free cellphone devices while driving, it’s a sad fact that L.A. drivers tend to be some of the most distracted in the country. Perhaps that’s because there are so many of them – increasing the odds of distractedness – or perhaps it’s because many have to endure long commutes – encouraging them to save time by multitasking. Whatever the reason, it seems that Dan and I have seen a disconcertingly large number of L.A. drivers applying make-up, reading books, rehearsing lines, texting on their phones, or pursuing some other potentially distracting diversion. So, be aware of your surroundings at all times – and try to stay clear of unfocused drivers.

Crisscrossing freeway ramps: Although Los Angeles isn’t the only U.S. city with crisscrossing freeway ramps, it sure seems as though they’re more dangerous there than anywhere else. Near downtown, where the 5, 10, 101, and 110 freeways intersect, can be particularly harrowing, with aggressive drivers crisscrossing each other with nearly wild abandon. So, as always, it’s best to drive defensively in such cases, balancing a lack of hesitation with the need to keep an eye on everyone around you. Of course, you could always just opt for surface streets, not that they’re much of a picnic either.

In an environmentally conscious state like California, it probably comes as no surprise that motorcyclists benefit from more flexible driving laws. For instance, while cars and trucks in car-pool lanes (also known as “high occupancy vehicle” lanes) typically must, during the posted hours, contain a minimum of two or three people – and sorry, pets, unborn infants, ghosts, mannequins, and inflatable dolls don’t count – motorcyclists are free to use such lanes at any time. In addition, lane splitting – that is, two side-by-side motorcycles occupying the same lane at the same time – is a common, legal practice, but in an unnerving twist, motorcyclists are also allowed to drive between lanes. This means that while you’re crawling through a traffic jam, waiting for a stoplight to turn green, or driving on the highway, a motorcyclist could suddenly appear along the side of your vehicle, riding between cars. I must admit that, no matter how many times this has happened, it still startles me – and often makes me wonder… what if the motorcycle were in our blind spot and we’d decided to switch lanes? What a horrible accident that could turn out to be!

Narrow streets: While this issue is certainly not limited to Los Angeles, I’ve often found that the City of Angels has its fair share of narrow, much-used thoroughfares. In particular, it can be downright disconcerting to drive on Los Feliz Boulevard and the Pasadena Freeway, both of which are well-traveled, exceedingly narrow routes, which means that vehicles in adjacent lanes can get uncomfortably close at times.

Left-turn arrows: One issue that has boggled my mind in a city as well populated and as car-dependent as Los Angeles is the appalling lack of left-turn arrows at major intersections. Without them, you’re often forced to risk bodily injury and severe property damage – just to make a legal left-hand turn – a scary prospect, particularly in light of the fact that L.A. motorists rarely miss the chance to run through a yellow light or, worse, a red.

Rainy days: Fortunately, the stereotype about L.A. weather is often accurate. It is usually warm and sunny in Los Angeles – a fact that outdoor enthusiasts like me particularly appreciate. Unfortunately, being accustomed to such mild weather means that many L.A. motorists are unprepared for driving in the rain. Whether it’s a light drizzle or a torrential downpour, the rain seems to bring out the worst in L.A. drivers, and over the years, it’s been customary to witness several accidents in a single night. It’s particularly dangerous during a drizzle, which can make the oil-covered roads a bit slicker than usual. During our recent visit, in fact, Dan and I noticed a single-car accident on a rainy night; luckily, though, the car had spun out of control in front of a hospital, so the injured driver didn’t have far to travel for treatment.

Sunshine: Now, don’t get me wrong – Los Angeles is certainly not the only place known for its intense sunshine, but nevertheless, I’ve often found myself more blinded by the sun while driving (or riding) in L.A. than in any other U.S. city. Perhaps that’s because so many of L.A.’s major highways and roads – such as the 10, the 101, Sunset Boulevard, and Wilshire Boulevard – are east-west thoroughfares, which means that you’re a lot more likely to find yourself driving directly into a dazzling sunrise or sunset. Even with sunglasses and a car visor, it can be difficult – if not downright perilous – to drive while blinded by the sun, so try to avoid doing so whenever possible.

The harshest truth is that Los Angeles, a veritable melting pot, is filled with people who have come from other parts of the country – if not the world – meaning that many of them have learned to embrace the city’s unique brand of driving, something they probably find hard to shake when visiting other places.

Laura Martone

About the Author

A native of New Orleans, Laura Martone has been an avid traveler since childhood. When she was growing up, she and her mother would often take long road trips to fascinating U.S. destinations such as Monticello and the Rocky Mountains. After graduating from Northwestern University with a dual degree in English and radio/TV/film, Laura continued to explore America with her husband, Daniel.

Despite adventures in places like Mammoth Cave, Las Vegas, and South Padre Island, New Orleans has always been her favorite destination. As a child, she explored much of the city, from the French Quarter to Lake Pontchartrain. She’s dined at countless seafood restaurants, attended numerous jazz concerts and Mardi Gras parades, and relished every major attraction, from Jackson Square to Audubon Zoo. Following Hurricane Katrina, she and Daniel started a film festival there, in the hopes of luring people back to the Big Easy. Today, with a part-time residence in the French Quarter, they continue to embrace the sights, sounds, and smells of her beloved hometown.

When not in New Orleans, Laura divides her time between northern Michigan, the Florida Keys, and Los Angeles, where she and Daniel operate the Beverly Hills Shorts Festival. She's contributed articles to National Geographic Traveler, MotorHome, Route 66 Magazine, RV Journal, and The Ecotourism Observer. She’s also written and edited several other guidebooks, including Moon Michigan, Moon Florida Keys, Moon Baja RV Camping, and Moon Metro Los Angeles.

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