Driving in Los Angeles County dealing with traffic · Dealing with Traffic in Driving in Los Angeles County
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Dealing with Traffic in Driving in Los Angeles County
Dealing with Traffic in Driving in Los Angeles County
Residents of Los Angeles County spend an estimated 4 days of each year stuck in traffic. However, since there is no real effective alternative for getting around, driving, and dealing with traffic, for the vast majority of trips outside the downtown core, traffic is an inescapable part of the Los Angeles lifestyle, and something visitors will not be able to avoid.
When traveling on a Los Angeles freeway it's important to remember slower traffic keeps the right. Many Angelenos do well over 20 mph of the posted speed limit and cutting them off or remaining in the fast lane at a slow pace, will cause frustration with native drivers.
Despite the infamy of Los Angeles' traffic situation, people from other major cities may not be surprised. The real issues are the sheer length of the rush hour period, and the volume of traffic therein. The assertions of driving difficulty and danger will most likely seem unfounded to residents of large cities, especially comparatively frantic northeastern locations such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, who often see Los Angeles traffic as relatively easy-going. Indeed, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Beltway, and the Schuylkill Expressway offer easily comparable volume and far less forgiving conditions.
It is actually very easy to drive around Los Angeles for about six hours every day - from around 11 PM to 5 AM. Driving times in these morning hours can easily be less than a third of what they are during peak hours. Don't think for a second that CalTrans hasn't figured this out too. A lot of construction is scheduled during these off peak times; be ready to plan alternative routes. Anyone planning on visiting by car may wish to seriously consider scheduling the trip so as to arrive or depart in the early morning - this can prevent a great deal of frustration. This is also an excellent time of day to find your way around, memorize your traffic routes, and explore.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Driving in Los Angeles County
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Driving in Los Angeles County Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.