Why are the drivers near LA terrible?

[Exterous]

I had always heard how traffic was terrible in and near LA but now that I have been out here several times for work I can say a lot of it isn't the volume but how freaking terrible the drivers are. No one can keep a steady speed (or uses cruise control apparently), driving slow in the fast lanes is a local pass time, speeding up at a stop light is a scary thing and must be approached veeeerryyy cautiously if they could even be bothered to pay attention and the spatial judgement has to be some of the worst I've ever seen

So - what gives LA?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

They can't see the lane markers through the smog.

 

[RockinZ28]

Half the drivers don't have a license?

Most are just in their own little world, completely oblivious to other motorists anywhere except in front of them. Any little distraction on the freeway and it becomes a stop-and-go fuckfest. Like right now there are a lot of LED signs stating that on 08/25 or whatever the 60 East will be 3 lanes only. Traffic slows down to 10-30mph for miles before these signs, then speeds up to normal immediately after. Same with Amber Alerts, any accident big or small, even on the opposite side of the freeway. It is infuriating.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Asian drivers.

/thread

 

[skim milk]

I drive in LA daily and everyone drives fine. Traffic is also caused by volume... You must not be familar with the traffic here

What do you mean speeding up at a stop light?

 

[jaedaliu]

It's the volume.

Not everyone's a perfect driver. People everywhere tap brakes, tailgate, brake at the bottom of a hill because they notice they're going fast, or whatever bugs you. But because there are so many cars, the other drivers have to react by slowing down instead of just going around.

And why the hell would you speed up to hit a red light? you enjoy wasting gas and brakes?

 

[Ns1]

douchebag cyclists, duh.

 

[BoberFett]

I've found the drivers on the coasts to be aggressive, not necessarily bad. I've driven all over the country, and the midwest has some of the worst drivers. The kind that stop at the end of the entrance ramp. Straddle lanes. That sort of thing.

 

[Corporate Thug]

because nobody gives a shit about the rules of the road or common courtesy...they are just trying to get from point A to point B as fast as possible, no matter the cost.

 

[Murloc]

a bad driver in an area with low volumes does nothing apart make the guy behind him angry.
Do the same in a high volume area, and you will send waves and stuff through the traffic. Irregularity in traffic causes jams. That's why they lower the speed limit during peak traffic, to increase regularity.
If people keep driving like accordions even at lower speed it's all for naught though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

a bad driver in an area with low volumes does nothing apart make the guy behind him angry.
Do the same in a high volume area, and you will send waves and stuff through the traffic. Irregularity in traffic causes jams. That's why they lower the speed limit during peak traffic, to increase regularity.
If people keep driving like accordions even at lower speed it's all for naught though.

One observation from someone who has spent a great many years driving in and around Los Angeles, people don't seem to think ahead. They'll drive along in the left lane until they get right up to their exit and then try to cross 4 lanes of heavy traffic in a couple hundred feet. Or they'll be driving along in the center lane on a surface street and then realize they have to turn right when they get to the intersection. This happens ALL THE TIME!!! And it is maddening.

Oh, and it seems like very few traffic signals are timed to aide in the movement of traffic through an area. It's like nobody has worked out that you can have lights timed so that you aren't stopping every few blocks for miles and miles.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

The longer the commutes are, the more aggressively people will drive. And I think LA's drivers are better than the ones in the NE. LA never seemed that bad to me, outside of the volume. I never felt the same "tension" there that I do every single time I visit NJ now, and I grew up learning to drive there...

 

[Chrono]

I'm Asian and I can tell you a lot of Asian drivers (fobs/females) drive slow and merge slow and are just clueless. I work out in Pomona and there are a ton of shitty Black/Hispanic drivers, who drive recklessly by cutting in front of you left and right and are always in a fuckin' hurry. So to sum things up, there are pockets of shitty drivers for all races.

 

[jaedaliu]

I'm Asian and I can tell you a lot of Asian drivers (fobs/females) drive slow and merge slow and are just clueless. I work out in Pomona and there are a ton of shitty Black/Hispanic drivers, who drive recklessly by cutting in front of you left and right and are always in a fuckin' hurry. So to sum things up, there are pockets of shitty drivers for all races.

Don't forget the clueless white people that like to blame the ethnic groups! (i'm just joking. Pretty much all guys think they're awesome drivers, but probably are just about average.)

 

[OverVolt]

High traffic long term eventually makes you a terrible driver.

 

[Pantoot]

(i'm just joking. Pretty much all guys think they're awesome drivers, but probably are just about average.)

I am willing to bet that pretty much all people are about average at everything.
Don't forget, when you complain about traffic, YOU ARE THE TRAFFIC.

 

[goog40]

Driving on the freeway near DC was about 100x worse.

 

[Ns1]

Driving on the freeway near DC was about 100x worse.

With tolls to boot

 

[mkrohn]

Don't forget the clueless white people that like to blame the ethnic groups! (i'm just joking. Pretty much all guys think they're awesome drivers, but probably are just about average.)

its not the ethnics, its just the women and midgets and colored people and old people. Nothing is worse than an old blasian midget chick

 

[Midwayman]

High traffic long term eventually makes you a terrible driver.

Nah. It makes you aggressive or shrivel up into a terrified little ball, depending on driver. If anything the people driving the shoulder hours of rush hour are noticeably worse drivers.

 

[Exterous]

I drive in LA daily and everyone drives fine.

False

What do you mean speeding up at a stop light?

The light turns green and they just sit there because they weren't paying attention or they slooooooowly accelerate.

People everywhere tap brakes, tailgate, brake at the bottom of a hill because they notice they're going fast, or whatever bugs you. But because there are so many cars, the other drivers have to react by slowing down instead of just going around.

I've driven in many different states and many countries around the world including Paris and London. It is not just about volume

And why the hell would you speed up to hit a red light? you enjoy wasting gas and brakes?

Who said anything about speeding up to hit a red light? It is possible to speed up in an area where there are no lights

One observation from someone who has spent a great many years driving in and around Los Angeles, people don't seem to think ahead. They'll drive along in the left lane until they get right up to their exit and then try to cross 4 lanes of heavy traffic in a couple hundred feet. Or they'll be driving along in the center lane on a surface street and then realize they have to turn right when they get to the intersection. This happens ALL THE TIME!!! And it is maddening.

:thumbsup:

 

[lozina]

If you think LA drivers are bad try driving on the L.I.E. or better yet any road in Jersey.

 

[Attic]

LA drivers are horrible. Speeding through yellows, rolling through rights on reds, speeding at 60mph in 45mph zones, rolling through stop signs, no blinkers, rude. You name it we got it in abundance and delivered buffet style.

It's because of the shitty culture here. Me me me, mine mine mine and fuck you if you're a stranger.

 

[NutBucket]

Uh, you've just described American culture.

 

[Craig234]

Most dangerous drivers in the US: Boston.