Please calm my driving in LA fears

[kristenandrick]

We have a car rental reserved for our trip in November. We plan to spend one day in USH before driving to DLR. We are flying in on Sunday but would be driving to DLR Monday late afternoon. The only other time we would drive would be to head back to LAX on Sat. I am totally terrified of LA traffic and from some of the stories I have heard about aggressive panhandlers. Am I getting all worked up over nothing? If we weren't trying to fit in USH I would just take the shuttle lol. Thanks in advance for anyones advice .

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

To answer your last question, you are.

Yes, the traffic is heavy, but I prefer to drive here in Los Angeles over many East Coast cities. I am a Missouri native, for point of reference.

The traffic is heavy, but it is slow and careful. That can be a good thing. Just prepare yourself with some music to play (we have fabulous radio stations here, too) and if you have an iphone or GPS, use that feature.

Also, a way to prepare for the trip is to use Google maps and the satellite views. Look at the freeway changes from street level to see the signs and know ahead of time which lane you will need to be in for the major interchanges (the 5/10/60 interchange, east of downtown LA is the one to keep particular eyes on).

I would also take the 134 to the 5 instead of the 101, when leaving Universal. That will take you past downtown, instead of right through the heart of it!

If you are staying around Universal, don't worry about panhandlers. You usually won't see them!

 

[farmfresh]

If you can hire a garmin or similar that might help.

Also remember you can use the carpooling lanes if you have passengers.

But overall it's pretty straightforward....I think you'll be fine.

 

[smiley_face2]

We're from a little town of 7000 in Canada, drive around the city of Vancouver some time but that's it...But...we have driven down to California every trip we've made since 1991! We've done lot's of different routes, driven the coast, toured different towns, driven through the heart of LA and SanFrancisco... honestly, a decent street map and you'll be fine! Everything is very well marked and people seem to drive very well and not aggresively that we've noticed. Like YellowMickeyPoncho's suggested, look at the route on Google map street view. you can click your way along the whole thing, it's like driving it for real only slower... When you do actually drive it after that, it will be like dejavue...or feeling like you've done it before! The route from USH to DL resort area, is really easy!

 

[mrsxsparrow]

There is a lot of traffic, yes, but because of this, super aggressive drivers a rare. It just takes longer to get from point A to point B then it would somewhere else.

I agree with taking the 134 and google-street-viewing the interchanges. Also, on your way from Universal to DL, there is a DL exit on the left of the 5 when you get down there... usually the carpool lane there is EMPTY and it is super convenient.

 

[SnowWhite09]

We are from Australia and DH has driven in LA many times. I will be driving next time we go. There are great signs (well in advance) so you know what lane to be in and when the traffic is heavy it is very slow so that makes it easier. We did the googlemaps street view thing before we left Australia last time and it made a huge difference.

Have a great trip!

 

[Vala]

The first year I came to California my friends picked me up from the airport and drove me everywhere saying the traffic was too aggressive and they were worried about me driving.

I just sat next to them and thought: "Where's your problem, this is easier than Frankfurt during high traffic times!"

Got a rental car the year after that. Bought a cheap Garmin at Target (paid around $ 60) because my friends were still worried. The only time I ever used is was when I was hunting for a small independent theatre somewhere near UCLA.

Traffic is heavy, but it's not overwhelming.

Also I should add that normally I drive a quite small car at home that my American friends love to call "shoebox on wheels." The rental cars were quite a bit bigger than my car at home. But even with that I was okay. I even felt secure enough to brave the parking garage at Hollywood and Highland when we went to DSF.

 

[PinkBudgie]

For us, the trickiest part of driving down there is staying on the freeway you want, not the heavy traffic. DH drives and I navigate. I print out googles maps and we use our GPS. Driving straight down to DLR from up here is easy because you just stay on 5. But if you go anywhere else, it seems like you need to take at least 5 different freeways to get there. So you just have to know what your next exit is and be ready for it. A GPS really helps. Get one of those and you should be fine.

 

[Conolan]

One thing that might seem aggressive to others is the way you need to maneuver in slow traffic. You might need to get two lanes over to get ready for your exit, but all lanes are packed solid moving at 7mph. In that case you need to wait for a gap that may still be less than a car length, signal for a couple seconds, and then slowly start to merge. If you wait for a big enough gap it may never appear, so you just have to signal and go.

Most people will slow down and make a space for you, because they know that the next time they will be the ones trying to merge.

Also in LA, watch out for right and left lanes that become exit only, sometimes two at a time. If you aren't paying attention it it's easy to discover that you are about to exit onto a freeway you don't want, or even end up on a different freeway without realizing it.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

It's no big deal.

We use navigation systems, but it really helps to have a hard-copy of your route printed out. You don't want to rely on technology 100% because if there is no satellite signal...there's no nav system. Then you're left with rental car maps. Oops!

Prepare the route in both map and text format, with advance notice of left or right exits, and (very important), become familiar with the names of 2-3 exits prior to the ones you take.

Have fun!

 

[bumbershoot]

but it is slow and careful

I have been driving in traffic that is very very different than what is being described here!

We've driven between San Diego and Anaheim by ourselves twice, I've *been* driven back and forth 3 times, I've driven between LAX and Anaheim... I grew up in northern CA (and learned to drive there), I've braved the SEattle area traffic (a huge melting pot of driving styles), and I've driven in Miami (frightening but FUN). (have also driven the DC Beltway area (insanity on wheels) and in SC and NC (simple) and WV (distracting b/c of the gorgeous mountains), oh, and in Montana (just after they created a speed limit and no one else was happy with that).

And of all that, I cannot stand driving in so cal! I have experienced extremely FAST, packed traffic, with people weaving all over and signaling AS they are moving (if they signal).

So I would say you're worked up over something.

But then, I appear to be driving with very different drivers surrounding me as everyone else has. So take my experiences with a "maybe she just has bad luck every single time" grain of salt!

 

[dizneedoll]

I have been driving in traffic that is very very different than what is being described here!

We've driven between San Diego and Anaheim by ourselves twice, I've *been* driven back and forth 3 times, I've driven between LAX and Anaheim... I grew up in northern CA (and learned to drive there), I've braved the SEattle area traffic (a huge melting pot of driving styles), and I've driven in Miami (frightening but FUN). (have also driven the DC Beltway area (insanity on wheels) and in SC and NC (simple) and WV (distracting b/c of the gorgeous mountains), oh, and in Montana (just after they created a speed limit and no one else was happy with that).

And of all that, I cannot stand driving in so cal! I have experienced extremely FAST, packed traffic, with people weaving all over and signaling AS they are moving (if they signal).

So I would say you're worked up over something.

But then, I appear to be driving with very different drivers surrounding me as everyone else has. So take my experiences with a "maybe she just has bad luck every single time" grain of salt!

I was thinking the same thing. Slow? Maybe, but only because the traffic is too packed to move. Careful? Ha. Yeah, right. So. Cal drivers are rude and agressive. I grew up here and learned to drive here and continue to live and drive here and still think it's awful. Go ahead and drive just beware that most drivers are NOT careful and NOT polite either. Another PP mentioned the trouble with moving through lanes, they are right, don't wait for an opening, you won't get one especially if they see your signal on. That's like an invitation for drivers to be jerks and not let you through.

 

[kristenandrick]

Thanks SO MUCH for all your thoughtful replies! I am still feeling a bit spooked but your advice has been written down in my handy dandy notebook and I plan to take everyone's advice . I have a GPS at least lol. Thanks again!

 

[sportbettor]

I was thinking the same thing. Slow? Maybe, but only because the traffic is too packed to move. Careful? Ha. Yeah, right. So. Cal drivers are rude and agressive. I grew up here and learned to drive here and continue to live and drive here and still think it's awful. Go ahead and drive just beware that most drivers are NOT careful and NOT polite either. Another PP mentioned the trouble with moving through lanes, they are right, don't wait for an opening, you won't get one especially if they see your signal on. That's like an invitation for drivers to be jerks and not let you through.

I think this is so true. The only place I have seen more aggressive drivers is NYC. Drivers in SoCal will not let you in, they will cut you off whenever possible and generally just don't care. I was in Florida for a lot of the summer and was amazed at how less aggressive the driving was. During rush hour bumper to bumper traffic I would leave 1-2 car lengths infront of me and no one would jump over and cut me off. Try that in LA traffic.

In the last week one person was shot and one person was stabbed over road rage incidents in LA. There's a reason for that.

 

[Roythe13th]

The GPS will be your best friend!! As someone from Kentucky, I will tell you that LA driving can be intimating, especially on your first trip, but a GPS will be a lifesaver. In October, I will be going to LA for the 5th time and I'm a little more comfortable now with the driving, I still feel better with the GPS.

Another piece of advice I can give is timing. From your original post, I take it you are spending the day at USH on a Monday in November and then driving to DLR late afternoon? When I think late afternoon, I was thinking 4ish/5ish. That would be a nightmare drive! Someone more local might be able to fine tune this suggestion but I would say stay at USH all day. It should be a low crowd day so do everything in the park, multiple times if possible. Just have fun. A Monday in November means the park will probably close at 6pm. At that time, spend some time in Citywalk. Do some shopping, eat dinner, see a movie or just enjoy walking around. Leaving USH after 7 should be a much, MUCH smoother drive to DLR than driving it at 4/5pm. And spending a few hours in Citywalk is a much more pleasant experience than sitting on the freeway!

My last trip to LA was in June. I was there for a few days on my way back home from Australia. I wasn't planning on going to DLR on that trip, but some other plans fell through and it was close to my birthday so I rented a car to make the trip. The only day I had to go was a Tuesday and I was staying by LAX. I wanted to spend a full day at the park but that meant driving in rush hour and I wasn't looking forward to the drive. To my surprise, it was a very smooth drive! The majority of heavy traffic was going INTO LA and going south was busy but not packed. Traffic slowed down dramatically in a few spots but never came to a full stop and the trip took me about 40-45 minutes, which is about average.

The LA freeways can have an accident or road construction or some major event at any time of the day that can cause major traffic issues so no time of day is guaranteed to be smooth but most of the time, there is a psychology to the traffic and by avoiding the time and direction of the majority of traffic can save you some major headaches.

Also, since you will already have a car, take some time to do some things in Orange county. You can take surface streets so no freeway issues. Go to one of the Orange County beaches. It will be an easy drive. And I can't leave southern California without making a stop at In N Out Burger and Pinkberry. There's neither super close to DLR but not too far away either.

Either way, have fun!

 

[farmfresh]

I just sat next to them and thought: "Where's your problem, this is easier than Frankfurt during high traffic times!"

This did make me laugh! Made me think of the ring road around Paris, anywhere in Italy...Whilst no one would say LA traffic is a breeze, there is plenty worse...have just come back from a fortnight in China. Now that's one place I would not care to drive in. Aged many years in my many taxi journeys around Beijing and Shanghai. Indicating between lane changes? No problem, just make your own lane! Cut you off? No chance, there's no space, so you just hit the horn and keep going.

Take it easy, be prepared, and you'll be fine. Rush hour is no fun anywhere. We manage, and we're used to the other side of the road. (but then we do change the Garmin voice to British! Very comforting.)

 

[disfan07]

Slow?? When the heck are you guys driving on LA freeways?

We drive the 5, the 101 and the 405 on a weekly basis and unless it is "rush hour" (7-9AM going south and 4-7PM going north) it is anything but slow. During those morning hours it can get slow because the entire population of LA has descended onto the freeways. But any other time, it is crazy.
I grew up in the Washington DC area driving 66, 95, and 495 and LA is worse. We used to say that driving in DC was like nascar....I take that back. Nascar is driving on LA freeways.

LA drivers are agressive drivers. And for some reason it seems to be getting worse everytime we drive somewhere. I'm not sure why but it's been crazy lately.

I swear most people here dont know HOW to signal when changing lanes. They cut right in front of you without signalling. Polite and Careful are not words that I would personally use to describe drivers aorund here. But that's just our experience.

If you ask 10 people about SoCal traffic, you will get 10 different opinions. Personally, I hate it. I would rather go back to driving I-95 in Virginia and Maryland. JMO

 

[Grog]

OP, I see you are from Corpus. If you have driven in any of the large cities in Texas, you'll be fine in LA. As others have suggested, get a map and study it ahead of time. Also be aware of where you are so you don't miss your exits. If one of you reads the map while the other drives you should be fine. I've driven in LA traffic a couple of times with no problems.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Slow?? When the heck are you guys driving on LA freeways?

We drive the 5, the 101 and the 405 on a weekly basis and unless it is "rush hour" (7-9AM going south and 4-7PM going north) it is anything but slow. During those morning hours it can get slow because the entire population of LA has descended onto the freeways.

You forgot to add that on Fridays rush hour starts about 1:30. I can varify this true at least on 5. Wonder why they call it rush hour when no one can go any faster than 5-10 mph.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I'm the one who said slow.

I live in Burbank and regularly drive the route that the original poster will follow. She will be in rush hour traffic per the drive time she suggested.

I used to be a corporate business traveller for 3 years - different city and state every week. Next 5 years it was travel only to my factory that was in Chicago and Headquarters first in Jersey and then Philly. I frankly would rather drive in LA than those areas. And Boston is possibly the worst, due to it's freeways and other complexities. We have barely any toll roads (only in the OC) and it will be a straight shot for you from USH.

You will be fine. Road rage was all over the country - not just here. Folks lane change that aggressively everywhere - it's just not bubbas in pick-ups with gun racks here. Houston and Dallas have some similar traffic issues. Don't let people freak you out. Use your common sense and your eyeballs and you will be fine.