L.A.'s road-rage blogger

"L.A. Can't Drive" is a one-of-a-kind website that seems to combine road rage with blogging. The site features stories of bad driving moments in L.A. -- along with pictures and a lot of attitude. This blogger takes to task reckless drivers, slow drivers, excessive honkers, daydreaming drivers and -- of course -- angry drivers. The language is a little more raw than what you get on the Bottleneck Blog, but, hey, we've all been there. An example:

We were all sitting at a red light. When it turned green, grandpa here in the left lane nearly rams his minivan into my vehicle in the right lane after precariously swerving back and forth, trying to find the correct path for his vehicle, and then inevitably guessing wrong (without signaling or checking his blindspot). I decided to take the safe route and drive behind this blind blue-hair until I could safely pass.

By the way, the blogger doesn't think L.A. has the worst drivers: "About me: A true bicoastalite who has driven all around the United States and has found that L.A. drivers are second only to New Jersey as to the worst drivers in this country."

Comments

[Frank H. Boylan]

Pet peave: where am I? Do you have your street address posted in front of your house or business? Many miles wasted trying to find a place. Freeways should post on exit signs the street number so you know which way to turn, as L.A. is based on the grid system, but freeways meander.

[Stephen russell]

Have CHP units chase & ticket Early morning speed race teams on 170 Frwy North.
around 830-845 AM on 170 Frwy.

Whiz in & around traffic, can cause major accident.

Never one around for those.

They race on Sunday AM 830-800, 730 AM, summer, fall.

[Stephen russell]

Pave Gault St from Van Nuys Blvd to Corson St.
Very uneven street.
Near Sizzler steakhouse & McDonalds.

[Stephen russell]

Have bigger, wider signs for Tourist sites IE

Griffith Park, LAMACA, Petersen Auto Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Miracle Mile, etc on Frwys & denote Offramps to those sites for Increased Tourisim
Make it EZ for tourists to see LA CA.
& more signs along said Blvd IE Wilshire etc denoting MIRACLE MILE etc.
Sample sign:
GRIFFITH PARK, HOLLYWOOD, OBSERVATORY, HOLLYWOOD BOWL This Way.

No Tourisim, No Income, No Taxes.
Esp on Freeways, Hwys.

Like on 210 Frwy E to Hwy 33:
LAKE ARROWHEAD BIG BEAR MTN RESORTS
on I15, X00 miles to Vegas.
From 2 Frwy to 5 Frwy X00 miles to Disneyland & Knotts Berry Farm
OR Queen mary Complex.

Make signs visible & NOT eyesore BUT usable.
NON confusing.

Have sgns denote DODGER STADIUM & LAPD ACADEMY CENTER.
etc.
Citywide, Countywide, regionalwide.

Have Light RR along San Fern Rd to City of San Fern from Glendale alone.
Expand Metrolink RR Lines.
Scrap confusing road signs etc.
Make Uniform parking hours.

ALL Heavy trucks use roads at night.
Use school buses for group charters when NOT in use.
for other than Non school groups.
& power by CNG.

Clear debris around Hwy offramps & onramps & signs.
Use street chain gangs to clear citywide.
For Probation & Community Service.
Gangs work 15 hour shifts.
NO more violence in prisons, or jails- too tired.

Mayor or LAUSD head should acess CNG school bus for VIP use in city.
Sell on E Bay ALL LAUSD SCHOOL BUSES used.

[Joe]

Idea #1 - Eliminate the diamond lane. This was a stupid idea from the onset. I've been commuting for many years and Los Angeles truly has the most ill informed drivers I've ever witnessed. Use your blinkers people! Let me know what you're planning on doing! Don't just cut me off and expect me to give a polite wave. Why on earth the turn signal avoiders end up flipping me off, is beyond me. They did the wrong thing by cutting me off and I got the angry reaction. This amazes me every time. Merging is not difficult. In a nutshell, here it is; It is against the law to impede the foreward movement of traffic, while merging. The MERGER must wait for an available spot, to safely merge. All of the racing in order to get as close to the front of the line is not only unsafe, but also illegal. Here's another one that continues to baffle me; When driving in the passing lane (fast lane) and someone is wanting to drive faster than you, move over. If you so chose not to move over, let the driver behind you pass. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people use their vehicles as a weapon and speed up, when someone is trying to pass the uneducated driver. We all share the road, it doesn't belong to some idiot who thinks he owns his lane. If you must drive slow, use the slow lane. All of us want to get to our destination, so there's absolutely no reason to play games with your vehicle. Let's talk about truckers...Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the speed limit for big rigs 55 mph? That's a rarity these days. And isn't the general rule of thumb for following a big rig as follows; Drive behind the truck at a distance of seeing their side mirrors? There is a very good reason for this which has to do with a truck's stopping distance. READ THE DMV MANUAL! Hell, ask a cop if necessary! One thing I see almost all of the time is, police cars not using a turn signal. Police should ALWAYS set the example. They're trained to, so they should be in the habit of driving perfectly. One last rant and I'm finished; Impatience. In a nutshell; HAVE PATIENCE! You'll get to work on time, even if you're patient.

[accident]

Tail gating actually slows down traffic. Have you ever noticed that traffic slows down when traffic approches a hill? Up or down. Every body slows down because wen one person puts the brakes on so does every car behind them. This is the domino effect. But southern california drivers don't seem to understand this.

[accident]

I want the CHP to start tagging tailgaters. I have been rear ended 4 times in the last 4 years. One time put me in the hospital. I was severaly injured and am disfigured for the rest of my life. ALL because of someone following too close on the freeway. ALL FREEWAYS.
Southern California drivers ALL have the mindset that following close makes one go faster. I' ll STOP.

[alvira]

a suggestion to cut down traffic probs...DEPLOY SCHOOL BUSES[ will cut down on extra pick/drop cars, save on added stress/gas on parents], BIG RIGS, SUPPLY/DELIVERY TRUCKS etc can access roads AT NITE/EARYMORNING hrs,can help reduce the day time traffic , encourage/reward shuttle services for same workplace employees, college/univ students etc.
-works in cities of other countries!!!... hope I can be heard

[Belinda]

In the big scheme of L.A. traffic things, this is not a big one. But it counts when I'm sitting at the red light at the bottom of the east-bound Topanga Cyn off-ramp of the 118. From 10am-3pm there is no right turn on the red light, for no apparent reason. That is the time when traffic is lightest. The only traffic is controlled from the west-bound off-ramp down Topanga Cyn Blvd. The police like to hide in the mobile home driveway to catch those who also think this is absurd. I'm sure if the decision maker for signal coordination sat through this long red light just one time, he would recognize that those signs need to come down, Mr. Gorbachev!

[Kenneth]

BLINKERS people!!!
If you're really challenged; they are also called "indicators". It's in your car's manual. If you do not know what that is or where it is, you should NOT be driving.

I ask the law enforcement to please, please, please crack down on the inconsiderate drivers, the "rubberneckers" and people that think they are the only ones on the road.
I love law enforcers, but please, set an example. I believe in controlling the anarchy that is happening on the road.

Slow driving is not cautious/safe driving, it's actually dangerous. You become an obstacle, not a driver. Know your car, know your limits, consider others. Slamming on brakes for a pedestrian during traffic is illogical and unsafe.

[Stephen Russell]

Improve traffic signals along Sherman Wy from 170 Frwy to t Van Nuys Blvd, sometimes cars get backed up into incoming traffic & very Dangerous.
ALL along Sherman Wy from Bur Airport to CP.
Improve those signal timing codes.

[Adrian]

It amazes me how slow drivers can really impact traffic. They think they are being safe by driving 45 or 50 mph on the freeway yet in my opinion they are more the cause of accidents than the frustrated driver trying to get around a slow driver in the far left lane. I think someone needs to put more emphasis in driving school that if you're driving slow you CANNOT be in the far left lane.

Also had to comment on the bottlenecks in the 405 Northbound from Long Beach to West LA. I drive this route to work everyday and right when I get to La Tijera and H. Hughes Pkwy, even if traffic is fine this area just comes to a dead stop. Do people just not understand the concept of merging and have to slow down for no reason?! Seriously what is up with this area!?

[randy]

Three things need to be done that i've never seen suggested ever: (1) all businesses should be open 24/7, (2) no trucks permitted on freeways during business hours, & (3) odd-even vehicle license plate system for freeway usage as was done for fuel purchase during the gasoline shortage some years ago..........ANY QUESTIONS

[Drew]

Would cracking down on unlicensed/uninsured drivers help?

[TRUTH]

HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN TO FLORIDA? THOSE ARE THE WORST DRIVERS IN CREATION. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MERGE, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE BLINKERS, THEY DON'T EXCELERATE ON THE ON RAMPS TO THE FREEWAYS. INSTEAD THEY GET TO THE END OF THE RAMP AND STOP. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FLOW OF TRAFFIC. TRY DRIVING ON I 95 IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY. THE LIMIT IS 55 WHICH IS WAY TO SLOW FOR FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE POSTED SIGNS ALLOW A MINIMUM SPEED OF 40 MILES AN HOUR WHICH CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERES OLD FOGGIES AND ISLANDER IMMIGRANTS GOING 40 MILE AN HOUR IN FAR LEFT LANE AND THOSE TRYING TO GO 55 AS POSTED AND THOSE IMPLANTS WHO COME FROM THE NORTHEAST WHO ARE JUST PLAIN IRRITATED WITH THOSE GOIND SO DAMN SLOW AND THEY'RE DOING 95 TO 100 MILES PER HOUR THROUGH CITY TRAFFIC BECAUSE HOLDING A STEADY 65 70 TO 75 IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT WEAVING WRECKLESSLY THROUGH TRAFFIC DUE TO ALL THE OLD FOGGIES AND ILLEGALS GOING 40 AND 50 IN THE LEFT AND MIDDLE LANES. DID I MENTION THE PEOPLE TRYING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY FROM THE RIGHT WHO DON'T SPEED UP DURING THE MERGE AND JUST PLOP THEIR VEHICLES RIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF YOU GOING 30 MILES SLOWER THAN YOU AS IF YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO COME TO A STOP ON THE FREEWAY IN ORDER TO LET THEM IN. L.A. IS PARADISE COMPARED TO THAT!

[TRUTH]

HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN TO FLORIDA? THOSE ARE THE WORST DRIVERS IN CREATION. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MERGE, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE BLINKERS, THEY DON'T EXCELERATE ON THE ON RAMPS TO THE FREEWAYS. INSTEAD THEY GET TO THE END OF THE RAMP AND STOP. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FLOW OF TRAFFIC. TRY DRIVING ON I 95 IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY. THE LIMIT IS 55 WHICH IS WAY TO SLOW FOR FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE POSTED SIGNS ALLOW A MINIMUM SPEED OF 40 MILES AN HOUR WHICH CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERES OLD FOGGIES AND ISLANDER IMMIGRANTS GOING 40 MILE AN HOUR IN FAR LEFT LANE AND THOSE TRYING TO GO 55 AS POSTED AND THOSE IMPLANTS WHO COME FROM THE NORTHEAST WHO ARE JUST PLAIN IRRITATED WITH THOSE GOIND SO DAMN SLOW AND THEY'RE DOING 95 TO 100 MILES PER HOUR THROUGH CITY TRAFFIC BECAUSE HOLDING A STEADY 65 70 TO 75 IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT WEAVING WRECKLESSLY THROUGH TRAFFIC DUE TO ALL THE OLD FOGGIES AND ILLEGALS GOING 40 AND 50 IN THE LEFT AND MIDDLE LANES. DID I MENTION THE PEOPLE TRYING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY FROM THE RIGHT WHO DON'T SPEED UP DURING THE MERGE AND JUST PLOP THEIR VEHICLES RIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF YOU GOING 30 MILES SLOWER THAN YOU AS IF YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO COME TO A STOP ON THE FREEWAY IN ORDER TO LET THEM IN. L.A. IS PARADISE COMPARED TO THAT!

[magic]

Peter Angermeier, you have it right as far as i'm concerned!!!

[david ludeke]

while shen may be having a passenger(oh sure)take pictures with a cell phone how many other drivers will do the same....i can see it now two idiots on the i-10 taking pictures of each other in rush hour traffic...just wait 'til someone takes pictures of a car full of gangbangers and gets some great pictures of bullets coming back at them...people stop beeing fools and do what your meant to do in a car DRIVE...

[Tom]

Hey Langdon Conrad:

Check out http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1072.html under the "Traffic and Road Conditions" section. Sounds like paradise to me. What's stopping you from moving down there?

[LA Guy]

"Are our drivers less considerate? Not a chance. More aggressive? Don't be ridiculous. Less likely to be using a cell phone while driving?"

Sorry - I've driven up and down the West coast all of my life, and LA drivers are far less considerate and more aggressive. It may shock some to know that in other states, slower cars stay to the right and the left lane is used for passing. In LA it's like people don't even know that's a principle of driving. In Los Angeles I've seen cars far more likely to run red lights, far more likely to pass illegally (especially on the shoulder in traffic), far more likely to make sudden lane changes without signalling, and far more likely to be just general inconsiderate jerks while driving - not that they're actually jerks, because it often looks like they honestly don't know what they're supposed to be doing on the road.

In part I blame the police officers. I've seen people in this city get away with so much crap right in front of officers that would never be acceptable in smaller towns.

And don't even get started on the cell phones. There's no way that another city in this nation has more cell phone drivers than we do.

[www.BetterVillage.com]

Driving yesterday up a canyon road, we saw a young man and his friend come up fast behind another car, swing to the left and then cut in front of the car to make a right turn onto a side street. He missed the street and slammed into a traffic sign. He looked about 16 years old. Irresponsible youth, car, cell phones... recipe for disaster

[Goebel]

I think a lot of the road rage problems are caused by illegals. They have no idea of the driving rules and regulations. If they cause an accident they could care less. The illegals know if they kill someone in a accident on the highway they get deported. Last year a man I know was killed on his motorcycle by an illegal who came from right to left across four traffic lanes because she didn't want to miss the turn in at the shopping center. She was deported and I'm sure she is back in the US..

[Raul Garcia]

First, the person who runs that's L.A. can't drive website is a self centered, judgemental punk. To say someone who's car's outward apperance is not as prestine as he or she thinks it should be constitutes a poor driver; is pure class driven bigotry.

Second, people here in L.A. need to be more considerate, drive around instead of blocking traffic, use the right lane if you feel like driving slow, offer someone to merge in front of you and so on, something I remind myself to do on a regular basis.

If the traffic cops really want to make Los Angeles County a safer and easier place to drive, while also generating more revenue, just simply cite drivers for failure to use turn signals and impeding traffic while they have there rear ends blocking the right lanes waiting for pedestrians to cross the intersection.

[Ken]

Coming from the northeast, I think the drivers here are made worse because they aren't used to things like bad weather, windy roads and narrow lanes. The tailgating which is just so rampant in Southern California would get you killied in New York or New Jersey because the conditions are not nearly as favorable to driving. Couple that with speed limits that seem to be little more than suggestions, and you have a load of accidents waiting to happen.

[Peter Angermeier]

If every car in Los Angeles county driven by an illegal alien was taken off the streets we wouldn't have a traffic problem.

Time to check for citizenship when we issue a license, open an insurance policy, sell a car, and renew registration. And certainly when issuing traffic citations.

Can you just imagine our freeways with 1 million fewer cars? It just might be fun to drive again.....!!