PDA

View Full Version : How To Drive In Los Angeles


PapaBear
08-22-2007, 11:34 AM
HOW TO DRIVE IN LOS ANGELES

1. You must first learn to pronounce the city name, it is L A.

2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00am to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 7:00pm. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.

3. The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. On the 105 or 110, your speed is expected to match the highway number. Anything less is considered "Wussy".

4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. L A has its own version of traffic rules. For example, cars/trucks with the loudest muffler go first at a four-way stop; the trucks with the biggest tires go second. However, in Malibu , SUV-driving, cell phone-talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way.

5. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out, and possibly shot.

6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It's another offense that can get you shot.

7. Road construction is permanent and continuous in all of L A and Orange counties. Detour barrels are moved around for your entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting.

8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, skunks, dogs, cats, barrels, cones, celebs, rubberneckers, shredded tires, cell phoners, deer and other road kill, and the coyotes feeding on any of these items.

9. Map quest does not work here; none of the roads are where they say they are or go where they say they do, and all the freeway off and on ramps are moved each night.

10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activated."

11. If you are in the left lane and only driving 70 in a 55-65 mph zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be "flipped off" accordingly. If you return the flip, you'll be shot.

12. Do not try to estimate travel time, just leave Monday afternoon for Tuesday appointments; by noon Thursday for Friday; and right after church on Sunday for anything on Monday morning.

carcop
08-22-2007, 02:06 PM
Amazing how accurate that all sounds. :cool:

CHPwannaBE
08-22-2007, 02:28 PM
3. The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. On the 105 or 110, your speed is expected to match the highway number. Anything less is considered "Wussy".


Isn't this a given?:shock:

seanizzle
08-22-2007, 03:02 PM
That's good, I was worried that all the tickets I was getting somehow indicated that I wasn't driving properly.

I guess all the cops just like to pick on me.

redhead
08-23-2007, 12:35 PM
6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It's another offense that can get you shot.


Similar happened to me in the Bay Area...its not a LA thing. Except I didnt honk. I just exceded the posted limit so someone took law into their own hand..

Slattery
08-23-2007, 02:35 PM
I am from Melbourne, Australia. In April this year I drove from LAX to Hollywood Boulevard and then onto Knotts Berry Farm in Anaheim.
I quite enjoyed the drive actually. (Even though you guys drive on the wrong side of the road!)
Didn't come across any dick heads along the way.

seanizzle
08-24-2007, 06:07 AM
I am from Melbourne, Australia. In April this year I drove from LAX to Hollywood Boulevard and then onto Knotts Berry Farm in Anaheim.
I quite enjoyed the drive actually. (Even though you guys drive on the wrong side of the road!)
Didn't come across any dick heads along the way.
You must have been in a daze from the flight.:lol:

kissyc
08-24-2007, 06:34 AM
I fit in so well in LA.......I'm one of the cell phone talkers in the big SUV. :biggrin:

chp36
08-24-2007, 07:12 AM
You left out lane change/cut-off every Highway Patrolman approaching the rear of your vehicle in an adjacent lane and if you see an officer merging onto the freeway, accelerate and close the gap between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

JM
09-05-2007, 11:57 PM
And lets not forget not moving to the right when an officer is rolling code 3 and when you finally decide to move over...give the officer a dirty look for the inconvenience!

Badkharma
10-16-2007, 06:35 AM
The carpool lanes apply to everybody; you do not need more than one person - especially if you have tinted windows - and if you drive a car with loud exhaust, or drive a truck with over-sized tires, you have the right of way. The quadruple yellow lines define the motorcycle lane, but feel free to cross over it to get to the carpool lane. As with other lanes, no shoulder check required.

lizmagana
10-16-2007, 03:08 PM
loved all thoes rules! makes me just want to hurry up and jump in my car to wait on the freeway in traffic. ahhh... good times..

There is one more rule:
-Car pool lanes on the freeway on ramps mean nothing during the above posted rush hour times.