LA Driving Tips Offered As Traffic Surges
Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) June 25, 2014 -- Any number of jokes about traffic have been made at the expense of Los Angeles, but recent findings show that the punchlines might not be far off.
A June 6 headline from the Los Angeles Times proclaimed, “L.A.’s traffic the worst in U.S., but Rio de Janeiro, Moscow the pits.” Not surprisingly, the report that followed highlighted the finding (courtesy of TomTom) that LA’s traffic is worse than anywhere else in the country, with congestion levels increasing the amount of time spent commuting by more than a third.
While residents of Southern California are no strangers to lengthy drives, the incremental gains in traffic posted from year to year mean that things are regressing rather than progressing.
The Nagelberg Bernard Law Group, a Los Angeles personal injury law firm, worries about what this could mean for safety. Larry Nagelberg has traveled these roads as both a driver and a motorcyclist for more than four decades, and he wants citizens to recognize the danger they face.
“Traffic troubles are a necessary evil of living in this great city,” said Mr. Nagelberg. “I myself commute across LA on a daily basis, so I’ve seen firsthand some of the dangerous circumstances that present themselves regularly. And as an avid motorcyclist, I have to be particularly attuned to situations that could cause a crash. No matter the level of traffic, we want you to be safe, which is why we’ve put together some tips that will help you accomplish that goal.”
With that in mind, Los Angeles drivers are encouraged to heed the following tips to improve safety and ease the traffic burden:
1. More Cushion For The Drive In- Rather than speed out the door with a bagel in your mouth and a scalding hot coffee in one hand, leave plenty of leeway with which to arrive at your destination. Plan as if there were heavy traffic every day so that the temptation to commit dangerous acts diminishes.
2. Get On Schedule- The heaviest traffic times in Los Angeles tend to occur between 8 am and 11 am and 3 pm and 7 pm. Avoiding those hours can go a long way toward escaping traffic, and even a 15 minute change at peak times could be the difference between a smooth ride and a start-and-stop nightmare.
3. Reverse The Flow- A slew of vehicles come into Los Angeles from outlying areas to produce heavy traffic at peak commuting hours. The closer one’s home is to their work environment, the easier it is to minimize these traffic headaches. Since moving closer simply isn’t possible for many people, citizens might think about carpooling options.
4. Going Public- Look into the available public transportation choices in your vicinity. Depending on where you live, hopping aboard a bus or a train could cut down on travel time dramatically.
5. The Road Less Traveled- Most Los Angeles drivers will have a few different routes to choose from. Have alternative streets and paths ready to go in your mind so that you can use them if traffic proves daunting. In some cases, surface streets could get you to the destination quickly and more safely than the highway.
6. The Phone Less Handled- There’s enough to worry about on the road without adding distraction to the mix. While it’s tempting for an individual running late to work to respond to emails or place a call to explain their tardiness, handheld cellphone usage is illegal in California, and texting or chatting could cause a serious accident.
7. Coast To Coast- Rather than jam down on the gas pedal the moment traffic starts moving, get in the habit of coasting ahead. This reduces wear and tear of the brake pads and gives you more time to react to braking vehicles.
8. Eyes And Mirrors- Look over your shoulder and in the mirrors before making any sudden lane changes. Motorcycles could be splitting lanes, and any impromptu movements could cause a serious collision.
The Nagelberg Bernard Law Group represents the victims of numerous types of personal injury situations, including automobile accidents, dog bites, slip and fall incidents, defective products, and wrongful death in any of the above. They have guided injured persons through the legal process for more than 30 years and their efforts have helped secure more than $400 million in compensation for clients. Visit the Nagelberg Bernard Law Group’s Southern California car crash lawsuit webpage for Los Angeles personal injury resources and a free consultation.
Larry Nagelberg, Nagelberg Bernard Law Group, http://nblawgroup.com, +1 (323) 653-3600, [email protected]
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