About the Site
Los Angeles drivers can’t drive. Plain and simple. Basic traffic laws and driving etiquette clearly do not apply in a town where the people seem to operate in their own little bubble, completely unaware or dismissive of others on the road. Call it what you will: self-entitlement, negligence, malaise, ignorance. My goal? To have mandatory driving tests randomly issued where drivers are eligible for selection after 6 years. Consider this jury duty for the road.
The author: 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.
Recently, L.A. Snark rated L.A. Can’t Drive #28 on a list of the top 50 L.A. blogs, and losangeles.about.com ranked us #5 on a list of 12. The site was also featured on various media outlets including KABC, CNN, KCAL9, L.A. Daily News, Seattle PI, The Marc Germain Show, and Mancow.
Contact: mike at lacantdrive.com
Submissions: photos at lacantdrive.com
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Copyright (c) 2006 L.A. Can’t Drive (lacantdrive.com)
When I heard about your website I had to laugh. 1st of all YOU are part of the problem! You were not born here. You moved here from NEW YORK! 2nd. Do you ride a bike to work? No; you drive your car which is just another car added to an already overcrowded city, county and state! 3. What you refuse to even realize is that Ii rarely meet anyone who was actually born in Los Angeles or Southern CA. for that matter.
So when you say “L.A. can’t drive, you are really saying New Yorker’s, mid-westerners, tourists, Mexicans and Asians “can’t drive. ” You want proof? Look at the true statistics of who lives here, and who was actually born here. Furthermore if you were really sharp you would have done some research and found out that L.A. used to have an extensive trolly mass transit system that ran thoughout Southern CA. The Auto and tire industry eventually bought and ruined the system that has now lead to the chaos you see today. Too many cars, uncontrolled urban sprawl, and unmanaged immigration. Have you ever driven in Mexico city? I have, and it makes L.A. seem like a drive in the park. Last, if you are going to promote stereotypes about “drivers in L.A.” you better look right in the mirror. Because it did’nt used to be like this here, but it is getting worse every single year as more and more people move here. Why don’t you do us a favor and take yourself and your car and go back home. Itt would also be great if you took about a million of your friends back with you.
Just for the record. I was born here and have been driving since 1986 without an accident. Seems strange for someone actually from L.A. does’nt it?
Paul, what do you suggest? Building a border fence around the entire state of California? How about declaring some sort of martial law and ousting anyone that’s not at least a 3rd generation Angeleno? Sounds a bit fascist to me. If I get the gist of what you’re saying, every stereotype about mid-westerners, Asians, New Yorkers, Mexicans, etc. apply except for stereotypes about Los Angelenos. Interesting, though I would say a tad egocentric. For the record, my wife is a born and raised Angelenos, and quite a few natives agree with the sentiments of this blog who have been driving a lot longer than you have. As a side note, I congratulate you for having an accident-free driving experience….not an easy task in this county, regardless of who you blame for the traffic conditions. I agree that the red car mass transit system was a great idea for L.A., and conversations with other natives have definitely led to the same conclusions–auto and tire lobbyists are to blame. The fact of the matter is that bad driving exists everywhere, does it not? But does that make the bad driving that we experience on a daily basis excusable? You can have a knee-jerk defensive nature if you feel that anyone is slighting L.A. in any way, but that does nothing to address the problem. My blog creates an outlet for people to vent, and at the very least it discusses a very tired, old problem in a new light. If in doing so, it creates a greater awareness behind the wheel, then that’s a positive in my book. In the end, many cities in the U.S. (and worldwide, for that matter) have to deal with immigrants and transplants. In the U.S., a lot of these cities are in the top 10 of the list of cities with the worst road rage. However, many cities are doing better than L.A. in addressing poor driving habits, which simultaneously involves managing both natives and non-natives. I think a mandatory driving test that’s randomly issued to selected drivers (eligible for selection after 6 years) is a way to curb much of the poor driving we see on our roads. In the end, creating a positive outlet on the internet for our frustrations is better than venting it out on the road and possibly reinforcing prejudices within ourselves. This blog has been proven to be very therapeutic to me and many others. Regardless, thank you for your time and comments.
Your blog rocks. There are so many people out there who think that driving is a right, not a responsibility. And we live in a society where you’re pretty much forced to drive a car to have any freedom or opportunities, so who wants to argue?
But I must say that I drove for the first time in LA last year, and it was no worse than my city–in Canada. *sigh*
And though I have a strong respect for Angelinos, who are able to figure out those superinterchanges, I am puzzled by the endless rows of gridlocked traffic, when the carpool lane only requires two people. Hmmmm . . .
Anyway, I think you’ve provided a valuable public service with this blog, and so kudos to you.
Cheers, Drakken. I appreciate the support.
Heya Mike it’s david, been a regular since I’ve discovered your site. I’ve noticed you move the site which I think is a great idea, anyway we can still leave comments/post messages here? Let me know what updates you plan with the new site here, good job on exposing idiotic drivers, I’m sure this site will help open the eyes of current and future drivers. -David
Nevermind Mike I figured it out LOL, what are your thoughts on a message board here?
Peace -David
Hey David, glad that you like the site. A message board is a good idea, and I have one in the L.A. Can’t Drive group on Facebook. Maybe I’ll start one here, though. I have to see how much it costs, first.
Wow, Paul, you can read words but your comprehension is a little off….ok, a LOT off.
The title of the blog LA Can’t Drive has absolutely NOTHING to do with who was born there…wtf…Who cares where you were born or where everyone is from, the point is, LA has shitty drivers, as does San Diego, where I reside…and many other places in the effin’ country.
Also, you make it sound like it’s Mike’s fault that the public transportation no longer exists…like he, single handedly, brought down the auto and tire industry in the greater Los Angeles Area, ultimately, ruining the public transportation system…while we’re at it, why don’t we blame him for the melting ice caps and global warming?!
Wow, you have driven in Mexico City? Congratulations, you know how to drive in a third world country, whoop dee doo…by the way, how do you know what it’s like to drive in a park…have you experienced this lately? If so, There goes that perfect driving record.
Take OUR cars and go home? Those of us who live here have every right to live here just as you have every right to reside in this state…some of us married into this living situation. I agree Mike, you sound fascist.
And before I finish my rant. You have been driving since 1986…which means you are also contributing to the problem. Why don’t you follow your own advice and peddle ass to work, maybe set an example for others that feel the way you do.
Nice work, taking pictures of other cars while you’re driving.
I lived in LA, and the city has an underground code of driving behavior that you probably haven’t tapped into yet. LA has an excellent highway patrol system, which will nab offending drivers at every chance they get. Idiots keep the police in business, some idiots on the road are necessary. They also keep us excellent drivers on our toes, and feeling more superior than we probably deserve.
Good tip: if you find an idiot on the road, get away from the problem.
Come on over to Phoenix sometime and watch people make their own rules for traffic.
By the way, the asshole rating is an asshole thing to do.
Ahh, I was wondering when the “taking pictures with a cell phone” argument would come up again. It feels like I’ve explained this at least a dozen times throughout this blog. But for those who don’t bother to do a search: the act of having a cellphone in one’s hands is not the main cause for cellphone related accidents. It’s the distraction of having a conversation over the telephone. Given the fact that I point and shoot, then crop later in an image program, the couple of seconds it takes for me to snap a photo in the general direction of the offender is not nearly as distracting as someone ordering food for pick-up. And this is when the car is moving. I can’t speak for submissions, but the photos I personally take come out the best when taken at a stopped position, and even then it’s not like I’m sitting there, framing each shot. Either way, this argument is moot when the hands-free cell phone law goes into effect. Yet, bad drivers and this blog will still be up and running (many of the photos on this site are taken by passengers, too).
On another note, I’m glad that your experiences in L.A. have been fine. But given the fact that L.A. is in the top 5 of cities with the worst road rage (with Miami, D.C., NYC, and Seattle), consider yourself fortunate, and also fortunate for driving in Phoenix (though several readers in your city have also deplored the driving situation there).
Lastly, taking road rage digitally by using an asshole and idiocy meter seems smarter than getting angry behind the wheel. Don’t you? We all get annoyed to angry…why contain it when we can snap a photo, vent about it, and then forget about it? Either way, thanks for the input.
Love the site. I drive the 405 everyday and it’s war.
When someone starts to tailgate, I intentionally go slower. If I see some fool in the rear view mirror coming in fast (planning an aggressive lane change in FRONT of me), I’ll hit the gas and position my car such that he can’t overtake me –then I’ll make damn sure I drive parallel to the car to the right.
I’ll be minding my business, listening to the radio, driving at a steady pace and inevitably, some prick just has to drive aggressively thinking they are more important. So I intentionally piss em off for a few miles.
And if anyone here disagrees with my tactics and you drive the 405, meet me on the 405 North at Seal Beach Blvd on or around 8:30am. I’ll be in the Black 2005 Camry. Go for it. Get aggressive on me. See how I handle you.
I live in Cincinnati, Ohio and drivers here are terrible. What do I mean? Way too slow! Cincy drivers are way to careful on the roads, sometimes in a dangerous way. In Clermont County, one county to the east of Cincinnati, many drivers drive 10 MPH “UNDER” the speed limit. LOL They seem in no hurry what-so-ever. They will brake for the slightest curve in the road even if they are already going way under the speed limit. Rain? Well, let’s just say the same story goes. I have been behind drivers who will sit at a “green” light. LOL
By the way, I forgot to tell you what a great web site this is. I want to also add to Tony’s post above mine. I do the same exact thing Tony does when someone tailgates me. I will go slower.
Tony and Daniel, thanks for the support. And believe me Daniel, you see your fair share of painfully slow drivers here, though I’ve definitely heard of quite a few Cincy driving stories from friends and readers. How slowly do people have to drive below the speed limit to get ticketed in your city for impeding traffic flow?
LOL. I wonder the same thing too about how slow you have to drive in Cincy before you get ticketed. It would be very embarassing to get a ticket for driving too slow.
I LOVE this place. I will admit, I’m not a speed limit junky, I’m about 5 over usually, never hang out in the “hammer” (fast) lane except to pass, but when I get some ass that comes roaring up soo close as I can only see the roof of their car or the top of their head in my mirror, I look around, they have 3 other lanes of freeway to choose, why are they trying to push my 7000 lb truck, tell ya what, I have 12 years and 850,000 miles of big truck driving under my belt, I know alot more tricks than most. Taking my foot off the go pedal is just 1. So go ahead, try me, and you’ll see how well 800 lbs of torque can move a big ‘ol truck.
I love this site. I found it because I was curious about road rage in Culver City. Last night someone blew through a red light, almost hit me and when I honked the three women in the car started screaming obscenities at me. The idiot in me then continued to honk and flash my high beams as they drove off. I thought it was over. They stopped up ahead. Rather than risk the driver hitting me as I passed, I just stopped 3 car lengths or so behind as they stuck their heads out the window-again screaming obscenities. I thought this was ridiculous and I made a mistake. I flashed the high beams again. TWO OF THE WOMEN GOT OUT OF THE CAR!! and started to approach. Rather than run them down and figuring the driver wouldn’t leave them behind, I drove around the SUV on the left and continued on my way. I didn’t see them behind me. I thought it was over. That was until I was making my left hand turn onto Duquesne when they pulled up along my left side (now they are driving on the wrong side of the street) pacing with my car. I was 2 blocks from the Culver City police department so I just wanted to make it there at this point.. One of them threw something at my car and it smashed out my back side window (the little one that shaped like a triangle). That’s when it ended.. they took off and I went straight to the police department where the only office on duty ran the plate only to find out it wasn’t in the system. He wouldn’t take any information and said he couldn’t do anything without a valid plate!!!! What?!? Can’t you at least take a police report!? This was an act of violence! Can’t they look for the giant silver SUV with 3 women in it with this false plate??!! I was just in so much shock that I left the police station wishing I had run them over.
Charlene, I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. Culver City cops are useless quite ruthless, so I was surprised that he wouldn’t even fill out a police report, given that you at least had the descriptions of the vehicle and at least 2 of the the 3 women in the car. Experiences like what you faced are what unsettles my wife whenever I flip someone off. The New Yorker in me would have screamed at these idiots and assholes left and right. Unfortunately, drivers like this are so unpredictable and in such great quantities in L.A. that I actually started this site to vent my road rage, which has actually worked in the end. Thanks for your support….next time, instead of flashing lights, try taking a photo of their car if you have a camera phone. That way if you succumb to combative instincts, you at least have a photo of the car and license plate if things escalate. The better scenario would be to just write to photos@lacantdrive.com with the photo and let Karma do the work for you :).
L.A….Really? I’ve been out here 3 years… originally hailing from Michigan, with a year stint in Orlando on the way out here.
In Michigan, we can pick out an Ohio driver from a pack of cars without seeing the license plate… they stick out like a sore thumb… very bad. After moving to L.A., my wife and I would joke about the lousy driver a ways up ahead of us: “They’re driving like they’re from Ohio!” We’d catch up to it (which is inevitable, if you know Ohio drivers) and sure enough! The car has an Ohio plate! This has happened numerous times over the few years we’ve been here.
However, the year in Orlando was the most eye- opening. Florida drivers in the city (rural is much different) make Ohio drivers look like star drivers’-ed students. I’ve never seen so much lazy coasting across freeway lanes, oblivious to other traffic. We joked that turn signals must be an option that most never ordered for their cars. This was reinforced when the guys at Jiffylube checked my brake lights, headlights, and reverse lights… but NOT the blinkers!
I think the challenge with L.A. lies in the combination of 2 factors: poor traffic management features and over- crowding.
The signage is horrible. Street names aren’t visible until you’re almost in the intersection; entrance ramps are labeled at knee level at the base of the ramp; and what’s with US-101 being referred to as ‘North- South’ on some signs, and ‘East- West’ on others? The national highway standard says odd numbers are ALWAYS labeled North- South, and even number are East- West. The funniest example is in the Valley, in the area of Riverside Drive, Moorpark, and Vineland… if you follow the arrows to get on to 101 North, there’s a sign in the middle that says “West Ventura Freeway” with no number. No…not confusing at all.
These factors cause people to make sudden changes in speed and direction. Clear, large, CONSISTENT roadside instructions would go a long way to making the roads safer.
As far as the over- crowding goes… we all know how to walk, right? Put too many people on the sidewalk, and you begin to wonder if even that is true. We get frustrated and angry at groups of people that seem oblivious to our need to pass unhindered… even in the mall or on the sidewalk. Not just in cars. Try an overcrowded bikepath! Blood on the sidewalk! Cyclists can be MEAN!
In summary: Ohio- plated cars have worse drivers behind the wheel than California- plated cars; This place would be great if it weren’t for all the PEOPLE!
The antics Angelenos put up with I will never understand. 2 pet peeves:
The left-hand turn w/o arrow. LA drivers are way overly cautious & barely go out into middle of intersection. Usually only 2 cars make it through. It can take forever to turn left in this city.
110 fwy N. onto 5 fwy N. (AAAHHH!!!!). Only 1 lane splits off. But you’ve got many miles notice to queue-up.
Yet 50% think it’s cool to cut in at the front, thus causing waves of brake-lights that slow to a crawl we rule-abiders.
You don’t know who to hate more, the jerks kamikaze-ing in line, or the people letting them in.