L.A. vs S.D. drivers - wtf?

[RockinZ28]

I've seen quite a few people from either L.A or San Diego on these forums, so thought maybe some of you might have some input as to wtf is wrong with LA drivers.

I used to work down in Encinitas back in 2003/04, commuting from the Inland Empire. I noticed that the 5 and 15 freeways would always flow at 75-85+mph, unless traffic was horrible of course.

Now today I live in LA county and work in LA, and have been for the past year and a half. I have to take the 60 and 710 or 605. I've noticed that around LA, you're lucky if people are driving 70mph in the fast lane. Even when there is no traffic, and especially at night it seems to crawl at 60-55mph. If you try to cruise at 75mph, it will usually result in a ticket because you stick out like a sore thumb blowing by all the people going 60mph.

For the last two weeks, I attended a classroom course for my job, which was held in Oceanside. Used the 57 and the 5 freeways. First night I go down to my hotel, traffic is cruising at 80+mph, and I'm in the slow lane going 70mph cause I'm afraid I'm going to get a ticket.

So next time I make the commute, decide to stop being a wuss and go with the flow. Seriously stayed at 80-85mph for 60 miles or so. CHP car even passed by me and many other cars without incident, guess because we were just going with the flow.

So why in the hell do LA drivers make the flow of traffic so damn slow? They like to go 55-65mph, and ride each others ass and there seem to be tons of freaking accidents a day. Going down the 5, traffic is going 80+ and everyone spaces out adequately.

 

[Murloc]

why did you get a ticket if you were respecting speed limits?
I don't see how that could happen if it were the other people being slow (I'm serious, I truly didn't understand).

 

[RockinZ28]

why did you get a ticket if you were respecting speed limits?
I don't see how that could happen if it were the other people being slow (I'm serious, I truly didn't understand).

I didn't get a ticket.

Basically, the maximum speed limit is 65mph on all the freeways around here.
In Los Angeles area, most people seem to adhere to the max speed, or even stay below it.

While in San Diego area, most people are doing 10-20mph over the limit, but traffic is flowing at that rate so highway patrol is not likely to pull anyone over.

Why is there such a difference, especially in two areas that are so close together?

 

[zerocool84]

I didn't get a ticket.

Basically, the maximum speed limit is 65mph on all the freeways around here.
In Los Angeles area, most people seem to adhere to the max speed, or even stay below it.

While in San Diego area, most people are doing 10-20mph over the limit, but traffic is flowing at that rate so highway patrol is not likely to pull anyone over.

Why is there such a difference, especially in two areas that are so close together?

I have no idea what you're talking about. I consistently drive 75-80mph on the freeways as often as I can unless there's traffic. Maybe you just drive when there's a lot of old people on the road.

 

[RockinZ28]

I have no idea what you're talking about. I consistently drive 75-80mph on the freeways as often as I can unless there's traffic. Maybe you just drive when there's a lot of old people on the road.

Are you going with the flow of traffic, or are you just zooming by everyone? I'm almost always in the fast lane, if I go up to 75, I'll be riding someone's ass in seconds, or if the freeway is pretty empty, flying by practically everyone that's on it.

I drive a company truck to work, so I stay below 75 anyway, but even in the fast lane 70mph is often too fast for traffic flow. Sure I could go 80+mph just about any time except rush hour, but CHP will be on you if you're doing it solo.

I'm on call 24/7, so sometimes I have to go to work at like 2am. Even though there is hardly any traffic, the average speed is even slower at night. Half the people are afraid to go over 60mph at night for some reason.

 

[thomsbrain]

People in LA are unaware that it is possible for cars to go faster than 55 mph because traffic never thins enough to make it possible to do so. 😉

 

[RiDE]

People in LA treat the brake pedal like it was a pause button.

 

[jhu]

People in LA are unaware that it is possible for cars to go faster than 55 mph because traffic never thins enough to make it possible to do so. 😉

This. And this is also why LA sucks. The only reason LA and SD haven't merged is because of camp Pendleton and that nuclear power plant.