warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Bumper-To-Bumper Traffic Has No End In Sight

Phenia Hovsepyan |
April 15, 2010 | 8:14 a.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

In Los Angeles, where towering concrete freeways sprawl across the landscape connecting suburb to city, you would think getting around would be pretty simple.  




However, the highways, many stretching more than four lanes in both both directions, are often full of the worst traffic congestion in the country, with cars often completely stopped during peak hours.



Those who drive on the roads and freeways of Los Angeles know that during morning and evening rush hour, they are lucky if they are moving more than 10 miles per hour. 




As traffic bottlenecks by on ramps, off ramps and mergers, cars miles behind are affected. Often times, traffic piling up leads to accidents, which leads to even more congestion on the road.



According to California Highway statics, the Interstate 10, the Interstate 405 and the US 101 are the busiest freeways in California, as well as the country. The I-10 sees an average 363,000 cars daily as commuters travel from Santa Monica towards Downtown L.A.



For those driving on the East Los Angeles Interchange, the busiest merger point in the country handling over 550,000 vehicles per day, any movement during the peak of rush hour is progress.



During weekday rush hour, city streets are also backed up, leaving no escape from the slow commute.



According to the Annual Mobility Report published by the Texas Transportation Institute, Los Angeles road traffic is the most congested in the United States. Sadly, the average commuter will experience 72 hours of delay per year.



Life for those who travel through the city on buses have become used to the constant stop-and-go, but at least they get to read their books or take a catnap.



The infamous Los Angeles traffic has become a part of the city lifestyle. Whether people are commuting on the streets, saving money by taking the bus or taking the freeways to any part of the city, finding an open road is a rarity.

In a city constantly in motion, sometimes the only thing left to do is relax and wait.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.