Andrew L. Shapiro | November 8, 2024 | Car Accidents
It’s no secret that LA freeway traffic is no walk in the park. Freeways in Los Angeles, California, have a widespread reputation for being some of the worst in the country, and this reputation may be well earned. The highways in LA often cause massive delays for travelers.
While any freeway in Los Angeles can be challenging to use, some unfortunately serve as accident sites more than others. Here’s what you need to know about traveling the city’s roads safely.
What Time Is Rush Hour in Los Angeles?
No matter which roads you use, it can be helpful to know when the most difficult times to travel on them are. For example, when is LA traffic the worst, and what time is rush hour in LA?
LA traffic rush hour is typically considered to be on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., as well as between 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. However, rush hour does not affect all freeways in Los Angeles, CA, equally.
For instance, the worst time of day on I-110 is typically 8 a.m. Conversely, the worst time of day on CA-133 is 5 p.m. These differences have to do with road usage and what types of businesses the roads connect to.
Similarly, traffic data shows that every road has better and worse days. For some roads, though, the risk of getting into an accident may be higher on any day.
5 Common Accident Sites in Los Angeles
To reduce your risk of encountering heavy traffic or experiencing a car accident, you may want to choose a route that doesn’t include the following five highways and freeways in LA:
1. US-101
According to the Los Angeles Times, US 101 is the worst road for gridlock in all of Southern California and one of the worst in the entire U.S. Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Wednesdays — the most crowded time of the week — drivers average almost an hour’s delay during a 26-mile commute.
The prevalence of traffic on this road is one of the main reasons that California has lane-splitting laws that help decrease motorcycle accidents.
2. I-10
While US-101 is considered the worst, I-10 comes with its own challenges. It often averages 45-minute delays for drivers despite the busiest section being 10 miles shorter than the busiest section of US-101. Traffic on this road is generally heaviest in the evening hours.
3. I-5
This highway is a challenge to navigate because it has multiple high-traffic sections, and traffic accumulates at different times on each of them. On Tuesday mornings, the northbound route toward Cesar E. Chavez Ave. is a parking lot. The traffic leaving that area southbound is the heaviest on Friday evenings.
Finally, a completely different stretch is packed on Thursday evenings.
4. CA-110
Wednesday morning is generally the day to avoid CA-110. Regardless of whether you are driving northbound or southbound, this highway can result in some of the slowest average speeds of any freeway in the LA area. Pedestrians can run almost as fast as cars move when traveling northbound toward Stadium Way at a snail’s pace of eight miles per hour.
5. I-405
Unfortunately, if you are looking to avoid CA-110 on Wednesday morning, the alternative may not prove to be much of an improvement. I-405 averages even longer delays, though its traffic-filled segment is nearly twice as long as any nearby CA-110 segment.
Navigating LA’s Traffic Accident Sites Safely
Traffic may be an inevitable part of traveling in LA, but accidents don’t have to be. Avoiding these five frequent crash sites during the busiest times of the day can reduce your risk of getting into an accident, as well as help you reach your destination on time.
If you can’t adjust your route to avoid freeway traffic in Los Angeles, allowing plenty of time to travel and practicing safe driving can go a long way in ensuring you navigate the city’s roads successfully.
Contact the Encino Car Accident Lawyers of JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Please contact an experienced Tarzana car accident lawyer at JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation today at (833) 852-3600.
Our main office is in Encino, CA, but we serve all through Los Angeles County.
JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers
16633 Ventura Blvd suite 1011,
Encino, CA 91436
