When someone asks an Angeleno what days are the worst for traffic, their first response will probably be, “every day.” While this may seem like the truth, new data released shows that there are actually better and worse days for driving here in Los Angeles. This study indicates the slowest and fastest days and times to get to-and-from two specific points on the 5, 10, 101, 110, and 405 freeways, examining average speeds and times on 18 different simulated commutes.
Commuting in Los Angeles can be a headache on any day of the week, but Thursdays are especially bad for drivers.
Morning commute traffic
The good news for the start and end of the week is that Monday and Friday mornings had the shortest drive times for 9 of the 18 tested freeway segments. Researchers surmised that there may be fewer cars on the roads on these days due to many people working four-day weeks with long weekends or working remotely on those days.
In contrast, the worst morning for traffic is on Thursday, with commute times also spiking on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. In short, expect the longest commutes during the middle of the week on most L.A. freeways.
Evening commute traffic
According to the report, Monday was also the best day for the evening commute. In fact, traffic moved the best on all 18 segments of freeways on Mondays evenings between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. On the other hand, Thursday was also the worst day for after-work traffic, followed by Friday and Wednesday. When it comes to traveling on the 5 south between the 10 and 405, however, Friday evening is hands-down the worst time to be on the road, with an average vehicle speed of 17.5 miles per hour.
How traffic affects motorists
Whether you are driving on Mondays (the best day), on Thursdays (the worst day), or both, it is important to understand the effect traffic has on motorists. Obviously, traffic can make you late for work and appointments, causing problems in your professional and personal life if you do not plan accordingly. However, there are other ways that traffic can impact your life—specifically, by resulting in a higher rate of car accidents.
Distracted Driving
When you are sitting in seemingly endless traffic that is moving at a glacial pace, it is always tempting to engage in multitasking. Many people take this opportunity to respond to emails, catch up on social media, eat their breakfast, or even finish getting ready for work in the rearview mirror. As a result, there are many, many distracted drivers in the heavy L.A. traffic.
While it might not seem dangerous to be distracted in slow-moving or stop-and-go traffic, it can still result in many collisions. A distracted driver can easily miss brake lights or a car switching lanes in front of them, commonly causing rear-end crashes. Even at relatively low speeds, these accidents can result in serious injuries.
Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
When drivers are running late and stuck in gridlocked traffic, it is easy for them to become impatient and frustrated. This can lead to aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, cutting off other drivers, speeding, failing to yield, and more. Sometimes, aggressiveness can escalate further to road rage, which involves intentionally putting other drivers at risk of harm. All of these behaviors regularly lead to crashes and serious injuries during the L.A. commute.
Contact a Los Angeles Auto Accident Lawyer for Help Today
At the law firm of Blair & Ramirez LLP, we represent clients who have suffered serious injuries in vehicle, truck, and motorcycle crashes here on Southern California’s highways. It is important to have the right Los Angeles auto accident lawyer handle your case to ensure you recover maximum compensation for your medical bills and other losses. For a free case evaluation and consultation with our personal injury attorneys, call our team at (213) 568-4000 or contact us online.