L.A. person here. Good tips. I do suggest for a tourist taking their first trip to L.A., who doesn't know anybody from L.A. to get them started and to avoid L.A.'s traffic issues, book some tours that can pick them up and drop them off from their hotel. They'll get them to the major tourist spots while relieving a lot of stress. Tourists from other areas, especially from Europe, will sadly figure out that L.A. is very spread out, with a public transportation system that is no where what they're used to at home. For subsequent visits (not their first) then get a rental car to visit those unique or more remote places, that tours just can't do.
Hello! May I have some advice? I’m from the uk and will be driving from San Jose to LA in November. What’s the best way for me to have gps working for my trip? Should I get a USA SIM card for my phone? Should I buy a sat nav? Will the rental car company give me a sat nav? Thanks!
@@kevinpace866 If you are European (German in my case) its safer to rent a car from big companies like Hertz. If you rent on the European website, you get free liability insurance up to $1milllion and vehicle insurance without any extra cost. Turo's liability only covers up to $5000 in California which is basically nothing and the protection plans are super expensive. You can compare the prices and see for yourself! Saved me $400
You can't be a timid driver in LA, being aggressive certainly helps as many will not let you into their lane or path, also using "Waze" helps with traffic, cop & accident locations, very helpful.
As an Angeleno I've found out-of-state plates attempt to be too aggressive and bordering on reckless. I think it's because they're here in LA and believe that being ultra aggressive is okay and no one will mind. Remember there is a balance.
As an L.A. native, we truly do talk about distances in terms of time instead of distance. I often have no idea how many miles it is to a destination. Traffic between 10 am and 2-3 pm is more manageable. Also after 9 pm is okay. Sunday mornings are great in most areas. Holidays are a little better than regular weekdays. Also know that people in L.A. are really bad about continuing to drive through an intersection when the light is yellow and even after it has turned red. When your light turns green, don’t hit the gas too fast. Be sure that the cross traffic is actually stopping. People don’t usually use their horns here, unless you’re busy looking at your phone (illegal) and the light has changed, and then they may not be very nice about that.
@@ryanlittleton5615 we talk about traffic a lot. The Californians on SNL talking about traffic and how to get places is absolutely how it works here. Everyone has a fave shortcut.
Drove around downtown and from Hollywood to San Diego. Fun drive. Was pretty stressed at first. Drivers are super aggressive in changing lanes and also not great at indicating.
Lol, no traffic between 1 am and 4 but then you run into construction and the dreaded detour off the fwy! As someone who grew up and learned to drive in Hollywood and still drives in Orange County, I can relate! The turn signal thing is so spot on. Not too mention all the tailgaters and high beamers! Great vid Chris!
EXACTLY, I'm from New York and we have less vehicles on the road, but really stupid drivers, none the less. I can relate as well. And also, there's way less lanes, usually 1-3 so it ends up being a massive backup as far as the eye can see in both directions.
I’m from Australia, have been and driven in LA some 10 times over the years. Aside from the obvious difference that you guys drive on the right, we drive on the left and just the shear volume of traffic. Probably the main (road rule) differences between driving in LA and Sydney is, right turn on red, U-turns at traffic lights, four way Stops (we tend to have more roundabouts) and pre paying your fuel. Other than that it’s much the same.
California freeways and highways: people drive 60 mph for 45 seconds than inexplicably slow down to 40 and then at a random time go 55. Cruise control can’t be used.
@@YellowProductions I know Pasadena really well by walking but Los Angeles traffic is bad. I remember being on the bus and it was overcrowded with people and very hot on the bus
Drove 500 miles in five days. No sweat even though the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car. Yeah, I'm from Australia. Only problem I had was a sore neck looking over my left shoulder, as I usually look over my right shoulder.
And studies usually show adding more Lanes to a freeway doesn't ease congestion. People wait in the left lane till the last minute then veer across the highway to make their exit and cut everyone off
These are very helpful tips! I've heard so many things about the traffic in LA. I remember going to Houston a year and a half ago, and I had to do the same thing by avoiding the freeways at rush hour as they will turn into parking lots. I feel like Michigan also has implemented the California Stop as many people will not come to a complete stop before proceeding.
Most of these apply to anywhere in the US. What I noted in LA is that people drive bumper to bumper at a high rate of speed. Plus, contesting a parking ticket in LA is like a Kafka short story.
I was in Hollywood last year and I learned to be careful driving in the right lane. People park their cars in this lane, if you're not paying attention, you'll rear end a car parked in the road. Good luck making a left hand turn at a light without a left turn light. GPS says something is 12 miles away and it can take a full one hour to drive a lousy 12 miles!!
Basic rule is, don't try to drive any long distances after 2 PM, unless you like traffic. Secret fun is very early saturday and sunday the streets of LA are fairly open and empty and you can drive all over town up to around 2 pm
I visited LA a few times with rental car, would say driving is pretty much ok if not in downtown and hot tourist spots due to limited parking and slow traffic. Driving on freeways at night may be a bit itimidating sometimes. BTW your tips are really really useful indeed, thanks!
This is sooo helpful! Thank you so much for making this video. I'm going to LA this December and decided to rent a car since I'm planning on moving to LA eventually.
I live in NYC so aggressive driving is what I'm most used to, also I have a cousin who lives in Santa Monica, CA and as a result I have some experience driving in Los Angeles.
Went to LA in the beginning of the month and I experienced everything you said :D This video is a good one and would have helped a lot before I went there but for sure will help many others. California Stop is like our Portugal Stop (yes not only one city but everyone in the country does it) XD. No one really stops at the sign... Great video!
Hello! May I have some advice? I’m from the uk and will be driving from San Jose to LA in November. What’s the best way for me to have gps working for my trip? Should I get a USA SIM card for my phone? Should I buy a sat nav? Will the rental car company give me a sat nav? Thanks
My wife was born and raised in LA. I went for the first time about a month ago and she showed me around. Had a good time. She got homesick and started suggesting we look into moving to LA. I purposely left the history museum on USC campus during rush hour, drove to Crypto Arena, got on the 110. It took us an hour and a half to get to Whittier where we were staying. She was cussing up a storm talking about this is why she is happy she left LA. I smirked and asked if she still wanted to move to LA. That ended that!
Before we went to UK and Europe we found your channel and it HELPed our trip. I continued to watch other videos after we returned. Keep up the good work. Great channel.
Great info Chris, our family has driven in LA a few times, and its always been insane, your info is most helpful. My husband always says he needs a scotch after driving in LA .
Visiting LA for the first time in September and am driving through it immediately. Your video has taken away a lot of the worries I had, though I still can’t wrap my head around the red light turns because it goes against everything I’ve learned 😂 but thank you so much for this amazing video! Instant sub, you rock.
LA freeways are crazy, and this comes from a London driver. I'd hate to see what it's like when it rains! My biggest tip is check your mirrors and blind spots before making any lane change/movement!
This video is awesome. I'm literally sat at Heathrow Airport in London right now, getting ready for my first time in LA/the States in general; very informative. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this video. I'll be travelling from the UK next month and driving around San Diego/LA and honestly i'm so nervous! I'l be re-watching this video before I go 🙏
In Europe traffic lights are before intersection, in US they are after intersection. Pay attention not to cross on red if you are used to stop just in front of the traffic lights.
yup those left turn yields always get me too. and thats how I learned the technique of inch out into the intersection and wait for the light to turn yellow then red, the intersection to clear and make my left. Because generally you got like a split second or two to go. Edit: especially lane changing, i've learned the concept of if there is an opening, take while using signal. (I use my signal at any turn I do, lane changing or turning in an intersection even if it is a turning lane anyhow)
Thank you so much for your video! 🙏 ❤❤❤ It is so helpful for foreigners! I really needed all these tips because it was really hard to drive for me when I just came to LA. All the nuances are covered in this video, thank you for your help!!!❤❤❤
I heard about the "protected left turn" and i as curious what that meant. This video basically clarified that and other helpful tips. Thank you! I'm going visit LA this year and i want know what to expect from other drivers and road rules there
Chris, thanks for a very insightful video. Not only the driving rules but also the international debit card trick at the pumps. I'll try myself in a few weeks, but this all does not sound all that different from any busy place on the planet. If you've been on a rush hour autobahn in Germany and have navigated through a rush hour in Tirana, Albania - I'm sure you're gonna be just fine.
This sounds a lot like driving in my city. Lots of traffic and angry drivers. Lots of rules but you only follow half of them. Everyone is driving above the speed limit and changes lanes without much prior notification. Lots of stop and go traffic. You have to be always wary of pedestrians jaywalking. Skateboards, scooters, bicycles riding in the middle of the road and even sometimes into oncoming traffic. Everyone is breaking the rules and you end up breaking them as well just cause that's the environment you're used to. Having used to driving in an urban environment with heavy traffic I think I'll be quite alright driving in LA traffic. But if you come from a small town or a village in Europe, the driving in Los Angeles might feel like hell on earth for you. btw driving in such conditions you learn to anticipate people's actions, like for example when you see somebody leaning to the edge of the lane you know he is likely going to change lane either without their blinker or turning his blinker in the last moment when he sees free space.
Really enjoyed this video. A lot of the same advice can be applied to Hawaii. Btw, do you guys wave (in Hawaii, it's give the shaka) as a thank you to other drivers when merging lanes? I don't remember seeing that too much on the Mainland.
Thanks Chris, great vid. Lived and worked in Cali and LA most of my life. Great suggestions. Might want to consider making a vid on metro-ing Los Angeles. You can almost cover the entire county (4751 sq mi) with an all day metro card ($7). I find it's fun, interesting, adventurous and cheaper than renting a car and feeling the L.A. burn on the 110. Lots of spots to stop and feel the different 'tribes' of Los Angeles. Bon chance.
From Australia- drove in LA 3 years ago for the very first time. I’ve been driving for 50 years, and I must admit I was exhilarated yet terrified. Biggest challenge: reprogramming my brain to stay right. And, yes, if you don’t drive at least the speed limit, you will be eaten alive.
Excellent job Chris! I love LA! Although I have become accustomed to driving there, I still have my moments of frustration when I am in town visiting. CAB😍🚘
Great video! I've been driving for 10+ years in the UK but would feel really intimidated trying to drive in the US. I think especially for a first visit i'd prefer to make sure I save plenty of money for taxi's and other transport. More expensive but I would feel better in the knowledge that I won't be breaking any major road rules!
I can relate to this. Traffic in LA is candy compared to that in Jakarta. We also measure thing in time. 30 minutes if there's no traffic, but you can spend up to 2 hours if there is.
A few added points about driving in LA. The side of an exit is indicated on the exit sign. If it is a right exit the exit number will be on the right side. If it is a left exit, the exit number will be on the left side of the sign. I did not discover this until I had lived there for 7 years. About going with the flow I was once in a group of cars where the flow was going 90. In among this group of about 40 cars was a CHP cruiser also going 90. No one seemed to be concerned. This was going west near San Bernardino. But I would not count on this all the time. Turn Signals. I am from Canada and I was called weird for using my turn signals at all. Pedestrians. Do not jaywalk. People will rarely stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. Never for jay walkers. I have even had police cars almost run me over at a crosswalk. If you try to cross where traffic is flowing be hyper alert and be prepared to jump back. Leave lots of room to cross at uncontrolled crosswalks. If you are a Canadian and you are filling up anywhere in the USA and the pump asks for your zip code, you take the three digits from your Canadian postal code and add 00 to it. For example, if your Canadian postal code is A3B 5C7 then you punch in 35700 and so forth. If you listen to traffic reports on the radio, they may mention a "sigalert" is happening some place. a Sig-Alert is an unplanned lane closure expected to last a half hour or more. Often from a collision. Named for long gone traffic reporter Loyd Sigmon.
HI, I have going to visit San Francisco and LA for a few days and I've been loving your videos, now I know I shouldn't rent a car in San Francisco, but my question is: shod I rent a car in LA or is it easier by public transportation?? (I'm traveling with a family of)
Right on red is still yield to right of way which is traffic that doesn't cross a different lane of traffic to proceed or who has arrived first in cases of stop signs.
Traffic has gotten worse. People basically do not communicate driving around LA. Driving in 6 lanes of traffic on the freeway with inches either side of you at 50mph is normal. Be good at staying in your lane. Getting on the freeway and off you best be aggressive. Be hanging back for that large gap and you'll get nowhere. But like I said, no communication, at best someone will use their indicators. Nobody thanks you, nobody flashes you to go, it's like everyone is too cool to talk to strangers, bit like a lot of LA, it's all about the clique, gated community and private function at the restaurant or club, if an unknown you don't exist. So on the road, they don't even look at each other, they don't even give each other the finger, most fear to honk probably because they know guns are out there and a person is murdered in LA every other day. So basically zombies, heads in apps or driving in traffic jabbering into their iphones. You do get honked by some, the sociopaths, these are the jerks who will see you doing a U-turn and speed up to cause a close-call all so they can jam on their horn and do a little rampage on you, however let these creeps out of a bad junction and don't even expect acknowledgement of existence. So to recap, you are driving around zombies who do not interact with anyone, sprinkled with the occasional vindictive narcissist who'll honk just to feed off your irritation.
Honestly, being from LA, there’s not a lot to do here except to go to Hollywood, which is pretty small in what you can do there or go to the beach/aquarium/zoo, which San Diego and San Francisco already have. Not worth the traffic and money IMO.
Except San Francisco you can’t swim in the beaches. Plus, have you not heard of Burbank (which is where all the studios are NOT Hollywood), or the numerous amusement parks around LA (e.g. Disneyland, Universal)? Though I will say I do like San Diego more as a city.
Honestly, the traffic issues would be a lot less trouble if Los Angeles County started investing more of their money in perfecting and expanding their public transportation. I wouldn’t mind moving to Los Angeles if their public transportation was like New York’s.
Los Angeles is slowly investing in and upgrading its rapid transit options. Nothing like New York's of course but I understand New York's traffic has become rated as some of the worse in the nation.
If you are paying for fuel at the pump with a Canadian credit card you can enter the digits of your postal code followed by two zeros. Eg. R3P 2L6 you would enter 32600 as the zip code at the pump. Works for me every time.
All this info made my anxiety high 🥺😆 I’m just going to let Jesus take the wheel 🚘 I’m excited for my trip, coming from Alaska, I’m use to aggressive drivers and people not warning you when they’ are turning into the lanes.
For all the tourist visiting make sure you rent a mid-size vehicle with a decent v-6 engine. You need the torque to merge in and out lanes. 4 bangers are just too gutless and not safe on L.A. Hwy's
What do you mean? This is how a left turn is made. You wait for oncoming traffic, then go. This is how left turns are made across the world. Are you trying to say that traffic lights in OC always have that green arrow showing you it's safe to pass on a left turn without waiting for oncoming traffic? If that is the case then OC drivers are totally inept in driving everywhere else in the world since they don't know how to do a regular left turn.
Also as far as the driving right thing, at first, i just use to tell myself that w.e direction im driving, my steering wheel is supposed to be on the side away from the curb. If your steering wheel is on the side nearest the curb, Youre going in the wrong direction Also, for the freeways, they usually get crowded between 6am-9am and 3pm-6pm. Once those times elapse, youll notice traffic gets lighter nd lighter. Dont drive during those times. The 405 freeway is the worst. Its like the city of NY. It never sleeps
Well ive lived in los angeles for 26yra and damn near all he said here is true. It really isnt as hard to drive here. But i can see how itll be challenging for most ppl who visit here from smaller cities
How much time should I give myself to get from LAX to the Staples Center? My drive from the airport takes around 30-40 minutes to get there and that doesn't account for traffic. I'll be taking an Uber.
There is actually a law that says you're supposed to follow the flow of traffic when it comes to the speed, meaning if everyone else is speeding, and you're driving 65, you're actually a hazard. Some people do speed up when they see a turn signal, but that's a dick move. You just have to be a little confident and assertive. They just won't give you a ton of room. You're not supposed to ride your bike on the sidewalk either. This week I was walking on a sidewalk that was like 3 feet wide with my head down, and a dude on a bike flies by and shoulder checks me. It's not my job on the sidewalk to watch out for cyclist, and it's not like I had much room either way. Ride in the street. I do it. It's not that bad. Like this guys says just stay to the right and people will go around, it's fine. If you're making a right on a green, but there are people crossing the street you gotta wait like he says, but people honk anyway because they can't see the people. What do you want me to do, run them over? Making a left at a light is not that bad. Making a left out of a parking lot though, that is the worse. That is when I will make 3 rights.
Not really driving in Tj is like driving in LA or so . The majority come from SD and LA . Maybe central mexico can be worse but if you can drive in Tj then anywhere else in Mexico should be ok . I had blast before driving in Tj since it’s an experience away from the LA .
if youre a tourist and you visit downtown LA with a car be ready to pay with cash if youre lucky the meters have debit or credit card access if not you have to pay 10-20 bucks to get into a parking lot in DOWNTOWN
Hi Chris Great informative video. Need some advice, we're flying into LAX on the 11th of August, staying in El Segundo. We will be driving route 66 to Williams az the next day. What's the best way to take to avoid traffic, and would you recommend anywhere better to stay than el Segundo, because of traffic. We would uber walk of fame and Santa monica on the day of arrival. Any advice from a local guru like you would be greatly appreciated. Kevin & Ange from 🇦🇺
One thing about driving in LA: you spend more time on the road so you're going to come across more bad drivers, but the percentage of bad drivers in my opinion is lower than other areas because, again, Angelenos spend so much time on the road. In LA, being efficient as possible is EVERYTHING. 4 cars will backup in unison to unjam a situation up front, people will zipper merge, people will allow things that hurt their time on the road to make the overall efficiency of the situation better. Everyone understands because they've been in a bad situation on the road. Note that being efficient doesn't always mean being nice. But do NOT make it worse and a situation less-efficient for everyone or you'll be getting yelled at. Always remember that people in LA honk with purpose unlike the north east because anything but honking with purpose is inefficient in moving traffic!
Be wary of the 'black ice' that forms on the streets and especially the freeways when there's a little rain during a dry spell. LOTS of fender benders, and on the freeway it can be disastrous. Give yourself extra room to stop, and turn off cruise control.
I do NOT drive during rush hour. i’ve been stuck on the 405 on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. Three hours to go from LAX to the Valley. 19 miles. Never again.
I noticed after I got back from nyc I also started calling things by “the” lol because of the trains there I started calling buses or roads the 45 or the 10 lol
You might enjoy watching more videos from my LA series in this playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLOVadUHX1B-KpaZG7l8jjT6Hjmg3SUFgP
thanks! I will!
GTA makes it seem so easy
GTA5 1%of la map😂
L.A. person here. Good tips. I do suggest for a tourist taking their first trip to L.A., who doesn't know anybody from L.A. to get them started and to avoid L.A.'s traffic issues, book some tours that can pick them up and drop them off from their hotel. They'll get them to the major tourist spots while relieving a lot of stress. Tourists from other areas, especially from Europe, will sadly figure out that L.A. is very spread out, with a public transportation system that is no where what they're used to at home. For subsequent visits (not their first) then get a rental car to visit those unique or more remote places, that tours just can't do.
Hello! May I have some advice? I’m from the uk and will be driving from San Jose to LA in November. What’s the best way for me to have gps working for my trip? Should I get a USA SIM card for my phone? Should I buy a sat nav? Will the rental car company give me a sat nav? Thanks!
yo it’s my first time being an adult in la. renting a tesla off turo for 5 days !
@@kevinpace866 If you are European (German in my case) its safer to rent a car from big companies like Hertz. If you rent on the European website, you get free liability insurance up to $1milllion and vehicle insurance without any extra cost. Turo's liability only covers up to $5000 in California which is basically nothing and the protection plans are super expensive. You can compare the prices and see for yourself! Saved me $400
You can't be a timid driver in LA, being aggressive certainly helps as many will not let you into their lane or path, also using "Waze" helps with traffic, cop & accident locations, very helpful.
Yes.. LA is an aggressive driving city
@@YellowProductions I lived & worked there & in Orange County for many years, we finally had enough & moved to Sacramento.
Haha, come to Mexico City guys, it will make driving in LA seem like driving in a small town
@@vinniecorleone62 Sacramento can get boring though.
As an Angeleno I've found out-of-state plates attempt to be too aggressive and bordering on reckless. I think it's because they're here in LA and believe that being ultra aggressive is okay and no one will mind. Remember there is a balance.
As an L.A. native, we truly do talk about distances in terms of time instead of distance. I often have no idea how many miles it is to a destination. Traffic between 10 am and 2-3 pm is more manageable. Also after 9 pm is okay. Sunday mornings are great in most areas. Holidays are a little better than regular weekdays. Also know that people in L.A. are really bad about continuing to drive through an intersection when the light is yellow and even after it has turned red. When your light turns green, don’t hit the gas too fast. Be sure that the cross traffic is actually stopping. People don’t usually use their horns here, unless you’re busy looking at your phone (illegal) and the light has changed, and then they may not be very nice about that.
In my experience that's how people talk everywhere in America.
Is it also true that you guys talk about driving a lot?
Actually we do the same in Belgium and most place I know in Europe. Even in North-African countries like Morocco they do so
@@ryanlittleton5615 we talk about traffic a lot. The Californians on SNL talking about traffic and how to get places is absolutely how it works here. Everyone has a fave shortcut.
What about in 2022
Drove around downtown and from Hollywood to San Diego. Fun drive. Was pretty stressed at first. Drivers are super aggressive in changing lanes and also not great at indicating.
@Jakaŭ ישראל grow up jakau..
Lol, no traffic between 1 am and 4 but then you run into construction and the dreaded detour off the fwy! As someone who grew up and learned to drive in Hollywood and still drives in Orange County, I can relate! The turn signal thing is so spot on. Not too mention all the tailgaters and high beamers! Great vid Chris!
EXACTLY, I'm from New York and we have less vehicles on the road, but really stupid drivers, none the less. I can relate as well. And also, there's way less lanes, usually 1-3 so it ends up being a massive backup as far as the eye can see in both directions.
I’m from Australia, have been and driven in LA some 10 times over the years. Aside from the obvious difference that you guys drive on the right, we drive on the left and just the shear volume of traffic. Probably the main (road rule) differences between driving in LA and Sydney is, right turn on red, U-turns at traffic lights, four way Stops (we tend to have more roundabouts) and pre paying your fuel. Other than that it’s much the same.
That's about right :)
California freeways and highways: people drive 60 mph for 45 seconds than inexplicably slow down to 40 and then at a random time go 55. Cruise control can’t be used.
Cruise control is worthless in the cities in California for sure
@@YellowProductions Yall need adaptive cruise control that slows down and speeds up automatically
@@yeahnoway111 Ass, it's a lifesaver. Use it all day and I do about 80 miles both ways for my commute
@@YellowProductions I know Pasadena really well by walking but Los Angeles traffic is bad. I remember being on the bus and it was overcrowded with people and very hot on the bus
Drove 500 miles in five days. No sweat even though the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car. Yeah, I'm from Australia. Only problem I had was a sore neck looking over my left shoulder, as I usually look over my right shoulder.
I've been to LA and the traffic is crazy! And each side of the freeway even has 6 lanes!
Yup!
And studies usually show adding more Lanes to a freeway doesn't ease congestion. People wait in the left lane till the last minute then veer across the highway to make their exit and cut everyone off
It ain’t bad we went last week it’s not even that bad the traffic at least moves Houston will be stopped for 7 hours stuck there
@@idk_who2320 o dear
These are very helpful tips! I've heard so many things about the traffic in LA. I remember going to Houston a year and a half ago, and I had to do the same thing by avoiding the freeways at rush hour as they will turn into parking lots. I feel like Michigan also has implemented the California Stop as many people will not come to a complete stop before proceeding.
Yeah.. traffic in big Texas cities is rough too since they have zero public transport
Most of these apply to anywhere in the US. What I noted in LA is that people drive bumper to bumper at a high rate of speed. Plus, contesting a parking ticket in LA is like a Kafka short story.
I was in Hollywood last year and I learned to be careful driving in the right lane. People park their cars in this lane, if you're not paying attention, you'll rear end a car parked in the road. Good luck making a left hand turn at a light without a left turn light. GPS says something is 12 miles away and it can take a full one hour to drive a lousy 12 miles!!
All true!
Chris, my son is now living in Pasadena, I make him drive. He is also an EMT and your tips were very spot on. Thanks. Kevin Bishop
Basic rule is, don't try to drive any long distances after 2 PM, unless you like traffic. Secret fun is very early saturday and sunday the streets of LA are fairly open and empty and you can drive all over town up to around 2 pm
I visited LA a few times with rental car, would say driving is pretty much ok if not in downtown and hot tourist spots due to limited parking and slow traffic. Driving on freeways at night may be a bit itimidating sometimes.
BTW your tips are really really useful indeed, thanks!
This is sooo helpful! Thank you so much for making this video. I'm going to LA this December and decided to rent a car since I'm planning on moving to LA eventually.
Heading to LA from New Zealand next week and I haven't driven there for over 20yrs. This was so helpful! Thank you
My pleasure Renee!
How to drive in LA?
Just cut 4 lanes at a time at 80 MPH until you reach the Dead Stop Traffic before you hit the PCH lol
lol
I live in NYC so aggressive driving is what I'm most used to, also I have a cousin who lives in Santa Monica, CA and as a result I have some experience driving in Los Angeles.
NYC=More Congested Traffic and tolls... so many tolls
LA= Longer distances, more time spent in a car.
Went to LA in the beginning of the month and I experienced everything you said :D
This video is a good one and would have helped a lot before I went there but for sure will help many others.
California Stop is like our Portugal Stop (yes not only one city but everyone in the country does it) XD. No one really stops at the sign...
Great video!
Thanks Pedro!
Hello! May I have some advice? I’m from the uk and will be driving from San Jose to LA in November. What’s the best way for me to have gps working for my trip? Should I get a USA SIM card for my phone? Should I buy a sat nav? Will the rental car company give me a sat nav? Thanks
My wife was born and raised in LA. I went for the first time about a month ago and she showed me around. Had a good time. She got homesick and started suggesting we look into moving to LA. I purposely left the history museum on USC campus during rush hour, drove to Crypto Arena, got on the 110. It took us an hour and a half to get to Whittier where we were staying. She was cussing up a storm talking about this is why she is happy she left LA. I smirked and asked if she still wanted to move to LA. That ended that!
Hah
I have to say, I drove one week in LA and I didn't get mad. Just some traffic here and there...parking is horrible, though
Excellent advice! And I'm just so impressed at how well you present info on your channel!
Before we went to UK and Europe we found your channel and it HELPed our trip. I continued to watch other videos after we returned. Keep up the good work. Great channel.
Awesome! Thanks Jameson!
I LIVE HERE AND YES THE TRAFFIC IS REALLY BAD THANKS FOR THE TIPS
Thanks Linda!
Thanks for making this video CR !
I could have used it 8 years ago in my first visit to LA. Hopefully it helps lots of people 😎
Great info Chris, our family has driven in LA a few times, and its always been insane, your info is most helpful. My husband always says he needs a scotch after driving in LA .
Hah! Yeah. That describes LA well
Visiting LA for the first time in September and am driving through it immediately. Your video has taken away a lot of the worries I had, though I still can’t wrap my head around the red light turns because it goes against everything I’ve learned 😂 but thank you so much for this amazing video! Instant sub, you rock.
Awesome TX!
My favorite video to go back to every time I plan to drive in LA!
Awesome!
LA freeways are crazy, and this comes from a London driver. I'd hate to see what it's like when it rains! My biggest tip is check your mirrors and blind spots before making any lane change/movement!
LA freeways are completely non functional when it rains
This video is awesome. I'm literally sat at Heathrow Airport in London right now, getting ready for my first time in LA/the States in general; very informative. Thank you!
Awesome! Enjoy LA!
Thank you so much for this video. I'll be travelling from the UK next month and driving around San Diego/LA and honestly i'm so nervous! I'l be re-watching this video before I go 🙏
My pleasure Bobby
In Europe traffic lights are before intersection, in US they are after intersection. Pay attention not to cross on red if you are used to stop just in front of the traffic lights.
really liked the right turn on red rule 👍 another great video 👌
Thanks Dieter!
I really like USA, because like i said americans have been inspiring me.😁🇺🇸
yup those left turn yields always get me too. and thats how I learned the technique of inch out into the intersection and wait for the light to turn yellow then red, the intersection to clear and make my left. Because generally you got like a split second or two to go.
Edit: especially lane changing, i've learned the concept of if there is an opening, take while using signal. (I use my signal at any turn I do, lane changing or turning in an intersection even if it is a turning lane anyhow)
Very useful video for people from LEFT-hand side driving countries in LA .
Thank you so much for your video! 🙏 ❤❤❤ It is so helpful for foreigners! I really needed all these tips because it was really hard to drive for me when I just came to LA. All the nuances are covered in this video, thank you for your help!!!❤❤❤
Thanks Andrew!
I heard about the "protected left turn" and i as curious what that meant. This video basically clarified that and other helpful tips. Thank you! I'm going visit LA this year and i want know what to expect from other drivers and road rules there
Chris, thanks for a very insightful video. Not only the driving rules but also the international debit card trick at the pumps. I'll try myself in a few weeks, but this all does not sound all that different from any busy place on the planet. If you've been on a rush hour autobahn in Germany and have navigated through a rush hour in Tirana, Albania - I'm sure you're gonna be just fine.
Best wishes!
This sounds a lot like driving in my city. Lots of traffic and angry drivers. Lots of rules but you only follow half of them. Everyone is driving above the speed limit and changes lanes without much prior notification. Lots of stop and go traffic. You have to be always wary of pedestrians jaywalking. Skateboards, scooters, bicycles riding in the middle of the road and even sometimes into oncoming traffic. Everyone is breaking the rules and you end up breaking them as well just cause that's the environment you're used to. Having used to driving in an urban environment with heavy traffic I think I'll be quite alright driving in LA traffic. But if you come from a small town or a village in Europe, the driving in Los Angeles might feel like hell on earth for you.
btw driving in such conditions you learn to anticipate people's actions, like for example when you see somebody leaning to the edge of the lane you know he is likely going to change lane either without their blinker or turning his blinker in the last moment when he sees free space.
You will do quite well. What city above are you describing?
@@antoniahamilton3201 Sofia, Bulgaria
Really enjoyed this video. A lot of the same advice can be applied to Hawaii. Btw, do you guys wave (in Hawaii, it's give the shaka) as a thank you to other drivers when merging lanes? I don't remember seeing that too much on the Mainland.
Some people wave.. but not very much. I enjoy the Shaka in Hawaii.. I think Hawaii drivers are fairly polite
Thanks Chris, great vid. Lived and worked in Cali and LA most of my life. Great suggestions. Might want to consider making a vid on metro-ing Los Angeles. You can almost cover the entire county (4751 sq mi) with an all day metro card ($7). I find it's fun, interesting, adventurous and cheaper than renting a car and feeling the L.A. burn on the 110. Lots of spots to stop and feel the different 'tribes' of Los Angeles. Bon chance.
Thanks for the tips
Hi Chris. Thank you very much for the info. I'm lucky that I travel with someone who loves to drive.
Thanks James . You are lucky :)
From Australia- drove in LA 3 years ago for the very first time. I’ve been driving for 50 years, and I must admit I was exhilarated yet terrified. Biggest challenge: reprogramming my brain to stay right. And, yes, if you don’t drive at least the speed limit, you will be eaten alive.
Excellent job Chris! I love LA! Although I have become accustomed to driving there, I still have my moments of frustration when I am in town visiting. CAB😍🚘
Thank you so much for this. I’m from Ireland and want to visit LA this summer. Any other videos that you guys think would be good let me know please
You might want to browse my Los Angeles playlist here Sarah: Los Angeles Travel Guides: ruclips.net/p/PLOVadUHX1B-KpaZG7l8jjT6Hjmg3SUFgP
@@YellowProductions fantastic! Thanks so much!
Great video! I've been driving for 10+ years in the UK but would feel really intimidated trying to drive in the US. I think especially for a first visit i'd prefer to make sure I save plenty of money for taxi's and other transport. More expensive but I would feel better in the knowledge that I won't be breaking any major road rules!
Many people feel the same way Hannah. Uber and Lyft is the way to go then!
I can relate to this. Traffic in LA is candy compared to that in Jakarta. We also measure thing in time. 30 minutes if there's no traffic, but you can spend up to 2 hours if there is.
I've never been to Jakarta.. but if it's anything like Bangkok I can imagine it :)
I live in Massachusetts and we only have 3 lanes here lol and here highways are called started with I
single motorcycles are allowed on car pool lanes and they can split lanes also. motorcycle is a very good option in LA
Thank you for this video and all you LA ones. They are very helpful and we will be taking your advice when we visit in September ❤
Glad it was helpful!
Backroads are usually open. The 10 and other major highways are the worst. Great thing about LA is there’s usually always an alternate route.
A few added points about driving in LA.
The side of an exit is indicated on the exit sign. If it is a right exit the exit number will be on the right side. If it is a left exit, the exit number will be on the left side of the sign. I did not discover this until I had lived there for 7 years.
About going with the flow I was once in a group of cars where the flow was going 90. In among this group of about 40 cars was a CHP cruiser also going 90. No one seemed to be concerned. This was going west near San Bernardino. But I would not count on this all the time.
Turn Signals. I am from Canada and I was called weird for using my turn signals at all.
Pedestrians. Do not jaywalk. People will rarely stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. Never for jay walkers. I have even had police cars almost run me over at a crosswalk. If you try to cross where traffic is flowing be hyper alert and be prepared to jump back. Leave lots of room to cross at uncontrolled crosswalks.
If you are a Canadian and you are filling up anywhere in the USA and the pump asks for your zip code, you take the three digits from your Canadian postal code and add 00 to it. For example, if your Canadian postal code is A3B 5C7 then you punch in 35700 and so forth.
If you listen to traffic reports on the radio, they may mention a "sigalert" is happening some place. a Sig-Alert is an unplanned lane closure expected to last a half hour or more. Often from a collision. Named for long gone traffic reporter Loyd Sigmon.
Thanks for the extra tips!
LA For Life💙💙💙
I just made a decision against driving in LA. I'll just take the subway or an uber during my trip. This sounds like driving hell... :D
HI, I have going to visit San Francisco and LA for a few days and I've been loving your videos, now I know I shouldn't rent a car in San Francisco, but my question is: shod I rent a car in LA or is it easier by public transportation?? (I'm traveling with a family of)
I think yes you should rent a car in LA. Public transit in LA is rough
@@YellowProductions thank you so much for your reply, I'm loving your videos, ty so much
Left turn yield drives me nuts!!!
Me too!
Thanks Chris! Looks likes more challenging than GTA. Your Vids is so helpful! Godbless
Thanks Roland!
Public transport in daylight hours and uber at night is okay for the main tourist sites for me; reduces scary people experiences
wow thank you this was so helpful and entertaining. Unlike most other youtube videos Cheers, Chris
Thanks Abigail!
How to drive in LA boils down to one thing, take any freeway and traffic jam like a boss
Right on red is still yield to right of way which is traffic that doesn't cross a different lane of traffic to proceed or who has arrived first in cases of stop signs.
I live and am from L.A. and people always ask if its like in the movies, I can confirm that it is exactly like the movies
Traffic has gotten worse. People basically do not communicate driving around LA. Driving in 6 lanes of traffic on the freeway with inches either side of you at 50mph is normal. Be good at staying in your lane. Getting on the freeway and off you best be aggressive. Be hanging back for that large gap and you'll get nowhere. But like I said, no communication, at best someone will use their indicators. Nobody thanks you, nobody flashes you to go, it's like everyone is too cool to talk to strangers, bit like a lot of LA, it's all about the clique, gated community and private function at the restaurant or club, if an unknown you don't exist. So on the road, they don't even look at each other, they don't even give each other the finger, most fear to honk probably because they know guns are out there and a person is murdered in LA every other day. So basically zombies, heads in apps or driving in traffic jabbering into their iphones. You do get honked by some, the sociopaths, these are the jerks who will see you doing a U-turn and speed up to cause a close-call all so they can jam on their horn and do a little rampage on you, however let these creeps out of a bad junction and don't even expect acknowledgement of existence. So to recap, you are driving around zombies who do not interact with anyone, sprinkled with the occasional vindictive narcissist who'll honk just to feed off your irritation.
Great video, thank you! I'm coming over from the UK next month and this is exactly what I needed :)
How did it go? 😂
@@MinaBae93 Was completely fine, thank you!
I literally live in So. Cal. and still desperately need this video LMAO
Glad I could help! 😀
Honestly, being from LA, there’s not a lot to do here except to go to Hollywood, which is pretty small in what you can do there or go to the beach/aquarium/zoo, which San Diego and San Francisco already have. Not worth the traffic and money IMO.
Except San Francisco you can’t swim in the beaches. Plus, have you not heard of Burbank (which is where all the studios are NOT Hollywood), or the numerous amusement parks around LA (e.g. Disneyland, Universal)? Though I will say I do like San Diego more as a city.
I don't know what LA. you're from but the Los Angeles I know has ton of things to do.
Honestly, the traffic issues would be a lot less trouble if Los Angeles County started investing more of their money in perfecting and expanding their public transportation. I wouldn’t mind moving to Los Angeles if their public transportation was like New York’s.
Los Angeles is slowly investing in and upgrading its rapid transit options. Nothing like New York's of course but I understand New York's traffic has become rated as some of the worse in the nation.
Grandpa Richard's tip: Only take escorted tours and let someone local do all the driving!
That works too :)
Always enjoy your shows
Thanks Desmond!
I’m from a small city in Arizona so this is very helpful 👍
If you are paying for fuel at the pump with a Canadian credit card you can enter the digits of your postal code followed by two zeros. Eg. R3P 2L6 you would enter 32600 as the zip code at the pump. Works for me every time.
Thanks for the tip Darren!
All this info made my anxiety high 🥺😆 I’m just going to let Jesus take the wheel 🚘 I’m excited for my trip, coming from Alaska, I’m use to aggressive drivers and people not warning you when they’ are turning into the lanes.
How did it go? Im also anxious
Very informative video! Thanks for sharing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks Be360!
For all the tourist visiting make sure you rent a mid-size vehicle with a decent v-6 engine. You need the torque to merge in and out lanes. 4 bangers are just too gutless and not safe on L.A. Hwy's
So you're telling me I need to floor it but not *FLOOR* it.
4 years later and this video is very informative still 😵💫 I come from Ohio where it’s 1 min a mile lol I had a great wake up call (;
Glad it was helpful!
Driving in LA is different than driving in Orange County, especially the left yield turns!!😂😂
Indeed... I hate the left turn yields!
What do you mean? This is how a left turn is made. You wait for oncoming traffic, then go. This is how left turns are made across the world. Are you trying to say that traffic lights in OC always have that green arrow showing you it's safe to pass on a left turn without waiting for oncoming traffic? If that is the case then OC drivers are totally inept in driving everywhere else in the world since they don't know how to do a regular left turn.
Also as far as the driving right thing, at first, i just use to tell myself that w.e direction im driving, my steering wheel is supposed to be on the side away from the curb. If your steering wheel is on the side nearest the curb, Youre going in the wrong direction
Also, for the freeways, they usually get crowded between 6am-9am and 3pm-6pm. Once those times elapse, youll notice traffic gets lighter nd lighter. Dont drive during those times. The 405 freeway is the worst. Its like the city of NY. It never sleeps
Well ive lived in los angeles for 26yra and damn near all he said here is true. It really isnt as hard to drive here. But i can see how itll be challenging for most ppl who visit here from smaller cities
How much time should I give myself to get from LAX to the Staples Center? My drive from the airport takes around 30-40 minutes to get there and that doesn't account for traffic. I'll be taking an Uber.
Very helpful video. Would these tips also apply to driving in San Diego? Taking a trip to SD and LA in December
Hi Illmatic... most of this would indeed apply to San Diego.
These tips apply to nearly every major city and metro area in California. Lol
They probably do.. but they also apply to LA.. And that's the question I get asked over and over again
There is actually a law that says you're supposed to follow the flow of traffic when it comes to the speed, meaning if everyone else is speeding, and you're driving 65, you're actually a hazard.
Some people do speed up when they see a turn signal, but that's a dick move. You just have to be a little confident and assertive. They just won't give you a ton of room.
You're not supposed to ride your bike on the sidewalk either. This week I was walking on a sidewalk that was like 3 feet wide with my head down, and a dude on a bike flies by and shoulder checks me. It's not my job on the sidewalk to watch out for cyclist, and it's not like I had much room either way.
Ride in the street. I do it. It's not that bad. Like this guys says just stay to the right and people will go around, it's fine.
If you're making a right on a green, but there are people crossing the street you gotta wait like he says, but people honk anyway because they can't see the people. What do you want me to do, run them over?
Making a left at a light is not that bad.
Making a left out of a parking lot though, that is the worse. That is when I will make 3 rights.
The only place I think is worse then LA is Mexicali and/or Tj
Not really driving in Tj is like driving in LA or so . The majority come from SD and LA . Maybe central mexico can be worse but if you can drive in Tj then anywhere else in Mexico should be ok . I had blast before driving in Tj since it’s an experience away from the LA .
Thank you so much. This was really helpful. ❤
My pleasure Hatem!
if youre a tourist and you visit downtown LA with a car be ready to pay with cash if youre lucky the meters have debit or credit card access if not you have to pay 10-20 bucks to get into a parking lot in DOWNTOWN
Hi Chris
Great informative video. Need some advice, we're flying into LAX on the 11th of August, staying in El Segundo. We will be driving route 66 to Williams az the next day. What's the best way to take to avoid traffic, and would you recommend anywhere better to stay than el Segundo, because of traffic. We would uber walk of fame and Santa monica on the day of arrival. Any advice from a local guru like you would be greatly appreciated.
Kevin & Ange from 🇦🇺
I came here just to learn the best way to take left turns here in LA and you basically just said avoid it!😂
Hah
One thing about driving in LA: you spend more time on the road so you're going to come across more bad drivers, but the percentage of bad drivers in my opinion is lower than other areas because, again, Angelenos spend so much time on the road. In LA, being efficient as possible is EVERYTHING. 4 cars will backup in unison to unjam a situation up front, people will zipper merge, people will allow things that hurt their time on the road to make the overall efficiency of the situation better. Everyone understands because they've been in a bad situation on the road. Note that being efficient doesn't always mean being nice. But do NOT make it worse and a situation less-efficient for everyone or you'll be getting yelled at. Always remember that people in LA honk with purpose unlike the north east because anything but honking with purpose is inefficient in moving traffic!
Great points!
Be wary of the 'black ice' that forms on the streets and especially the freeways when there's a little rain during a dry spell. LOTS of fender benders, and on the freeway it can be disastrous. Give yourself extra room to stop, and turn off cruise control.
Good tip
Loved this video, so useful 👍
This was very helpful. Thanks.
My pleasure Adri!
I do NOT drive during rush hour. i’ve been stuck on the 405 on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. Three hours to go from LAX to the Valley. 19 miles. Never again.
Ouch! Of course I'm sure you know it now. But that Wednesday is always the worst traffic day of the year
Great information👍🏻🙏🏼
Thanks Nancy!
Very useful video, thank you.
Thanks David!
I noticed after I got back from nyc I also started calling things by “the” lol because of the trains there I started calling buses or roads the 45 or the 10 lol
This is enough to put me off visiting at all.
Home sweet home 😄
🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙 Good job and thanks I so enjoy your videos keep it up
Thanks Juan!