A Guide to SoCal Freeway Driving

A Guide to SoCal Freeway Driving

Sure, the veins of asphalt crisscrossing L.A. look innocent enough from your plane window. But down on the ground, those freeways can turn into a slow-moving mess of cars and cantankerous commuters jockeying for position. So how do you survive and conquer SoCal freeway driving if you're not a native?

Pick a lane. The car pool lane, the "fast lane," the truck lane, the merge lane -- this isn't your typical freeway. First of all, keep out of the two far right lanes. The California Department of Motor Vehicles restricts buses and trucks to these two truck lanes, which run slower than the regular speed of traffic. To drive at least the speed limit, get yourself in the middle lane. If you're ready to bend the rules a bit, the fourth lane moves about five miles over the speed limit. Newbies should stay out of the far left lane (the one that's next to the car pool lane). Speeds here range from 75 to 90, and besides that, you've got to deal with car-pool-lane mergers.

And what about that car pool lane -- also known as the diamond lane? Use it if you have two or more people in your car and it's moving faster than the speed of traffic; if Bus 187 to Pasadena is in it, don't. If traffic is light, stay in the main lanes. This gives you the freedom to change lanes when needed: car-pool lane entrances and exits are miles apart.

Speed, with caution -- but we didn't tell you that. Sure, you shouldn't go faster than the posted 65 or 55 mph. Easy to say, hard to do -- especially when everyone else seems to be doing it and getting away with it. If you want to keep up with the speed of traffic and avoid the prize of a speeding ticket, 70 to 74 mph is a good target range. If, however, you notice that you're passing lots of cars -- slow down!

Can't we all just be friends? Here's how to avoid causing road rage: Don't tailgate. Don't flail your arms in frustration. Don't glare at the driver of the car you finally have a chance to pass. And above all, don't fly the finger. Road rage is a real hazard.

Use your signal correctly. Here, signaling is a must. Because of all the different lanes, people may try to merge into the same spot as you from three lanes away. Protect yourself and your space by always using your signal. And don't forget to turn your signal off when the lane change is complete.

Get a freeway map. The small, laminated maps that just cover the jumble of freeways are indispensable if you merge onto the wrong freeway, get lost, or get stuck in traffic and want to find an alternative route. Nearly every gas station sells them; you can get a decent one for a few bucks.

Don't pull over on the freeway. Short of a real emergency, never, ever, pull over and stop on a freeway. So you took the wrong ramp and need to huddle with your map -- take the next exit and find a safe, well-lighted public space to stop your car and get your bearings.