We are travelling to L.A. in June and would like to know the areas to say away from. We will be based in
Anaheim and will most likely drive into L.A. Which
suburbs should we not drive near or visit, and
which is the best(quickest)way to drive into L.A.
Thanks

Where do you have to go in LA? Site seeing, or business?

The fastest way to get to LA is Intersate 5 from Anaheim but try to avoid peak traffic hour in the 7-10 AM and 3-6 PM time range. In general try to avoid the Southeast area of LA off the major highways. I however don't think there are any areas that are not safe to drive through. Be a little cautious around Hollywood on streets at night. If you don't like the looks of an area don't stay there. While I live in San Diego, I have no sense of concern about visting LA. Then again I have no concern about visiting, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco. We always use public transportation also where it is suitable. This we have done even in LA. Some people are afraid to take a bus. In San Diego some people are afraid to take the trolley. There is a chance of a problem today in most places in the world but I think you have the highest risk driving a car.

The area directly east of LAX isn't a very cool place. (Compton/Watts/Inglewood).
Last year I had car problems driving on I-105, so I exited onto the Imperial Hwy and went to the side of the road...right in front of a huge housing project.
Wow...the "locals" kept eyeballing me...eyeballing my car...their glances letting me know that I was definitely on "their turf."
I had to reach way back to my adolescent "hood-attitude" and managed to look tough/not look afraid. I was approached several times (offers to buy drugs, solicited by hookers, a few guys checking-out my car)...but fortunately no incident(s). I can imagine how a naive stranded motorist would feel.

Agree with the above. I would definitely not go to central LA, don't get off the freeway at night near the LAX airport, most areas of Los Angeles proper, Long Beach, some parts of "the Valley" ,and even central Santa Ana. There is nothing there you want to see.