Los Angeles is one of the biggest cities in the US, it is the largest in the state of California, and the second largest by population after New York City. Unlike New York, which is densely packed and interconnected, LA is sprawling and spread out, with a far less developed public transport system.
It’s for these reasons that owning a car in LA is more important than in other US cities. Getting around without one isn’t easy, for people to travel to work, visit friends, or generally go about their daily lives, the use of a car is essential. How does driving in LA differ to driving in other US states? Let’s find out.
Traffic Congestion
In large metropolitan cities with big populations, traffic is, unfortunately, an unavoidable part of life. For those living and driving in LA, they will have to contend with some of the worst traffic in the country. According to a study, LA ranked as the sixth most heavily congested city in the US in 2021, with residents spending on average 62 hours in traffic. In fact, the traffic in LA is so bad that it is home to the most congested road in the country, with the title going to the route to Interstate 605 from Interstate 5 south from Euclid Avenue.
There are a number of reasons why the traffic in LA is so heavy compared to other places in the US, but it mainly comes down to a large population with a high number of cars, combined with a spread-out city requiring driving to get around and sub-standard public transportation offers.
Insurance
Nationwide inflation has seen a rise in costs across the board, including food products and public services. Car insurance is no exception, with rates expected to continue rising for the foreseeable future. Drivers in LA already pay over the odds for their car insurance premiums, they are charged 34.1% more than the state average and 34.5% more than the national average for their insurance.
These higher costs can be attributed to the traffic problems the city faces, which leads to more accidents and therefore more insurance claims. Furthermore, LA has a higher-than-average crime rate, with car thefts and vandalism leading to insurance companies having to pay out more to drivers in the city.
In what works to further negatively affect drivers in LA, the state of California does not currently offer what’s known as no-fault insurance. No-fault insurance is a policy through which insurance companies pay out for damages, medical bills, and other costs regardless of who may have been at fault for an accident. There are currently twelve states across the US where drivers are offered no-fault insurance, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Michigan. Unfortunately for drivers in LA, California is not among them.
Eco-Friendly Driving
The climate crisis is the most pressing issue facing the world today. Activists across the globe are calling for urgent action, with protests and demonstrations becoming more and more commonplace. Cars in particular have been flagged as a major contribution to carbon emissions and climate change, with many calling for restrictions and laws to be put in place to limit the damage they cause. Electric vehicles have become more popular over the past few years, they offer a far more environmentally friendly option while also providing a modern, state-of-the-art driving experience.
While LA might pose challenges in terms of traffic and insurance options, if you’re an electric car driver, you’d be hard pushed to find anywhere better. Last year, LA was named the best city on the planet for electric vehicles, this is due to the particular climate in the city that electric vehicles respond well to, making them perform far better than in other regions in the US and beyond.
What’s more, LA has a high number of charging points for electric vehicles, and the state of California has implemented a range of initiatives to encourage drivers to make the switch to electric. The state’s Clean Air Vehicle Program offers electric vehicle drivers single-driver access to the vast majority of carpool lanes throughout the state.
Additionally, fuel costs for electric vehicles are considerably less than for traditional cars. In the state of California, charging an electric car will cost half as much as fueling a gas-powered car for traveling the same distance. In these times of rising fuel costs and living expenses, this can be a significant plus point.
Conclusion
Driving in LA can be a very different experience to driving in many other US states and cities. The large and growing population means there are a lot of cars on the road, while the physical layout of the city is not conducive to optimal traffic conditions. Insurance can be expensive, and the state lacks benefits like no-fault insurance seen in other US states. However, if you own an electric vehicle, you can be reassured in the fact that your car should perform better in LA than anywhere else in the world, and you can take advantage of state benefits and rewards and enjoy substantially lower fuel costs.