- Using traffic volume and accident data, The Times ranked the worst Los Angeles intersections
- Not all of the most problematic intersections were on major thoroughfares
Everyone has a worst traffic choke point in L.A. That part of the commute where everything stops, time seems to stand still and you debate how many red-light cycles it will take to get through the intersection.
It’s places like this you worry about getting into that fender-bender or witness an act of road rage that will haunt your nightmares.
The Times decided to find out which are truly the worst crossing in the city, based on city data on traffic volumes and accidents.
James Moore, a traffic engineering expert from USC, reviewed The Times data and offered some analysis, both predictable and surprising.
One surprise is that not all them were the crossings of major thoroughfares. While those big intersections were represented — PCH and Sunset, Wilshire and Sepuleveda — others included smaller streets.
The reason? Often they marked key choke points just outside of major attractions like Hollywood, downtown L.A. and LAX. Intersection design also plays a role. Poorly laid out crossing can really back up traffic, especially in areas with few alternative routes.
(Jim Cooke / Los Angeles Times; source photo via Getty Images)