"Survive the Drive! Traffic for Dummies, Take Two" -- Los Angeles Times
"Survive the Drive! How to Beat Freeway Traffic in Southern California" provides real world answers and recommendations from experts in the field to help you: get "there" quicker with time-saving tips, reduce your commuting expenses, ease driving stress, and improve your motoring safety.
Learn how to: *plan ahead to determine the quickest commute; *find alternate routes around major accidents; *gain advance knowledge of freeway-construction bottlenecks; *cope with commuting stress and avoid becoming a victim of road rage; *deal with traffic conditions unique to Southern California; and *handle unexpected events such as breakdowns, accidents, and even earthquakes.
--------------------
Survive the Drive! includes: *commonly used names for freeways, passes, places; *explanations of important terms like "Sigalert;" *concise descriptions of available transit options such as buses and the new Metrolink and Metro Rail trains; *Website addresses and phone numbers for up-to-the-minute access to important transportation information; plus *alternate route suggestions for major freeways in L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties. These surface street alternates make "Suvive the Drive" a valuable glove-box guide for every car, truck and SUV.
See below for a comprehensive list of the chapter contents and a complete list of freeway alternate routes.
--------------------
HOW TO ORDER
To obtain a copy of "Survive the Drive!, How to Beat Freeway Traffic in Southern California" visit your nearest bookstore or visit any on-line bookseller.
Survive the Drive! How to Beat Freeway Traffic in Southern California by David Rizzo (Dr. Roadmap); Publisher: Loriekeet Express Publications ISBN-0-9777791-0-6 $14.95
All amounts U.S. Dollars
"Survive the Drive" may be purchased by check or through PayPal at the greatly reduced rate of only $5.99, plus $5 for Priority Mail shipping anywhere in the U.S., for a total of $10.99. That's less expensive than many e-books, but with the added benefit of having 32 pages of printed shortcut maps for quick reference in your vehicle. Dr. Roadmap pays any applicable sales tax.
Send $10.99 to: Dr. Roadmap; P.O. Box 2683; Fullerton, CA 92837
To purchase via credit card or your PayPal account, please click on the link below:
How this book can help you beat traffic in Southern California --
Section I. Knowing Why Traffic "Happens"
1. Why so Crowded? --The Worst Commute in the Country --Two Jobs, Two Commutes --Big House vs. Short Drive --The Busiest Interchanges
2. Understanding Traffic Congestion --Recurring congestion: The "same old, same old" --Incident congestion: Look what happened here! --Quantifying the Slowdown --Counting Cars
Section II. Traffic-Beating Boot Camp
3. Making Sense out of Freeway Numbers, Names, and Locations --Identifying Freeway Types --How Freeways and Highways are Numbered How Freeways are Named¾--Who's Who in the Zoo? --How Locations are Named --How Exits are Named and Numbered --How Distances between Cities are Calculated --Units of Measurement --Freeway Numbers with Corresponding Names --Freeway Names with Corresponding Numbers --Interchanges and Freeway Sections --Passes and Grades --How to Get "Un-lost"
4. Basic Tips on Beating Traffic --Before You Start Your Trip --Once Under Way on the Freeway --Saving Time on Surface Streets --"Rules of the Road" for Getting There Quicker
5. Understanding Sigalerts and other Traffic Delays --Definitions of Delays (What's a Sigalert? Traffic Break? Advisory?) --Why Accidents Take so Long to Clear --Finding the "Invisible" Accident Scene --Waiting on the Coroner... Not! --Amber Alerts, Pro and Con
6. Taking Advantage of the Information Superhighway --In-Route Tools to Speed Your Trip --Utilizing Pre-Trip Traffic Information (Harnessing the Internet to Shorten Your Drive) --New High-Tech Aids (Emerging ATIS Technologies) --Traffic Reporting Codes --Caltrans Districts
7. Making the Most of Traffic Reports --Getting the Most out of the Media (Reading between the Lines and Knowing Whom to Believe, When) --Commonly Heard Traffic Terminology --"TIP" Traffic Meetings --Upbeat Traffic Reports
8. How to Time the Lights and Other Traffic Controls --Understanding Freeway System Management --Timing the Lights on Surface Streets --Corridor Control (How Ramp Meters are Set) --ATSAC (Computer-Coordinated Street Lights) --Localized Traffic Signal Control
Section III. Additional Strategies to Beat Freeway Traffic
9. Mastering Alternate Routes --The Meaning of "Alternate" --Knowing When to Opt for an Alternate --When and Where to Get Back on the Freeway --Finding Good Alternates on Your Own
10. Predicting Road Construction Delays --Why Freeways Get Fixed in the Day and other FAQs --Why Predicting Construction is Tricky --Getting the Advance Scoop on Roadside Construction (Publicly-Available Construction Notices) --Dodging Haz-Mat Spills --Rough Roads and Potholes --Why We Have Full-Weekend Closures --Avoid Tickets in "Cone Zones"
11. Pairing up to Beat the Clock in the Carpool Lanes --Where to Find HOV Lanes --Who Can Use Them, Who Cannot (Exceptions to the 2-Person Minimum) --Legally Exiting and Entering HOV Lanes --Gauging the Efficacy of HOV Lanes --Where HOV Lanes Fail to Save Time --Conformity—Why We Have Carpool Lanes --Motorcycles in the HOV
12. Ridesharing to the Rescue --The Who and Why of Ridesharing --Mandatory Ridesharing? --The Many Benefits of Ridesharing --Reducing Congestion in General --Unbeatable Tax Breaks
13. Toll Roads—Living the Lush Life in the Lexus Lanes --Which Toll Roads Take You Where -HOT Lanes are Hot Gauging the Efficacy of Toll Roads --The Cost (How Much is too Much?) --When to Pay, When to Stay --The Future of Toll Roads
14. Making Transit Work for You --Using Buses for the Short Run --Figuring out the Different Trains --When to Take Transit, When to Drive
Section IV. When the Unexpected Happens
15. What to Do when Stranded on the Freeway --Preventing Breakdowns --What to Do, When it Happens Who You Gonna' Call? --Tow Trucks to the Rescue --When Not to Pull Over
16. Avoiding A Fender-Bender --Basics Tips to Avoid the Not-So Inevitable --It's All about Defense --Rear-End Crash Defenses --When a Collision is Inevitable --The Aftermath—Paperwork --Risk Factors --Pulling out of Harm's Way (Fender Benders Must Make Way for Traffic)
17. Keeping Traffic Tickets at Bay Five Tips to Avoid Tix'¾--Prevention --Avoiding the Wrong Decision When it Comes to "Right of Way" --Fight Your Ticket --Back to (Traffic) School --All About Red Light Cameras --Why We Speed Dangerous Too¾--Too Slow --Driver's License for Visitors
18. Dodging the Violence Bullet --Don't Become a Victim of Road Rage --How to Avoid Being Car-Jacked --The Truth about Freeway Shootings --Dealing with Tailgaters
19. Tips for When Weather Affects Your Drive --How to Avoid the Rain "Drain" --Bolt from Lighting and Hail Storms --Dodging the Wind --Snow Driving --Driving around Brush Fires --The Famous "June Gloom" --Fog
20. In Case of Earthquake... --Preparing for the Next Temblor --What to Do, What Not to Do, When it Hits --Avoiding the Day-After Crunch --Readjusting Your Commute for the Duration --Freeway Overpasses—Shaken, Not Stirred
Section V. More Useful Info about Surviving the Drive
21. Why We Gawk at Accidents --Reasons for Gawking and Preventing Lookie-Loo Slowing --The Fascination with Freeway Chases --Gawking in the Rearview Mirror
22. Coping with Stress behind the Wheel --What Causes Driving Stress --The Effects of Driving Stress --How to Create a More Mellow Commute --Coping Mechanisms --Desensitizing Freeway Phobia --Turning a Commute into a Mini Vacation
23. Staying Alert while Driving --Avoiding Distractions --Zoning out --Staying Awake While Driving
24. Balancing Cellphones and the Wheel Dangerous Liaisons?¾--Cars and Phones --Reason for Distraction --Not Totally Illegal --A Safer Way to Call
25. Coping with Holidays and Traffic --Tips on Taming Holiday Traffic—When to Go, When to Return, and What Areas to Avoid --Keeping Kids Quiet in the Car --Tis the Season for Heavy Traffic—Here's Why
26. Dealing with the Desert --Avoiding Desert Debacles (Traffic Reports among the Sands) --Desert Driving Tips --Ensuring Cool Air Conditioning --Desert Rest Stops Stopped Up
27. Sharing the Road with Big Rigs --Trucks and Congestion --What Freeways to Stay away from --Causes of Truck/Car Collisions --Tips on Driving around Trucks --Attempts to Reduce Truck Traffic --Dodging Debris --Truck Scales and Truck Lanes
28. Filling the Tank A Little Less --Several Ways to Save Gas
29. Vision, Hearing, and Saving Your Skin Vision and Driving (Avoiding Glare) --Protecting Your Ears --Saving Your Skin for Convertible Owners
Section VI. Will We Stay Stuck Forever?
30. Why Don't We Just Build More Freeways? --Do We Really Need More Freeways? --Not Enough Money for Freeways --Freeways Cost More to Build --Air Quality Issues --Public Resistance
Full page maps of alternates for the following freeways:
