"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.
--------------------
What the press has had to say about David Rizzo's (Dr. Roadmap) past efforts to help motorists survive the drive:
The key to Rizzo's reports is his knowledge that goes off the map. -- Los Angeles Times
Does congestion trouble you? If so, Dr. Roadmap has a few prescriptions for you -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
...Dr. Roadmap helps listeners steer clear of tie-ups -- The Orange County Register
He probably knows more about getting out of the Interstate Parking Lot than anybody else in the Inland Empire. -- The Sun (San Bernardino County)
'Dr. Road Map' heals commuter blues -- The Press-Enterprise (Riverside County)
Traffic doctor has the cure for what ails you -- Antelope Valley Press
Dr. Roadmap can cure your commuting ills -- The Ventura County Star-Free Press
David Rizzo gets around and wants to help you do the same -- Daily News (San Fernando Valley)
Doctor Roadmap cures Californian's traffic woes -- Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun
'Dr. Roadmap' offers Rx for traffic woes -- Miami Herald
--------------------
To obtain a copy of "Survive the Drive!," 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)
ISBN-0-9777791-0-6
$14.95
All amounts U.S. Dollars
"Survive the Drive" may be purchased by check or money order drawn from any U.S. bank
For shipping to a California address: Book: $14.95; Tax: $1.12 tax; Priority Mail shipping: $4.20; Total: $20.27.
For shipping to states other than California: Book: $14.95; Tax: 0; Priority Mail shipping: $5.32; Total: $20.27
Send $20.27 to:
Dr. Roadmap; P.O. Box 2683; Fullerton, CA 92837.
For purchase by residents of countries other than the U.S.A., please visit www.Amazon.com, www.bn.com or www.borders.com.
U.S. residents wishing to pay by credit car for shipping to U.S. addresses may click on the "Buy Now" link below. It will take you to a fully secure site hosted by PayPal.
All books purchased through the author are autographed. All books shipped within 48 hours of receipt of order. Except that the book will not be shipped between the dates of October 30 and November 10, 2007.
--------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword
How This Book Can Help You Survive the Drive
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 --Who's Who in the Zoo?How Freeways are Named --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 --PreventionFive Tips to Avoid Tix' --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 --Too SlowDangerous Too --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 --Cars and PhonesDangerous Liaisons? --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
31. Strategies for the FutureWhat Will Work, What Won't --Will Transit Triumph? --Technology: A Real Solution or Too Much Information? --Ridesharing to the Rescue? --You Get to Pick
Appendix
A. For More Information, Contact: --Freeway Conditions --Transportation Agencies --Transit Agencies --Other Resources
B. Major Alternates for Major Freeways --2 Glendale Freeway --5 Golden State Freeway (Santa Clarita) --5 Golden State Freeway (San Fernando Valley) --5 Santa Ana Freeway (L.A. County) --5 Santa Ana Freeway (Orange County) --5 San Diego Freeway (south Orange County) --10 Santa Monica Freeway --10 San Bernardino Freeway (L.A. County) --10 San Bernardino Freeway (east end of L.A. County and San Bernardino County) --14 Antelope Valley Freeway --15 Ontario Freeway --22 Garden Grove Freeway --23 Moorpark Freeway --55 Costa Mesa Freeway --57 Orange Freeway --60 Pomona Freeway (L.A. County) --60 Pomona Freeway (San Bernardino County), "60" Freeway (Riverside County) --91 Gardena, Artesia, and Riverside freeways (L.A. and Orange counties) --91 Riverside Freeway (Riverside County) --101 Ventura Freeway (Ventura County) --101 Ventura Freeway (L.A. County) --101 Hollywood Freeway --105 Century Freeway --110 Pasadena Freeway (and SR-110 through downtown L.A.) --110 Harbor Freeway --118 Ronald Reagan Freeway --134 Ventura Freeway --170 Hollywood Freeway --210 Foothill Freeway (San Fernando Valley and Pasadena) --210 Foothill Freeway (San Gabriel Valley and west end of San Bernardino County) --215 "215" Freeway (San Bernardino County) --405 San Diego Freeway (San Fernando Valley and West Side) --405 San Diego Freeway (South Bay) --405 San Diego Freeway (Orange County) --605 San Gabriel River Freeway --710 Long Beach Freeway
