Los Angeles (LA) is a popular tourist destination in the United States, attracting more than 5 million international travelers and business people every year. In addition to natural attractions such as sunny beaches and entertainment industries such as Hollywood and Universal Studios, the city's multiculturalism and sightseeing attractions are also extremely appealing. However, in the previousTransportation in Los AngelesAs mentioned in the article, the public transportation system in Los Angeles is not well-developed, so if you want to go to Disneyland, Joshua Tree National Park, or even Beverly Hills, you need to rent a car and drive to get there. When renting a car, it is important for travelers to make sure that the car is safe, that they can avoid areas that are not safe, and that they can travel with peace of mind. In this article, we will share with you the security situation in Los Angeles, the safety guidelines for self-driving, and how to calm down when encountering security problems in the real world.
This article will provide you with the following important Los Angeles policing information to ensure that you feel more confident when arranging your Los Angeles self-drive!
- A general overview of the security situation in Los Angeles, including choices of accommodations and points to note when traveling by car.
- What are the common crimes in Los Angeles and how can I protect myself as a traveler?
- A Three-Step Safety Guide for Driving in Los Angeles
- What should I do if a dangerous or unexpected situation does occur?
An Overview of Policing in Los Angeles: Areas and Crime Patterns
Suggested Lodging Areas in Los Angeles
- Beverly Hills: Ideal for areas where you like to shop, enjoy good food, and can walk outside, where renting a car would be more convenient.
- Santa Monica: Family friendly, close to the beach, very busy and touristy, so it's also relatively safe.
- Pasadena: Good security, not in the center of town, but close to Universal Studios, Griffith Observatory and a good choice if you have a rental car.
If you do not have a rental car, you will need to rely on public transportation:
- Downtown: It may be easier to stay downtown, and it's fairly safe in most areas during the day, but avoid the streets at night.
- Hollywood (Hollywood): If you have a high interest in the Hollywood film and television industry, like the lively nightlife, no rental car, then live in this side of the trip will be relatively easy, but also need to pay attention to this side of Hollywood quite chaotic.
Travel Tips for Self-Driving Travelers
In addition to the aforementioned lodging areas and sightseeing spots, Los Feliz, where Griffith Observatory is located, and Culver City, near Santa Monica, are both new and popular areas with good security, so even solo travelers don't have to worry too much.
The following specific areas are recommended to be avoided when in the city center:
- Skid Row.
- South Central
- Compton
- Watts
- Boyle Heights.
Skid Row is currently the largest homeless community in Los Angeles and has become a difficult place to live, while South LA and Boyle Heights in East LA also have high crime rates and should be avoided by travelers. The Grand Central Market and Little Tokyo are located in the center of the city, so it is recommended to visit during the day and avoid spending too much time on the streets at night. One of the recent popular tourist attractions, Watts Towers, is located in the Watts area, so please be careful if you intend to go there.
When driving in Los Angeles, if you are unable to avoid the high-crime areas listed above, please do not stay longer and minimize your nighttime activities. When parking near tourist attractions, it is recommended to choose parking lots that are supervised and monitored, such as shopping centers and hotels. Downtown, Hollywood, and Santa Monica all have public pay parking lots to choose from. Travelers should avoid parking in dark alleys and remote areas with few people in order to save money.
Common Crime Patterns in Los Angeles
- Knockout car theft: targeting unattended vehicles by breaking windows and stealing the contents.
- Scam: A common scam is to offer "free" bracelets or CDs to passers-by and then ask for money.
- Pickpockets: These are likely to occur in crowded places. In some cases, they use charity fundraisers to attract the attention of tourists, and then their accomplices take advantage of the situation to steal cell phones or wallets.
The most common security problems visitors encounter in Los Angeles include car thefts, scams, and pickpocketing, especially in parking lots, popular tourist areas, and near mass transit stations. When approached by suspected scammers or strangers, just say no and move on. Violent crime is common in Los Angeles, but gang activity is usually limited to specific areas, and tourists are less likely to be affected as long as they stay out of dangerous areas.
The safest way to rent a car and drive in Los Angeles!
Renting a car in Los Angeles offers a higher level of safety than taking public transportation. Although the subway and buses cover major sightseeing spots and have low fares, some stations (such as Downtown and South LA) and bus routes are not safe, especially during the late-night hours, and are prone to gatherings of hobos or outlaws, which adds a lot of risks to the travelers' trips. Self-driving not only makes the trip more flexible, but also avoids waiting for transportation in unfamiliar environments for a long time, or getting lost or taking the wrong bus and being stranded in areas with poor security.
A Three-Step Guide to Driving Safety in Los Angeles
Step 1: Choose a Safe Parking Location
As I mentioned earlier, the most common security problem in Los Angeles is "car thieves" who take advantage of unattended cars to steal quickly, so it is very important to choose a safe place to park your car. Park in a parking lot that is managed by a person, such as a parking lot attached to a hotel or a paid parking lot. Whenever possible, choose a location where there are lights nearby, other cars, no broken glass on the ground, and preferably a location with a surveillance camera.
Most importantly -- don't leave anything in the car, even if it's a worthless umbrella, water bottle, or a gift, anything in the car can easily become a target for thieves. In addition, do not cover the windows with cardboard or black cloth, which will make thieves feel that there is something valuable inside the car, making it an easier target.
Step 2｜Find out the route in advance
Before you leave, you should know the route to your destination, including which highways you will take, what areas you will pass through, and whether you will have to pass through toll roads, etc. If you will pass through areas with poor law and order as mentioned above, you can plan to change the route or pass through without stopping as soon as possible.
Step 3｜Driving Safety
Traffic in Los Angeles is notoriously busy, especially during rush hour, so it's important to follow the rules of the road, such as don't drink and drive, don't play with your cell phone, and always pause at a stop sign. There are also some other tacit agreements that American drivers have on the road, such as not blaring their horns indiscriminately, letting the first arriving car go first at intersections, and yielding to cars traveling straight ahead, and so on. When traffic is heavy, it is advisable to follow the speed of the surrounding vehicles, not too fast or too slow, to avoid accidents.
For more information, please refer to the car rental guideTraffic Rules ParagraphIf you know enough, you will be able to handle the situation calmly on the road.
What if something does happen in Los Angeles?
Car windows broken, car contents stolen.
Even if you have taken precautions, there is still a chance that you may be involved in a car theft accident. While you are frustrated and panicked, remember to call 911 and take pictures or video of the car and its surroundings. At the same time, contact the rental car company to inform them of the situation and confirm what to do.Affordable Car RentalIt is up to the traveler to contact their insurance company, someRental Car Insurance Program"No" includes windows or windshields, which require special attention. If you rent a car from Sky Horse, we will take care of the repairs and insurance, and do our best to help keep your trip running smoothly.
Harassment or stalking
When you park your car, look for suspicious people around you or if the area is safe before unlocking the door and getting out of the car. If you see anyone who appears to be following you or harassing you as you walk back to your parking spot, ignore the situation, do not engage in a confrontation, and go into a public place or store quickly, avoiding walking or getting into your car alone. If you still feel you are in danger, call 911 or ask the store clerk for help. Do not look at or react to the behavior of passersby. If you encounter passersby who are asking for money, go around them and ignore them.
Forced or dangerous driving
If you are driving at a slower speed and are being forced by a rear-end vehicle, when you are on a single-lane road where overtaking is not permitted, give way to the side of the road when there is room to pause; on a multi-lane road, you can cut to the outside of the slow lane to allow the faster vehicle to pass. If the other party is maliciously forcing the car or obviously dangerous driving, has endangered the safety of passengers, try to stay away from the other party, do not get into a head-on confrontation, you can directly call 911 to report to the police, write down the other party's license plate, state, car payment, if there are other passengers can video record the dangerous driving situation.
Encountering a panhandler while stopped at a red light
Some people will wait at intersections or interchanges and approach every vehicle at a red light with signs and cups, demanding money from the driver. Remember to make sure your car doors are locked when you are on the road, and when the beggar approaches, don't be too nervous to move your car, don't lower the windows, don't react (or shake your head/hands with a blank expression), don't yell at them, don't honk your horn, and just wait for them to leave before you drive away.
Extended Reading:Wildfires, Snow, Floods... Six Emergencies to Handle While Driving
Although security in Los Angeles is not as good as that in Taiwan and other major Asian cities, which may make travelers feel uneasy and unaccustomed to such an environment, as long as they have a preliminary understanding of the security situation and possible problems, and are well-prepared and alert, avoiding high-risk areas and behaviors, short-term visitors generally will not encounter too many problems.
Finally, choosing a reputable and transparent car rental company can also help you. When you are traveling in a foreign country or on a business trip and encounter any kind of unexpected situation, you can have professional local people to help you deal with it, protect yourself and your belongings, and also be able to communicate in Chinese!Find out through LINEThe security situation of the travel area, driving knowledge, and if you encounter any problems during the trip, you can have zero-hour support, so that the journey is smooth and guaranteed, you just need to relax and enjoy the beauty of California!
