Hollywood is so much more than its film studios and tourist spots. Every day, Hollywood’s residents and workers share their roads with commuters, travelers, and explorers, as well as shipping and commercial traffic. These bustling streets are the clogged arteries of one of California’s most beloved hearts, and a case study of the infrastructure problems that may be driving California’s population exodus. No Hollywood resident wants to end their day trapped in traffic, or even worse, in need of the help of a truck accident lawyer.
What does it take to stay safe in one of America’s most famous neighborhoods?
Keeping Drivers Aware and Empowered
The first line of defense for Hollywood is the same as it is anywhere: comprehensive driver training. This is most important for the professional drivers of large trucks, but also true for the day-to-day commuters and travelers who share the road with them. Just as important as basic road rules are strategies to anticipate hazards and make defensive decisions, like keeping a safe distance and staying out of the significant blind spots of trucks and shipping vehicles.
With how busy Hollywood is, it is important to always remain aware and careful. Advanced driving training, preparedness, and forethought can significantly reduce the risk of accidents, both on a personal level and as a population.
Imagining New Infrastructure Solutions
Hollywood’s streets were designed for a different age, before the clamor and glamor of the stars, before the dense population and tourism. Now heavy vehicles are essential to the entertainment industry and local businesses that have put Hollywood on the map. It’s created busy roadways that serve as a daily challenge for truck drivers.
Blind spots, tight corners, and one-ways can be tricky for even the most well-trained drivers to navigate. While some work has already been done, and more is ongoing (you know that road construction never stops!), urban planners and city officials are constantly working to make roads safer places.
Even the most skilled drivers need safe roads to put their skills to use. This means roads that are often designed with wider lanes, and with dedicated truck routes for vehicles passing through or for places where businesses frequently need shipping. These pair well with designated loading zones to get the trucks out of traffic, instead of the accepted norm of trucks idling and workers loading and unloading in traffic.
More modern solutions can include smart traffic management systems to keep vehicles moving and minimize unnecessary stops. Then there’s also the growing idea of the “walkable city” where enhanced pedestrian and cyclist routes lead to having fewer vehicles on the road in the first place.
Staying Safety-Minded in Hollywood
The public should stay aware of the dangers that large trucks and traffic present, as well as specific problem points and what accidents look like. With a clear image of how these accidents occur, everyone will be more able to avoid them.
The most challenging change, and perhaps the most meaningful, would be to create an environment of mutual respect and care on the road. Everyone has a place they need to be, a route they have to take, and a reason to be in a hurry. By doing the hard work of helping one another get to their destinations safely, through respectfully sharing the road and being careful of one another’s needs, the drivers and truckers of Hollywood can seriously improve the safety of their roads.