Notice of Road CLOSURE for "Every 15 Minutes" Event

Please be advised that on Thursday, March 23, from 10 AM until approximately 1:30 PM, Los Alamitos Boulevard will be closed between Cerritos Avenue and Wardlow Road for the "Every 15 Minutes" Presentation.  A helicopter will be landing on Los Alamitos Boulevard as part of the presentation.  See the attached press release for further details.

Be the Best Driver on a Rainy Day

Because the roads can be very slippery, you need to exercise caution in the rain.

Rain is a good thing: it helps water our plants, it can be fun to frolic in; but driving in it? That’s not so fun. In fact, it can be downright dangerous.

Why Is Rain So Dangerous to Drive In?

Rain actually causes your tires to lose traction—when the road gets wet, the water mixes with the dirt on the asphalt, making it harder for your tires to “hang on” to the road. Simply put, rain makes everything slippery, and puddles that form can lead to hydroplaning. Apart from what the precipitation does to the road and your car, the rain makes it difficult to see. We’ve all been there: you’re driving along and all of a sudden the downpour becomes so thick that it’s hard to see where you’re going.

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Plan for More Time on the Road

When it’s raining, even if it’s not that much, traffic tends to move slower (drivers in California are all too familiar with this). And though it may slow you down on your commute to school or work, this is a good thing: you should drive slower in the rain. Always give yourself plenty of time (this means allowing extra time) to get to your destination. Never rush when it’s raining heavily: accidents are even more likely when weather conditions are poor.

Be More Cautious with Braking

When you’re driving in a downpour, you simply cannot brake late the way you can in ideal weather conditions. The roads are slippery, which means you could slide more if you brake too quickly. There’s also a chance that you could get water in your brakes, which will cause them to lose their stopping power. You want to avoid slamming on your brakes—when it’s raining, you should brake with less force. So be sure to keep plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you to avoid any of these situations. As you may recall from Drivers Ed, the following distance in ideal conditions is three seconds—increase that distance to 4 seconds or more in the rain, depending on the situation.

Use Your Headlights

Even if it’s only lightly sprinkling, your headlights will help you see the road better. Plus, having your headlights on allows other drivers to see you. However, contrary to what you may think, using your high-beam headlights will actually make things worse: the light from the beams will reflect back at you off the water in the air, actually making it harder for you to see.

Do Not Use Cruise Control

While you may think having your car travel at a set speed when it’s raining is a good idea, cruise control can actually become problematic when it’s raining. If your car hydroplanes while you have your cruise control set, your car can actually accelerate—which is not something you want to happen when you’re hydroplaning. Having your foot away from the pedals can also be hazardous when you are driving in torrential rain.

Be Extra Careful After Long Dry Spells

If it’s raining hard after a long period of dryness, you need to be even more cautious on the road. Over time, engine oil and other substances build up on streets, and when rainwater gets added to the mix, a very slippery combination results. The first few hours of that initial rain are the most treacherous. Eventually, the rain washes away the buildup on the streets, but until then, be wary when driving anywhere.

Avoid Standing Water

Staying away from standing water (like large puddles) is the best-case scenario, but if you approach it on the roadway and must drive through it, be sure you slow down. If you don’t, you risk hydroplaning and losing control of your car. Plus, passing through deep water could spell trouble for your car’s engine and brakes.

Stay Off the Road If Possible

Of course, the best thing is to stay at home when there’s a rainstorm. Obviously this isn’t always possible, with school, work, and other obligations, but if you can stay off the road, do so. There’s no sense risking an accident if you don’t have to.

 

Reminder: Wings Wheels and Rotors Expo

The Wings Wheels and Rotors Expo at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos is going on now.  Expect additional traffic in the area, all day.  Please plan ahead and follow directions from either the electronic sign boards or the police and traffic personnel working in and around the event.  Have a safe visit and for more information visit www.wwrexpo.net.

Wings Wheels and Rotors Expo

Tomorrow, October 25th, is the Wings Wheels and Rotors Expo at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.  Expect additional traffic in the area, all day.  Please plan ahead and follow directions from either the electronic sign boards or the police and traffic personnel working in and around the event.  Have a safe visit and for more information visit www.wwrexpo.net.

4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

The 28th Annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is taking place on Saturday, July 4th at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. The cities of Los Alamitos, Cypress, Seal Beach, and the Community of Rossmoor collaborate to host this annual event to celebrate our Country’s Declaration of Independence. The event and fireworks display will take place on the runways of the military installation with a larger fireworks display this year.

Expect increased vehicle and pedestrian congestion in the area and on the streets surrounding the Joint Forces Training Base, as well as the streets entering and exiting the Base.  Give yourself extra time and do not be in a rush.

Have a safe celebration and enjoy the fireworks at the Spectacular, but please don’t bring the following:

No alcoholic beverages

No dogs (service dogs OK)

No fireworks

No BBQs

No motorhomes

For more information, check out this link:  4^th of July Fireworks Spectacular

4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

The 28th Annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is taking place on Saturday, July 4th at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. The cities of Los Alamitos, Cypress, Seal Beach, and the Community of Rossmoor collaborate to host this annual event to celebrate our Country’s Declaration of Independence. The event and fireworks display will take place on the runways of the military installation with a larger fireworks display this year.

Expect increased vehicle and pedestrian congestion in the area and on the streets surrounding the Joint Forces Training Base, as well as the streets entering and exiting the Base.  Give yourself extra time and do not be in a rush.

Have a safe celebration and enjoy the fireworks at the Spectacular, but please don’t bring the following:

No alcoholic beverages

No dogs (service dogs OK)

No fireworks

No BBQs

No motorhomes

For more information, check out this link:  4^th of July Fireworks Spectacular

Road Closure: Every 15 Minutes Special Event

Los Al Blvd, north of Cerritos Ave, closed TODAY from 10:30AM to 1:30PM.  Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.

Press Release

Every 15 Minutes: Road Closure Today

Los Al Blvd, north of Cerritos Ave, closed TODAY from 10:30AM to 1:30PM.  Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.

Special Event: April 16 Road Closure

Los Al Blvd at Cerritos Ave closed Thurs 4/16 from 10:30AM to 1:30PM.  Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.

Special Event: April 16 Road Closure

Los Al Blvd at Cerritos Ave closed Thurs 4/16 from 10:30AM to 1:30PM.  Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.

Special Event: April 16 Road Closure

Los Al Blvd at Cerritos Ave closed Thurs 4/16 from 10:30AM to 1:30PM.  Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.

Special Event: April 16 Road Closure

Los Alamitos Blvd. at Cerritos Ave. closed 4/16 from 10:30AM to 1:30PM.  Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.

Los Alamitos Blvd Closed on Thursday April 16 between 10:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. for Every 15 Minutes Program

For more information about the Every 15 Minutes program and its associated traffic impact, please read the Press Release HERE.

Los Alamitos Blvd to be Closed During Every 15 Minutes Program

For more information about the Every 15 Minutes program and its associated traffic impact, please read the Press Release HERE.

Wet Roads Reminder

As the storms pass through, please slow down and drive carefully when the roads are wet.  This includes when when it is raining and after the storms pass but the roads are still slick.  Increased stopping distances, flooding, diminished traction and visibility are driving challenges which can be remedied by decreasing your speed.

Planned Power Outage on Katella Avenue

Southern California Edison will be performing planned electrical maintenance to update infrastructure in the area of 3801 Katella Ave on Monday, August 4 between 2:00 AM and 5:30 AM.  Power may be off for the entire planned time or various portions.  The outage should not affect any residential customers. For complete information community members are encourage to visit www.sce.com/outage or call the SCE customer service line at 1 (800) 611-1911.

Traffic Hazard Advisory - Downed Power Pole

Los Alamitos police officers were called to St. Hedwig’s School at 8:16 AM this morning regarding a downed power pole that fell across the width of Orangewood.  A County of Orange contract construction crew working in the flood control channel immediately north of the school, may have inadvertently knocked the electrical pole down with its heavy equipment.  No children or school staff were injured as a result of the accident; however, one vehicle sustained moderate damage when the pole struck the rear hatch of the Acura SUV.  Firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority Station #2 and work crews from Southern California Edison responded to discharge the live wires and assess the damage.  St Hedwig’s and some residential homes adjacent to the school sustained a loss of electrical power; however, traffic signals remain operational on Los Alamitos Blvd.  No eta was provided for the restoration of power. 

Pedestrian Safety Resources - CA DMV

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian fatalities are on the rise. While every pedestrian is at risk, older adults and children have a higher likelihood of being injured or killed while traveling by foot, wheelchair or stroller.  To heighten the awareness of drivers, bicyclists and walkers alike, the following resources offer tips and advice for pedestrian safety and awareness.



CA DMV Tips and Resources

Sharing the Road with Bicycles and Motorcycles - CA DMV

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) promotes public safety by continuing its commitment to inspiring generations of safe bicyclists. In addition to bicycle safety, DMV also connects the bicycle community with the Caltrans Bike Program and a summary of Codes & Laws related to the operation of bicycles. Come join us in making California a safer place to ride your bike!

CA DMV Tips and Resources

RV Defensive Driving Techniques - CA DMV

The California DMV reminds us that defensive driving, especially with recreational vehicles, requires us to think ahead.  Check out this list of defensive driving techniques.

CA DMV Tips

@CA_DMV