30% more cars in the last 20 years, 2% more road capacity, the math just doesn't work. We can blame corrupt politicians early on *Cough*PatandJerryBrown*cough* stealing from the highway fund to line their own pockets and fund entitlements. The SoCal freeway system was supposed to have about 50% more infrastructure, but the money was pilfered before it could be built. So here we are, too many cars and not enough road. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Born and raised in Orange County, moved out to Inland Empire four years ago after we got married. The traffic in southern California is soul-sucking. It really is so bad it can change who you are as a person and color your perception of reality if you are forced to sit in it for hours, day in day out. Having lived here for all my life, its hard to say this... actually, its easy: I hate this place's guts. So Cal is the WORST. The people are awful, the laws are awful, the weather is terrible (unless you can afford the $2 million mansion right on the coast, you likely live where its hot as hell for 9 months out of the year), prices are profane, and the TRAFFIC IS INSANE. I am trying to convince my wife to move to Denver. I can't wait to put this place in my dust and never look back. Until then... please for the love of God, Mr. Elon Musk, give me an affordable self-driving car. I don't care if there's a 1% risk every time I go out on the freeway I die a fiery death, anything is better than this.