Is Los Angeles that dangerous? (Compton, Santa Monica: renting, hotel, neighborhoods)

[David-Iceland]

Hey, I was wondering.. Me, my dad and my brother are travelling to LA this summer. We are renting a convertible for our trip. Well, the problem is that there is only one passenger seat in the front like you might know, so me and my brother will have to switch every once in a time, the bad thing is my dad thinks LA is too dangerous too have the convertible open. He says .. if we are in a city we must close the car, now here comes my question.. is it safe enough in LA so we can have our car open? I´m not talking about the doors... if you havent noticed

[morefromcali]

Hi David,

Lots of people drive in LA with their convertables open. Unless you are going through a really bad part of town I wouldn't think twice at all. I'm sorry that your dad feels like it's that dangerous!

[Imperial1904]

Well, L.A. is actually the 2nd safest big city in America, if you can believe it.

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by Imperial1904

Well, L.A. is actually the 2nd safest big city in America, if you can believe it.

Data? .

[SEAandATL]

Here's an article from the L.A. Times that talks about how the homicide rate dropped countywide this year. Basically, L.A. is much safer today than it was c. 1992, but the safest year in L.A. was 1999. 2007 may be a new low for crime, but we'll just have to wait and see.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/homi...ny_homici.html

[puffle]

Originally Posted by David-Iceland

Hey, I was wondering.. Me, my dad and my brother are travelling to LA this summer. We are renting a convertible for our trip. Well, the problem is that there is only one passenger seat in the front like you might know, so me and my brother will have to switch every once in a time, the bad thing is my dad thinks LA is too dangerous too have the convertible open. He says .. if we are in a city we must close the car, now here comes my question.. is it safe enough in LA so we can have our car open? I´m not talking about the doors... if you havent noticed

The only discomfort you will feel on your drive through L.A. will be the heat and being squished. I have a feeling, as tourists, you wouldn't be interested in going to Compton or other known areas that are dangerous. If you are sticking to the usual areas of interest to visitors you will be just fine. What areas are you interested in visiting, by the way?

[artichoke63]

Originally Posted by David-Iceland

Hey, I was wondering.. Me, my dad and my brother are travelling to LA this summer. We are renting a convertible for our trip. Well, the problem is that there is only one passenger seat in the front like you might know, so me and my brother will have to switch every once in a time, the bad thing is my dad thinks LA is too dangerous too have the convertible open. He says .. if we are in a city we must close the car, now here comes my question.. is it safe enough in LA so we can have our car open? I´m not talking about the doors... if you havent noticed

David,

I wouldn't fret over it. Let you Dad think what he likes. When he gets to Los Angeles, he can see for himself that most areas are pretty safe and will probably end up putting the top down on the convertible all on his own. I wouldn't argue with him. Just say, "Okay, Dad." And keep your mouth shut. And then when he's driving through Santa Monica and puts the top down, you can say something like, "I don't know, Dad. I'm feeling a bit nervous." Just remember to wear hats and sun screen. The sun is strong here and you can get burnt !!!!

Enjoy your trip!

Artie

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by JackSparrow

Data? .

Not really data, but articles.

http://www.la4beginners.com/blog/ (broken link)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont..._1n3crime.html
(.PDF file pop up)
http://www.lapdonline.org/inside_the...pdf_view/23915

[redhd7]

You can drive through LA with the top down, but there are areas that you might want your top up. Downtown, hollywood etc are ok, Watts and other places not so good, and do watch out for a police chase. It doesn't happen often but if it does, then make sure you just pull over and let is pass safely!LOL LA is not that bad. Some neighborhoods are,like anywhere. I have lived close to LA and traveled into LA all my life. During the day your fine, at night be more careful. Just use common sense and you will be just fine. Near the beaches, you'll be good, it isn't that dangerous out here. I live in a bad neighborhood and after 5 years nothing has happened to us (knock on wood) even though there has been shootings in our vicinity. When you are driving around you can tell what kind of neighborhood your in.

[David-Iceland]

Thank you all for that information, well.. we have a hotel in Santa Monica so we will be driving a lot in that area, we havent planned our trip that much so I cant tell you exactly where we are going.