Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In

Whether you're transportation geek or just curious about the psychology and behavior of drivers, Tom Vanderbilt's book "Traffic: Why We Drive The Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)" is one of the most fascinating books you can pick up.

Tom was kind enough to drop by the Streetfilms office for an hour conversation with OpenPlans
founder Mark Gorton about his vast research into the world of car &
driver. The chat - which we think we've edited down to an entertaining
ten minutes -  covered topics as diverse as an Invisible Gorilla to intense DriveCam footage of automobile crashes to H.W. Heinrich's Industrial Accident Pyramid.  From texting to noise-canceling technology, you'll enter a world of the driver you aren't often accustomed to.

Tom also writes a very popular blog How We Drive.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

They Came to Mourn. LAPD Came in Force. Now Two Men Could Face Serious Consequences Because LAPD Won’t Acknowledge They Were Wrong.

The July 7 vigil for Kenny Hall had been peaceful until LAPD arrived and began pushing people around. When peacemaker Shamond "Lil AD" Bennett tried to intervene and de-escalate LAPD, officer Evan Mott assaulted him. When Dontreal Washington protested, officers punched him in the face. Then LAPD arrested them both.

December 18, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines

ICE, crosswalks, LB & Glendale speed cameras, LAPD, bike lanes, Councilmember Lee, Tesla, car-nage, and more

December 18, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines

ICE, LAX traffic, Section 8, 110 Freeway, Santa Monica, TOD, Echo Park, car-nage and more

December 17, 2025

SGV Hikes and Bikes – Hacienda Hills

Steep, green, quiet, and foggy. Plus, it has an ADA trail.

December 16, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines

National Guard, Long Beach speed cameras, Camino City Terrace, Ktown, Wilshire/Crenshaw, Santa Monica, parking, car-nage, and more

December 16, 2025
See all posts