“I lived in L.A. for forty years, the freeway is rarely over 50”
You have to be kidding. I spent 15 years commuting between Newport Beach and El Monte on the 405, 605 and 10 Freeways. It was a 42 mile drive each way. I left my home at 6:30 AM and it took me 45 minutes from home to office which included a 5 mile leg of non-freeway roadways. Most cars were being driven at 70 to 75 mph or faster.
My trip home at 4:15 PM was slower due to bottlenecks on the 605 at the 5 and 405 crossovers. Still, I was home in just over an hour.
Point taken, I should have been more forgiving in my time frame....how long ago was your travel experience?