I have several friends who used to live in Los Angeles but have moved elsewhere because they couldn’t stand the traffic. For New Yorkers, that is difficult to understand. We are one big traffic jam.

The advantage in New York is that you can abandon your auto and walk the rest of the way. Not so fast in LA. It’s just too big.

After three decades of research, LA is getting a new traffic control system. The Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control department is going to synchronize 4,500 traffic signals across the city. By synchronizing traffic signals, LA commuters will spend less time waiting and less time polluting.

In order to make this work, video cameras have been installed everywhere to watch the traffic flow. Be sure not to pick your nose when you are driving alone. Big brother is watching you.