>I can say that a fifteen minute difference at the start can turn into a 60 minute difference at the end. Southern California is the only place I know where people plan their driving. *g*

Up here too. Here is some interesting facts about Vancouver driving.
- only 1 freeway leaving town in one direction (not through town)
- mostly two lanes in each direction
- freeway doesn't start until outside of the city boundaries
- to leave town you must cross a bridge, a border or take a ferry
- a 15 minute drive at 9pm on a weekday can turn into a 1.5 hour crawl on friday afternoon in the summer

I have friends who call the freeway, "the parking lot".