Los Angeles People Word Term Disaster Big Major

A "neologism" is a newly created word that has not yet been widely accepted or used, a word not found in a dictionary. Neologisms are often the result of some new event or activity, and sometimes are formed by changing or combining existing words. For example, the word "Armageddon" refers to the end of the world, as some people think is "depicted" (shown; described) in the last book of the Christian Bible. The term is more generally used now to mean a terrible disaster, bigger than anything previously seen.

That brings us to the neologism "Carmageddon," a combination of the words "car" and "Armageddon." So what is the Carmageddon? The term was used to describe something that happen in Los Angeles on July 16 and 17, 2011, when a 10-mile "stretch" (section of a road or highway) of one of the "major" (most important; busiest) freeways - Interstate 405 -- was completely closed for more than two days for "construction" (building). Some experts predicted that this would be a big disaster, with people unable to move or travel "due to" (because of) all of the "traffic" (cars) that would be "diverted" (moved) to other streets and freeways. People expected large "traffic jams" (where cars are stopped or are moving very slowly) on all of the streets and roads. The 405 Freeway in Los Angeles "carries" (has on it) more than 280,000 cars per day.

It is important to understand that closing a freeway in Los Angeles is unlike a similar event in most other cities. Los Angeles has a '"car culture," where owning and driving a car is considered "essential" (necessary) for most people. Los Angeles does not have a good public system of transportation like other big cities in the U.S., such as New York or Chicago, so almost everyone drives.

People were told to stay home that weekend, not to try to drive anywhere unless it was an emergency. The warnings must have worked, because despite all of the predictions, there were no major problems. Perhaps because everyone expected major traffic jams, they stayed away from the 405 Freeway. Although Carmageddon did not turn out to be a big disaster, the term will always be associated with major traffic problems.