Missing pictures

So some of you may wonder, where are the pictures. Could you imagine if I was on the road taking pictures of all the stuff I write about...

I think that taking pictures while driving, or anything close would fit nicely into my "other things not to do in the car"

So, you won't ever see pictures of people cutting of driviers, or giving me the finger, or driving too slow in the carpool lane....

Speed Sandwich

So one time I was driving on the freeway, and I was driving behind this guy going pretty fast, and then behind me was this other guy keeping up to both of us... so I thought... I am in a speed sandwich! Now, this I figure is a pretty good place to be. If there was a cop sitting up on the road somewhere behind a tree or something, he would snag the guy in the front, right?! and if there was a cop on the freeway crusing up behind you, he would snag the guy in the back. He would be the first guy the cop would see. Leaving you (in the middle) to keep on going... Now if you get pulled over in the middle of one of my speed sandwiches, don't quote me on this theory... but try it sometime...

I'm so confused?!

Tell me the truth?!

Really... Tell me the truth! I pride myself on my good judgment, and my abilities as an assertive driver, but twice in the past two days I have been given the finger by other drivers.
Honestly, the first time I was getting onto the 23 fwy (one of my favorites =P) at Janns and this lady was in the slow lane. The fast lane coincidentally was empty, and she could have very easily moved over. So as I like to do, I was accelerating to traffic speed (as I do not like to drive 45mph on the fwy) and the lady was matching my speed, not moving over, not speeding up, not slowing down... she almost ran me off the road, and then gave me the finger.

The second time I was again getting on the fwy (and again because I like going faster than 45mph) I was getting up to speed, and I was coming up behind a tanker truck in the slow lane, so I got over behind another car. That car was coming up behind a slower car, so he got over.... does this sound finger worthy yet? Well I didn't want to be behind the slow car either, so I got over behind the same guy I was behind in the other lane. He picked up his speed (and rightly so, we were, after all, in the fast lane) and passed the slow car. He then swerved back through the #2 lane and half into the slow lane, and then back into the #2 lane.... so I thought "what a weirdo" again anything finger worthy? and then when I went to pass the guy (because I don't like to drive slow) there it was, the finger.

So I am asking you, tell me what you think and give me your honest opinion, does my driving warrant the finger?

Who's driving?

So... it has been a couple of days, and I have to say that I haven't seen any gross violations of my roadway rules (except maybe for the guy that was driving 35mph on the freeway) but when the freeway is wide open, as it was tonight, I could easily over look this one.

I was thinking however about spandex or leg warmers (try it yourself, you will be able to think of one) just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Can you see how this works with spandex, well it also works with the ever so elusive carpool lane. Just because you have two or more people in your car doesn't mean the carpool lane is the lane for you. Honestly... I was driving on the 210 fwy and there was this beat-up old van with no windows (you know what that means) and they were driving in the carpool lane. Any other day I wouldn't care, but they were probably only going 50mph.

The carpool lane is a hard call. If you go to fast, you could be stuck behind someone slow, and crazy enough the oposite is also true. If you are going too slow you might have someone riding your tail the whole time. And then you are stuck for a mile or so before you can leagally exit (in Cali at least, other states are more liberal with their carpool lanes). Enter at your own risk. But like I said before, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Try it for yourself.

The road to no where

So, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people block intersections, not only does it annoy your fellow drivers, but it is what causes grid lock. And then you could just kill me now.

Today I was driving over my favorite little bridge that also happens to be a freeway overpass and one of the only ways onto the freeway near my house, when someone getting off the freeway took the chance of pulling into the intersection with no where to go. Now it looked worse than it really was because he made it through the light before it turned red. But this is not always the case.

Now I realize that if you believe there is enough time between when you pull into the intersection and the light turning red, then you might just go and do it... But remember, if you get stuck in the intersection with no place to go, you are breaking the law. I know breaking traffic laws is the least of most of our worries, but really, do be kind to the rest of us. Is it really going to kill you to sit through one more light? And if it is then you should have called 911 to begin with and not bothered to drive yourself or someone else for medical attention. Honestly...

FYI

I have added some new links to some fun websites. The first is the California Dept of Transportation site where one can find real time traffic info, and highway conditions. Here are some goals of Caltrans:
- SAFETY -Provide the safest transportation system in the nation for users and workers
- RELIABILITY -Provide dependable travel times
-PERFORMANCE -Optimize transportation system throughput
-FLEXIBILITY-Provide mobility choices through strategic partnerships
- STEWARDSHIP -Preserve and enhance California’s resources and investments
- DELIVERY -Improve delivery of projects and services

The other is the California DMV site which I know will only be helpful to a handful of you, but there one might find answers to some interesting questions regarding traffic rules and ways to stay safe on the roads. You can also take their driving knowledge tutorial, or their Sample Written Driver License Test. Isn't learning fun!?

Trouble with traffic and men

There are some men out there ( and no doubt a few women) that have trouble committing. It has been my experience that sometimes the reason for traffic is that people can't commit. You think you have enough space in front of you to pass the car on your right (okay, or your left, I do it too) but at the very last minute you freak out, slam your brakes and cause everyone else (especially the tailgater) behind you to do the same. This my friends is what causes the rubber band effect so fondly referred to by our favorite TV traffic people.

My other theory on this matter is that people either don't know how to merge, or there is some @%*$# who won't let you in. Have you ever been stuck behind someone getting on the freeway (turnpike, highway, etc.) going 45mph? And then if this is not enough they think they can just pull into traffic going this slow. This again causes people to slam on their brakes, resulting in slowed traffic.

So please for the love of me, if people are trying to merge, is it going to kill you if one more person is in front of you? And really if you don't feel that you are capable of going at least the speed limit don't get on the freeway. There are other very comfortable roads to drive on.

Center turn lanes: suicide or the place to be?

Today, on my way home from our little local post office maybe 2 miles, I saw not once, but twice a car not utilizing the center turn lane A.K.A. the suicide lane. I can not tell you how frustrating this can be, especially when I did not have the personal opportunity to pull up behind the car and let them know of my frustration.

The center lane is not there to look pretty, it isn't there for flower pots, it serves a real and essential function. It allows cars to move out of the way of moving traffic while they wait to make their turn. Honestly...

Please do not neglect the center turn lane. Use it, embrace it, love it.

A New Hope

I decided, for reasons described below, that I would dedicate this blog to the proper etiquette of driving in Los Angeles, California (or any other city/state for that matter). If we all could go to our local DMV and read up, they have a wonderful little book to help. In the meantime...

At first I had grand plans for writing a book, but I never did anything and then it occurred to me that a book was a little too ambitious for me. So I thought that I could write articles, but still that seems like it would have to be pages long.... to much for me. So I thought I could write your average run of the mill essays. 1 page maybe 2, and I realize that might be a little excessive for this medium, so just a little here and a little there of my musings about driving and smoking crack ( which I am convinced is going on more than we would like to admit) and how not to do them at the same time.

I realize this may go out to more than my little neck of the woods, so some things might never make any sense, but bare with me. If I can persuade but one person to go the speed limit, or move to the right when someone obviously wants to pass, or to use the center turn lane, then I will feel as if I have done some service, however small it is.