"DRIVING ETIQUETTE PART2"

1) MOVING ROADBLOCKS: Is it too much to ask, if you're driving slower than other drivers, that you stay to the right? I mean what the hell? Do you get a charge on pissing people off? Are you clueless? Do you not notice other drivers having to change lanes in order to go around you? Don't you get that this creates a hazard to all? I suggest if you honestly don't notice this, Maybe you should be restricted to bicycles and public transportation. It's a simple concept, if you're driving slower than the flow of traffic, STAY TO THE RIGHT!! Better still, try city streets. 2) TAILGATERS: On the other hand, if I'm keeping up with the majority of traffic and you decide to come speeding up and ride my ass, expect the same courtesy returned to you. No, I won't get out of your way. You may go around. I don't excuse or condone A$$hole behavior. So as a warning to all the tailgaters out there, I will not be intimidated into going faster. Chances are, I'm driving above the speed limit as it is. I'm glad to move over for the occasional courteous fellow driver. However, come flying up behind me and ride my ass, I may break for you! 3) BASS FOOLS: You know who you are. Your car resembles a concert hall. The bass from your system can be felt for blocks. Many times the noise coming from the stereo is full of obscenities, derogatory statements about women, doing crime, etc... I have news for you, we don't all appreciate your choice of music! The bass hurts my freaking head so much, I'd rather have a Migraine! And that rap crap is nothing but obnoxious noise to me. This is America and you're entitled to like/listen to any noise you like. However, you aren't entitled to force it on the people around you. How'd you like to be forced to listen to Opera or Classical against your will? You're not alone on this planet. A little courtesy goes a long way! If each one of us had just a little bit more respect, life could be that much sweeter. 4) SCREW UPS: We all screw up. Miss our turn, get in the wrong lane, etc... However, not all of us are so self centered that our screw up becomes everyone else's problem! If you make an occasional mistake, please, by all means take whatever corrective steps needed in order to put yourself back on course. Please do it in a way that doesn't cause problems for others! We've all seen this. The driver who holds up the flow of traffic because they're in the wrong lane. Or, the driver that blocks traffic in order to u turn... Basically, don't be a pain in the ass to society and it will be a nicer society for all! Have a Great Day! Be Safe!

"DRIVING ETIQUETTE PART1"

Wow it's been a long time since my last post! One of my resolutions is to start working on this blog! If you happen to drive on California freeways, I'm sure you'll agree, there's plenty to write! Lol! Unfortunately there is no class on driving etiquette so I've decided to tackle the topic here. Let's begin with a statement I think we can all agree on, "My destination is my priority. Other drivers destinations aren't" However, I do want us all to arrive safely! An added bonus would be arriving with less stress. Some basic driving manners, I believe, could help. So I've come up with a list of actions and behaviors we can all practice. Imagine if even 50% made a change, we all benefit in the positive. So in no particular order; 1)TURN SIGNALS: I have caught myself getting lazy at times re: signaling. When it's obvious that I'm turning right or left, often times, I don't bother using it. Trouble is, after a few turns like that, a bad habit starts. That's why I've resolved to signal regardless. I'd rather over signal than be a pain in the ass driver! Here's just one scenario, you're making a left onto a busy street, a car is approaching from that direction, you patiently wait for it to pass, last second the driver makes a left onto your street! Jackass! Also, I'm more inclined to allow a driver to cut in when they signal. Shows manners. Most of all, by using the turn signal, when other drivers know what you're planning, they're less likely to hit your vehicle. After all, I doubt there are any mind readers out there. So let's all plan to signal more. 2)PARKING LOT BLOCKERS: Listen up douchebags! If you're shopping during peak hours, don't add to the extra stress by blocking the parking row so you can get a few feet closer to the door! A little bit of walking won't hurt you. From what I've seen people who make this a habit could benefit from a little exercise. So remember, instead of showing yourself to be a selfish piece of crap adding stress to people around you, walk yourself to better health. We'll all benefit through reduced stress at the store, bonus exercise, less temptation of ripping someone's head off and shoving it up their backsides! 3)CIGARETTES AND TRASH: I'm a smoker I freely admit it. However, there is one thing absolutely no one would ever see me doing, that's throwing a lit finished cigarette out a window! NEVER! First of all, I remember well the wildfires of 2003 and 2007. Even before those events, it doesn't take a college degree to understand that a lit cigarette is dangerous and a potential fire starter. Improper disposal by throwing one out of a car IMO is criminal! If you smoke and make a habit of tossing your butts, think about this. You toss your butt out the window. The breeze of the freeway pulls it to the car behind you. It's blown into an open window, lands on a child or a baby and burns them. That's not okay! Or during the dry season, it lands on a dried patch of weeds and starts a fire. Do you know how quickly fires get out of control in this state? As for tossing trash out of your car. Litterbugs SUCK and they're pigs! There's a reason God made trash cans! There's no excuse for acting like pigs! There's no excuse for littering. EVER! All it does is create an ugly, dirty environment. Hold on to your trash for proper disposal. Let's teach our children to respect the world. It will be theirs one day. 4)LAST MINUTE CUT OVERS/OFFS: IMO while driving you plan ahead. The route, travel time,etc... One would think this would include entering and exiting the freeway. However, there always seems to be one. For one reason or another, this driver waits till the last possible second to jump across lanes of traffic to make the exit. Although, it's not nice, I admit I'll mess up this driver whenever I safely can. Usually this amounts to maintaining the same speed in the lane next to them until we pass the exit. I know 2 wrongs don't make a right. Sometimes I can't rise above my naughty side :) Well that's all for now. This will be continued in the near future. :)

"MOVING BILLBOARDS"

Some of us share our causes, opinions, political favorites within our family/ close friend groups. Others, myself included, aren't so shy. During the Dubya decline, I'm pretty sure anyone looking at my cars backside, knew where I stood! I think of it as my free billboard space. During a stressful commute, bumper stickers make for some free reading material aka minor distraction. How else might you learn at a glance; Who is a proud parent? Who's against civil rights equality for all? Who displays not only the number of their children but, their names and ages for the peodophiles? Who loves a certain breed of dog? Who attended what college? You get my point. I also enjoy reading the clever little license plate holders some include. My two comments/opinions on these at the end). I say express yourself. This way, the perverts know the number of kids as well as, their names. We'll be able to spot the close minded bigots from the distance. You may actually bring something worthwhile to someone's attention. Or, change a closed mind. Even if not, I'm out here and I'm reading! Okay re: plate holders, one that makes me gag every time are princess comments! If you're old enough to drive, you're beyond princess stage! Get over yourself! Two, why do the majority keep the dealer's ad on the car? Which is what the plate holder is. Do you benefit by providing free advertising? I've always just been mildly curious about that. Be safe all!

"IGNORANT OR JUST PLAIN AS$HOLE?"

I suspect unfortunately most times it's the second choice. Seems our vehicles provide a sense of anonymity that many times brings out the worst in us! After all, I think the majority wouldn't act so blatant in face to face interactions. For example, I've never been at the grocery store and seen someone just cut a person off in line. Something I've seen hundreds if not thousands of times while driving. For instance, drivers I call "merger maggots". Two lanes are merging, easy and simple in theory. Car A, car B, repeat. Until an as$hole human gets in the mix. Situations A: cars entering the freeway,"wait my turn? No way, I'm special! I'll cross the solid line and screw the process up for every driver around me, disrupt the flow of traffic. Who cares if they have the right of way?" Situation B: 3 or 4 signs warning drivers the lane is closed ahead, merge left or right. Sure enough here come the maggots, waiting till the last possible moment! "Screw the drivers they've just cut off! As long as they got that few extra feet. I tell you, there are times I can understand what causes freeway shootings. I don't condone it but, I can understand. I sometimes pretend the button of my emergency brake is a rocket launcher! Lol! It helps, sometimes. Then we have the turtles. The turtle drives 50-55 usually in the #3 lane which I don't have a problem with. I prefer the #1 or 2 myself. However, just the other day I had just entered the freeway, while working my way over, I was behind a turtle for a couple of minutes. Which was fine, I had one more lane change. My signals on, all clear, suddenly with no warning, the freaking turtle jumps the lane! Maintaining his speed! WTH?? So I jump into #1 in order to get away from this moving traffic barrier. I also blasted him and his car into dust! I mean really people, are you scared to keep up with the flow of traffic? That's okay, there's a solution, CITY STREETS! If you must use the freeway, stay to the right! Simple enough! Last but not least, lane leapers! My ex and I were on the freeway one night. Fairly moderate traffic. Things were flowing but, there were lots of cars. Traveling in the #3 lane which he prefers. To the right, cars are entering and exiting the freeway. To the left, fast approaching is a Mustang, leaping back and forth between lanes 1 and 2. Just as he came up parallel to us, he hit(or was hit)a vehicle in lane #2. The impact spun his car out and across four lanes of traffic, where it slammed into a compact that had just come onto the freeway! The poor driver, minding his own business, just trying to get up to freeway speed! In just seconds, his car was wrecked! Luckily, my ex had noticed this fool and was able to slow down enough that we weren't caught up in the crash. The Mustang was less than 100 yards away as it paseed right in front of our truck! I certainly prayed the guy in the compact walked away without any injuries that night. Aside from his car that is. I'm pretty sure his car was done. All because some As$hole was driving too fast in moderate conditions, cutting lanes and other cars!

"RUBBER NECKERS AKA LOOKIE LOOS"

What the hell is it about accidents or cops pulled over on the freeway, that makes many drivers hit the brakes? When I pass an accident scene, I pray that all involved are alive. That they will be okay. I NEVER slow down to look! To all the nosy drivers, GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY! I wish they'd pull over and take a picture! To every busybody driver out there, either keep moving or pull over! Stop being a pain in the ass for other drivers like myself. I couldn't possibly be the only driver on the freeway who doesn't want to gawk at the misfortune of others? The commute is stressful enough! So, let's review, next time you see an accident scene, and you must know what's up? Pull over to the side, take pictures, offer to help. Just be sure to get out of the flow of traffic. Otherwise, maybe one day I'll be in the car behind you and I'll ram your trunk up your Ass!

"BRAKE LIGHT BINGO"

For nearly 10 years my commute for work was 48 miles round trip. Depending on factors such as; time of day/year, tourists in town, holidays, accidents, navy ships coming/going, etc... My commute ran anywhere from 30-60 mins. I realized early on that moving slowly is much, much better than continual stop and go. One afternoon while becoming almost hypnotized from the sea of red lights in front of me, I came up with a game. I call this game,"Brake Light Bingo". While traffic is moving, I allow a gap of approx. 100 yards(give or take)to open between my car and the one in front of me. It's inevitable that in a short while the reds will begin to blink on. In CA. there's never a shortage of drivers willing to ride your butt! Anyways, at this point I ease up on the gas into slow cruise mode. If it's done correctly, I don't use my brake, therefore I get a point! Weird, dorky, dumb? Maybe. Just a harmless activity I came up with to help me stay sane, pass the time, and to keep myself from ramming other cars as if it was demolition derby time on the freeway!(Just kidding. Maybe) Anyways, at first I tried for a low score of 5. As time passed I would aim higher. Overtime, it was a distraction. Most important, I never became a freeway sniper! Except in my imagination! Lol! Overall, I know my gas milage, brakes, overall wear and tear on the car was for the better. Most important, so was my mood once I finally arrived home!