Since I got down here, I've been asking people "what's with the drivers down here?" and I always get "I know! isn't it horrible!". I got to thinking, everyone I talk to thinks all the other drivers on the road are aweful. So that leaves me with either I hang out with the group of perfect drivers, or everyone sucks, and they just don't know it.
I call myself a good driver, because I typically pay 100% of my attention to the road and the cars around me. I typically don't get angry if someone cuts me off, or forces their way in front of me. I often look in my rear-view mirror and move for cars behind me. I call myself a bad driver because I'm typically faster than most cars on the road (not very difficult out here, see below), and I enjoy a good challenging drive.
But here are the things that just drive me nuts! A few of them are:
- Driving 55mph in a 60mph zone
- Driving directly beside the car in the slow-lane and the carpool lane creating a moving blockade of 55mph
- Driving in the fast lane for no apparent reason, past the sign that says "Keep right, except to pass"
- What might actually bother me more is that the cops don't enforce this!
- Not looking in the rear-view mirror and moving over when someone comes up behind you
- When you pass someone, they speed up come up behind you and start flicking high-beams. Comon people I don't even know what that means!!!!
- Stopping very hard at a yellow light
- Actually only superseeded by slowing down at a green light until it goes yellow, then stopping very hard
- Using the bike lane or center lane as a great place to pull over with your flashers on to look at a map, or kiss your girlfriend... dude, just pull into the driveway!
- The lack of emmision controls. Every crummy car seems to have blue smoke coming out the back of it. Lovely..
- And last but not least, they give pretty much ANYONE a license. Personally, I think driving should be a priviledge, not a right. If you suck, no license for you, none of this 60% and you pass crap. I'm talking you need close to perfect, 90% or higher! *That's* how you fix congestion, not with extra lanes, or transportation systems
Maybe I am just a little bitter, and maybe you'll call me a complainer, but seriously people, learn to drive!