Thoughts for the Day

DRIVE HOME RANT

I'm going to go on a mini rant here. Yesterday I drove home from Phoenix to Los Angeles. Now normally the drive takes 5-6 hours depending on how you drive right? Well today it took me about 7.5 hours. Let me back track for a second. Going there usually takes about 6 hours on a Fri night because of all the going-out-of-town traffic. This time we had a storm roll in causing the people of SoCal to forget how to drive for some reason. So it took me around 9 hours, over 3 of which was just to get out of LA itself. Crazy!! So coming home I figured there might be some traffic but not as much.

Backed-up Traffic

OMG was I wrong on all accounts. The I-10 was so backed up that it was literally was stop and go almost the whole way. Now anyone that has been on the 405 in Los Angeles knows what a parking lot it is in rush hour traffic. Well, this was worse. For one there are only two lanes on the I-10 between states. So that means there is no switching without some kind of problem. We were literally stopping and just sitting there. So after a while of going through that portion we finally started moving. YEAH! So here are my gripes.

Signs

Drivers! WTH! Is it that difficult to read signs? Is it that hard to know what is going on around you? I mean last time I checked, and correct me if I'm wrong on this but they put something in cars now a days, its attached to the windshield, its rectangular in shape and I believe you can see behind you with it right....oh yeah its called a rear view mirror!! Do people actually use it? I mean seriously do they use it? Because I know when I pass someone and look in my mirrors (rear view and side) I can see them looking in their rear view for like the first time, like they are thinking "oh there was someone behind me? Really I didn't know that" C'mon people, with common sense you should know that you are not the only ones on the road. Another thing; SIGNS they are posted along the sides of the highway. The one that people just don't seem to see at all is the one that says: SLOW VEHICLES STAY TO THE RIGHT or something to that effect! It seems EVERYONE, no matter who or what, except truckers, have to drive in the left lane, even if someone going faster then them is coming up and the right lane is empty? MOVE OVER! Is it that hard to obey the signs that they can't take 5-10 seconds, move over, and the when passed move back into the left lane if you have to drive in it? Is it that difficult?

Last Minute

Then you have the people that speed up at the last minute because they don't want to let you in. Hello your going slower and I'm having to pass you on the right (which is wrong in the first place) and then I'm moving over and your trying to speed up to keep me from moving in front of you?! Really?! Are you that messed up that you have to try and keep me out? 

Passing

Then there are the drivers that get in the left lane and just cruise along like there is nothing going on in the world. They are all alone. No one else is on the road with them. Yet they can't pass an 18-wheeler? Really, now I know in Arizona the trucks are allowed to go up to 75 mph so it might be difficult for them to pass but in California the trucks can't go past 55 mph legally. Now please tell me why a car cannot pass a big rig? What is so difficult about it? Why does a big rig have to cut over to the left lane, cutting everyone else off, slowing them down because someone can't drive the speed limit or a mile or two over it? Also if your going to pass an 18 wheeler, DO IT, don't just move beside it and take your time, there are other cars coming up that want to continue on, not put on their brakes to slow down and have to use more gas to speed up again later after that person finally decides to get past the truck. 

Follow the Rules

Ok, so here is the thing, if you are driving on the interstate or any freeway for that matter, if you are not passing people or going fast enough to keep others from passing you....STAY OUT OF THE LEFT LANE! Get in the right hand lane and stay there or when someone is coming up behind you in the left lane, move over so they can pass you by without having to switch lanes to do it. Remember your the one going slower. Sometimes I wish America would adopt European rules of driving. If your in the left lane and impede someone that is going faster or coming up behind you by not moving over, you get a ticket or worse you can lose your drivers license. So please people, have a little driving etiquette, its not to much to ask for. Thank you.