Left Turns...

OK Gang.  Left turns seem to be one of the more dangerous options with LA drivers.

Case in point:  Last week I was on the boulevard in the far right lane.  My lane was clear, the light had just turned green and the two lanes next to me hadn't quite started moving yet.  That, in itself, is not unusual.  There was a large truck to my left, obstructing my view.  Again, not unusual.  Next thing I know there's a car in my lane - cutting in front of me to a driveway.  Thakfully I have good brakes and keep them in good repair.

If you're going to cut across 4 lanes of traffic in rush hour - please do so slowly.  We weren't quite at the intersection so it wasn't like he/she was coming through an intersection and was visible.  More likely - the other two lanes hadn't started moving yet so they cut in to get across.

I learned - about 10 years ago - not to leave room for left turns across lanes.  I used to leave a good car length between me and whomever was ahead.  this guy turned left into that opening.  He was in a  mid-sized sedan, I was in a 96 Explorer.  He got past me but didn't slow to make sure the lane was clear.  The lane next to me - like the one from last week - was clear and a car was coming down at about 25 MPH.  Needless to say she t-boned him and then her car ended up in my front end.  Being an EMT at the time I went to see if he or his passenger was injured.

This brings up another BIG pet peeve.  He spoke only Russian.  I don't care what language people speak at home, or shopping, or at dinner, etc.  BUT offering the drivers exam in 20+ languages is asking for trouble.  If someone cannot read well enough to learn the rules of the road how do we know they can read the traffic signs?

He was ok, but his passenger was slightly injured.  We had to wait for his son to come translate everything.  The poor woman who hit him refused to let his insurance cover her damages.  she was 86 and afraid of losing her license - despite the fact that he was ticketed for an improper left turn.

Finally, today I ran into another lovely type of driver.  I get this one nearly daily.  I'm going into an intersection to turn left, so is the person across from me.  My left turn happens just past theirs so I have to proceed forward first, then left.  I kid you not - every time I hit that intersection at least one left turning vehicle tries to beat me through.  Today the first one made it across.  the second one came to a very quick halt when she realized her silver Prius was probably not a match for my car.  She was almost halfway into her turn.  Is the left turn to Whole Foods such an emergency that you'd give your life for it?  Probably not ;)

Guest Blog - Tailgaters!

Today's post is a guest blog by Jen.by.14.   Thanks Jen for the post!

Recently, people with big trucks (or regular cars even but mostly trucks) have been tailgating other cars on a smooth freeway.

I can understand if the car before him is going like 60 mph on Lane 1. In 1 instance though, I decided to just pass the truck up from Lane 2, and then realized that this truck is high-beaming … and these lights are extra bright! Well, if I was the car in front of the truck, I would pull over, but since we’re in L.A. with nutty drivers, I’m guessing in that case, the driver was blinded first and didn’t know what was going on behind him. Now that I think about it a bit more, that truck should’ve just passed the slower car from Lane 2…

People are just greedy I guess - I came across this twice this week already.

STOP!

I live in an area with a large number of 4 way stop signs.  You can't go more than 2 blocks in any direction without running into one.  I've learned a few things over the years - at least once at a very painful cost.

People don't know the rules of a 4 way stop.

If you stop before anyone else, you go first.  This does not mean drive halfway through the intersection and then stop.  It's not a race - cheating to get ahead will only cause accidents.

If more than one vehicle stops at the same time there are more rules!  They don't include 'see who can get through first'.  It's not a game of 'duck, duck, goose', 'hot potato', or even 'simon says.'  I do have to admit that people often treat it like 'red light, green light'.

More often than not people blow the stop signs in our neighborhood.  The one at the top of the hill by our house is infamous.  I have to check and recheck before backing out to be sure no one is visibly showing up on any corner I can see.  There is one blind corner - people taking a right from the street above us rarely stop there.  More than once I've safely backed out - with no one behind me - and looked up a few seconds later to see someone right on my ass.

The worst are the ones who assume that there won't be anyone at the stop and just simply blow through.  I got hit by one of those a few years back.  She had no reason, never even hit the brakes.  Thankfully a witness stopped on my behalf.

That's my input for the day.

I wish you safe driving!

Land Rovers and more...

It was an interesting commute into the city this morning. Ventura Boulevard  was the start of my route - the 101 was packed all the way back to Calabassas.

Approaching Haskell Ave.  A black Land Rover suddenly jutted diagonally out in front of me at an odd angle.  I saw them and was able to stop but looked to see where they'd come from - and where they were going.  They had cut across 3 lanes - without a turn signal - to pull into McDonalds.  This was in a matter of maybe 15 seconds.  When they pulled in front of me their back end was still 2 lanes over!

I don't begrudge anyone their breakfast, coffee etc.  I am prone to the occasional junk food binge myself and absolutely must have my morning coffee (you don't want to meet me before I've had my first cup :) ).  Pulling across 3 lanes of bumper to bumper vehicles to get there is not something I'd consider - especially on a rainy day when people have a harder time coming to a sudden stop.

Once at the 405 I merged from the on-ramp to the lane closest on my left.  Folks were more patient than usual and did not speed up as soon as they saw my turn signal (that is the typical reaction to people who *do* use turn signals.)  I usually move over one more lane to the left because the original lane merged into is going to end within about a mile.  It was a pleasant surprise when a green Toyota van saw my signal and actually slowed to allow me in.  The courtesy impressed me :)

Shortly thereafter a white Chevy van pulled in front from my right - again no signal - and coninued to drift for another lane - still no signal.  It was a brand new panel van - no plates yet.  Let's hope they are able to keep it in one piece for now.

When the lane to my right finally ended a gray Honda Civic was on the shoulder still trying to get in front of everyone.  They cut off the guy in front of me, causing him to slam on his brakes.  This is why they tell you not to drive 6 inches from the next guy/gal's bumper ;)  Fortunately - I wasn't and his reaction time was good.

Yes, people are in a hurry.  Yes, some may have true emergencies.  But, if you end up in an accident you're not going to get there any faster - and maybe not at all.

OMG!

When I moved to L.A. I got the shock of my life.  People here cannot drive in inclement weather.

Considering that a good portion of us moved here from other states or areas you'd think we'd remember how!  Yes, yes, the pavement gets oily here and the wet brings it up.  Still, the concepts of driving the speed that weather allows, how to avoid hydroplaning and more seem to elude us.

The OMG title to this post is a response to the local traffic site - there are well over 100 traffic incidents logged at the moment.  This is the first real rain we've had since the Spring.  Coincidence - I think not.

The Mad Driver

If you live in, or travel through large cities you know the frustration of driving in massive traffic.

Here in Los Angeles we have freeways that are often 6 lanes across, congested main thoroughfares on the street level, and LOTS of people with absolutely no common sense.

So, just for the record:

Turn signals are NOT optional equipment.

Hang up and drive - please.  If you can't do that at least use hands free calling.

Texting and driving do not count as multi-tasking - unless you count texting and dying.

Cutting across three lanes in five seconds to make a right-hand turn (because you had no foresight) can create a bigger delay than if you simply went around the block.

Green means GO - do not stop at a green light because you 'think' it might turn.


There is so much more out there, so, I decided to blog my daily driving anecdotes.

I am, by no means, a perfect driver.  I don't think they exist.  However, I do try to remain courteous and as safe as possible.

Some of the anecdotes I share will make you smile, some will definitely make you cringe.  Either way I hope that it brightens someone else's day to see that they are not alone.  And maybe, just maybe, someone will recognize themselves and change just a little to make driving safer for everyone.