Why can't California drivers get in a lane on the freeway and stay in it?

[KitchenWitch]

:hide:


:popcorn:

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Like my cousin used to say, "I paid for both sides of the road"

:rofl:

[KitchenWitch]

4. Seriesssly!

:rofl:

[Sanity Claws]

2. Because poor outofstate drivers are blocking them in their lanes

and they have to go around these drivers who act as though they're on vacation.

[huskerlaw]

7. AMEN!

Most of the time when I'm forced to be a lane changer, it's because the moron in front of me has a license plate cover that says "My other car is from Enterprise."

Your OTHER car, my ass. Learn how to drive or get the hell off my freeway.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear KitchenWitch!

But you know that just makes too much sense!

:rofl:

[KitchenWitch]

5. I guess some folks like to live on the edge

zipping in and out of lanes is incredibly unsafe sometimes.

[Zomby Woof]

6. I am just trying...

to keep those Minnesota drivers off my butt. ;-)

[KitchenWitch]

9. By Minnesota standards, I am a fast driver

But man, I go 80 on the freeway sometimes and am still passed by people going 100!

:scared:

[Zomby Woof]

11. Of course I was only kidding about MN

I have lived in 4 states since being of driving age, and have adopted various habits from each (good and bad) - I do not however, share CA drivers' penchant for "me first, I am speeding up on the shoulder and cutting in front of you so I can get in this jam two or three car lengths ahead of you!"

Sometimes, when I know my exit is imminent, and I just never had an opportunity to slide over, I HAVE to do the dart-in-front-of-you thing and hope for the best. It's not rudeness, it's life in L.A., lol. That would be my main concession to local driving habits.

You're in Orange county, which I have driven in quite a few times, but not as versed in its ways as L.A. county. They probably overlap 99% though.

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. Because everyone in California is the only person in existence.

And thus may drive anywhere they want when they want to do so.

I tend to allow people to merge, as a form of culture jamming. The pie-plate eyes of amazement are worth the effort.

[Shell Beau]

10. We all know Californians can't drive! Duh!!

:spank:



:P Kidding of course!! Never even been there!! ;)

[Zomby Woof]

13. ha!

I have always found in my travels that people are quicker to judge places they haven't been than places they have.

Recently, while touring the Rocky Mountain regions of Wyoming and Montana, many midwestern/east coast folks (I knew by their license plates) asked us where we're from.

"Los Angeles".

Followed by an awkward silence. :D

Surest way to kill a conversation with an annoying tourist (when you're the other tourist) is to say you're from L.A, we found out. They either stereotype us as phony Hollywood people, or are wondering why we're not Mexican. :eyes: They sure fell silent quickly when I mentioned the dreaded Gomorrah of the west coast itself (San Francisco being Sodom I guess).

But as you know from DU, you get awful stereotypes about southerners and Mississippi. :hi:

[Shell Beau]

14. Yep! It does suck!

You know I never think anything negative about CA. Now New York drivers are a different story! And I have been there.

I am really still kidding. It is just a lot more packed on the roads in NY and I am sure LA from what I am used to!


:hi:

[XemaSab]

15. I spent three months in south Carolina and when I told people I was from California

I would always, always get the same nonplussed stare followed by "California?!? What are you doing HERE?!?!?!"

[Zomby Woof]

16. excellent

The response definitely varies. I only got one kind on our recent travels. Guess I'll keep trying then. I kind of liked not having to engage in mind-numbing conversation with some of the people we encountered. The guy in the t-shirt which read "God Family Country - Back To Basics" scared the bejebus out of me, lol.

[petronius]

31. Actually, I think Californians tend to be pretty good drivers,

compared to other places I've been. Two caveats: first, I'm biased, and second, Californian driving skills completely evaporate when there is rain or snow involved. That said, the great thing about CA drivers is that they're predictable - if a lane is moving 1 mph faster than the other, the Californian will change lanes. If there's a car-sized gap in front of you, the Californian will jump in. If there is any question at all about who has the right of way, the Californian will hit the gas. And so on...

[Kajsa]

12. Hi Kitchy! We've got our zippers and weavers

who will tailgate anyone. Sometimes I wave and smile at them
in the rear view mirror.:evilgrin:

Then we have our 'don't know where I'm going, don't care who I'm blocking,
I'm gonna cause an accident going 35 on the 405' drivers.

CA has a very diverse population.

:rofl:

[lligrd]

17. Because We Are Still Trying To Find The Fast Lane

If you have found it, please let me know where it is.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

18. They sound like Massachusetts people.

Constantly playing all three lanes on the Maine Turnpike. (And yes, I know that CA has freeways with like 6 lanes in each direction, but three lanes is a BIG DEAL in Maine. :D)

Don't work that way up here, MASSHOLES.

:P

[EFerrari]

19. It's worse than that. They don't want to be behind you

OR in front of you.

They want to be where YOU are. :scared:

[billyskank]

32. They never heard of superposition

"Back off asshole, I'm occupying this quantum state!" ;)

[Initech]

20. Because the lane you're in is the one that never moves, that's why.

:popcorn:

[KitchenWitch]

24. Ah, So I gotta adjust my perspective...interesting!

:P

[Kajsa]

30. Hi EOO!

Angels in da playoffs--Again!

:applause: let's go Angels, let's go :applause:

:hi:

[Initech]

36. Man, I'm not going to be in town for the playoffs.

Hopefully they get scheduled for Sunday and Monday, if that happens, I will be able to attend both. If not, then that will seriously suck. I'm still going to Rally Monday, though!

[Kajsa]

37. Great!

Have fun at the rally!

:hi:

[Gormy Cuss]

21. There are lanes?

:evilgrin:

[LibDemAlways]

22. People seem to think they're at a racetrack and

changing lanes frequently is a must if they're going to get in front of the other guy and win. My favorite is the guy who tailgates me when I'm already exceeding the limit and then comes whipping around and cuts me off just to show me what an asshole he is. And then, a minute later we're both forced to come to a dead stop because some other crazed, speeding lane-changing asshole caused an accident up ahead.

My daughter is 14 and already making noises about learning how to drive in another year and a half. I'm terrified at the prospect. It's a jungle out there.

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. We gotta hurry home

to watch police chases on teevee.

[KitchenWitch]

25. Ding ding ding!

I think that is it!

BRAKING NEWS - or not!

:rofl:

(spelling was intentional)

[skygazer]

26. Because you damn imports can't get outta the way!

(yeah, I know - I'm an import, too, but I've been here longer than you have!) :P

[Ellen Forradalom]

27. Because you won't get out of my way, dammit

[krispos42]

28. Because that would make sense

And it seems that "sense" is something Californians lack.

:hide:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

29. Because it gives Ponch and John more of a challenge

during those breathtaking 20mph freeway chases.

[SeattleGirl]

33. When I was in LA about 15 years ago, I thought they changed lanes LESS

than they do here in Seattle. It's near impossible to keep a decent distance between your car and the car in front of you, because sure as shit, some asshole will pull in between you and the other guy, and suddenly you have almost zero space between cars.

[pokerfan]

34. Californians are fickle

Just look at their divorce rate.

You expect them to commit to just one lane when a typical Cali freeway has about a dozen to choose from?

[judaspriestess]

35. I have NEVER seen worst drivers than someone driving

minivans with California license plates. Get the hell out of the way if you come across one.

[NV Whino]

38. Gotta dodge the touristas.

[LostinVA]

39. NJ is probably worse

I nearly die on my commute daily. And Haruka is a typical Jersey driver.

[bridgit]

40. well dear, if you 'white knuckle types' could just learn to drive 85 in the slow lane...

we wouldn't be having these little chats now would we :)

[devilgrrl]

41. No, they must weave in and out - especially while on the phone!

:silly: