It's been raining in Los Angeles.
And there is a great stereotype that people in LA don't know how to drive in the rain.
The problem with this great saying about us is that I think a lot of people think some people drive too slow when it rains. I think the other half of people think the majority drive too fast.
When I texted the CHP the last time in rained here in LA, I asked them, what piece of advice would you give fellow LA peeps in regards to how to drive when it rains?
Their response was: Slow down and leave more space between yourself and the car in front of you.
I have come to the conclusion that doing this infuriates a lot of drivers here and they react by making very sad, poor, judgements in regards to how they drive.
I tweeted today: Post to come on me attempting to drive the speed limit in the rain in LA. Angers a few people. Been passed by people who race to the red.
Gary Kavanagh from @GaryRidesBikes responded: in my experience (before giving up car) rain or shine, driving within speed limits always pisses some people off.
Well I have been passed, very dangerously and angrily twice in the last few days.
The worst was on Friday, coming back from a lovely dinner with another family. I had my 6 year-old in the back of my minivan ( and YES I think it really pisses people off that I drive the speed limit in a minivan, the car just pisses people off in general)
I was going East from Hollywood and taking surface streets Los Feliz was very very slow as it always is and then as it always does, it freed up right before the hill down into Atwater Village. The speed limit was 35. I was gearing up to go 35 when I heard an engine revving. The car behind me gunned it, crossed the double yellow line, into oncoming traffic to pass me on the left.
He then got in front of me and went into the lane next to me and he stopped at the red light.
Uhhh. OK, he loves to stop at red lights, I know there should be a club of people who love to race to red lights.
I pulled up next to him. I looked over at him and rolled down my window.
I felt like he wouldn't shoot me. I don't know, call me an optimist.
"Hey, how's it going?" he said and I could tell he was taken aback. He was a white guy, bald, not bad looking.
I stared at him and smiled and said, "What are you doing?"
"Just going with the flow of traffic," was his response.
You mean gunning it going about 45, crossing a double yellow line into oncoming traffic. BTW let me remind you I was going the speed limit and the roads were slick. The CHP, the people who will come wipe bloodied faces off of the street when people get into car accidents, have recommended to drive a bit slower and leave more room. And believe me the CHP have seen more blood and destruction due to cars then I'm sure they thought they ever would.
I smiled, "So many people die in car accidents," I responded.
"Drive safely," he said.
"I do and you should too." I responded.
The light changed and I drove and he was slower then me. Because the person in front of him was turning.
I drove away with my heart pounding.
Why aren't people getting it?
Today I was passed very angrily on the right, again on slick roads. I was going to speed limit.
See, in LA, if the roads are somewhat clear, people want you to speed. But fuck that idea of going as fast as you can if it's clear. I was sharing the road with bikers.
I had my child in the car. I care if you have your child in the car. I care if you don't have children.
Something is really wrong when it is unsafe for us to actually drive the speed limit and not speed.
Change is needed.