AUGUST 10, 2007 @ 7:55 pm – NB 405 Fwy at Century Blvd

Just freaking great, stuck in Friday evening rush hour near LAX. It's my fault I suppose since I wasn't able to get away from work before 4 pm like I usually do on Fridays.

This time our Highway A-hole of note was a serial tailgater. Nice new Dodge Charger R/T, red with black ralley stripes. The driver was non-descript due to the heavily tinted side and rear windows.

We were just inching along N from Orange County to the 110 Interchange. There the traffic lightened up to a point we could all move pretty much the speed limit. The Charger A-hole was really riding up close on the bumper of a silver Cooper Mini. The driver of the Mini was a yuppie looking programmer type, probably a TRW, Boeing or Northrup-Grumann employee (I've seen my fill of these people). He seemed to be staring straight ahead and driving very intently. He probably already noted the tailgating Charger behind him.

Now this Charger was really right up on the Mini. Not just I-need-to-get-by-you close, but more of if-you-hit-your-brakes-our-cars-will-be-having-sex close. The Charger was right on the Mini's butt until we got to Century Blvd. There traffic started to slow to a crawl once again. The Mini has already merged to the number 3 lane - it looks as if the Charger had done the same. The number 2 lane was clear and free for he Dodger to pass the Mini. Nothing doing, the Charger remained on the Mini's ass as I went ahead and passed both.

Really, this was nothing a little tap on the brake lights could have solved for the Mini.

AUGUST 7, 2007 @ 8:29 am – NB 101 Fwy at White Oak Ave

Look people, if your car isn't running to par with the rest of traffic, please pull over to the shoulder or get off the freeway altogether.

Our Highway A-hole today is a high school age boy driving a newer blue Subaru WRX, complete with a wing across the back trunk. He was in the number 2 lane driving 45 mph amongst traffic that was going 60 mph+. People were passing him on the left and right. He had his emergency flashers on constantly. As I was almost ready to pass him, the car ahead of me decided it would be a good idea to let the bloke over to the right. I agreed, he must be having mechanical problems of some type or why else would he be driving in the middle of traffic with the flashers on, right?

None such doin'. Even though cars started to leave the Subaru wide berth to slide off the freeway, or at least over to the right lanes where he belonged, he ignored the gestures and kept driving as I started to pass him... now at 40 mph.

Wake up people, look around you and use the opportunities offered to you in such situations. It will keep us all happy and safe.