Well sonofabitch, it's a two-fer Tuesday!!!
Getting back into the San Fernando Valley from the LA Basin between 3:00 pm and 10:00 pm is usually at a minimal pace, or a downright crawl. This evening, the NB traffic was moving about 20 miles per hour all the way from the 405/10 interchange to the 405/101 interchange. As I merged into the exit collector lanes to get onto the 101 N, I glanced over to my left and see this absolutely bitchin black Acura NSX driving next to me. The car is so low to the ground, I couldn't see the driver from the cab of my truck. You used to see these cars a lot on the highways of LA but not so much anymore.
I had already been on the road over 2 hours by this time. As I was easing my truck out from under the overpass of the NB 101 merge, the Acura signalled it wanted to get in my lane - which I gladly permitted since we weren't going anywhere fast anyways.
Along this stretch of merging lanes, Cal Trans has set up a series of standing traffic dividers, kind of like traffic cones but thinner and taller. The orange and reflectorized dividers are spaced about every 4 to 5 feet apart parallel to the lanes to keep the merging traffic of the NB 405 traffic separated from the NB 101 traffic until the road straightens out. It makes for much safer merges.
So here was the Acura who just moved in front of me now driving about 5 mph - much slower than the rest of traffic. Just a bit further along, the Acura came to a complete stop and turned on its right blinker. Strange, since the traffic dividers I described were all along our right side acting as a barrier so no one could dart into the merging traffic until a bit further up the road. The Acura eventually ran up it's RPMs, broke rubber and darted over 3 or 4 of the dividers (they are a break-away type) and crossed into the NB 101 traffic. The now run-over dividers popped back up to their semi-ridged previous state.
I kept an eye on the Acura as I drove ahead in the merge lane watching it as, in a very short distance, the car crossed 5 lanes of traffic making on-coming traffic come to a stop. Once the NSX got to the far right side of the 101 Fwy is became clear it was trying to get to the NB 101 at Haskell off-ramp. I think that keeping traffic from darting across the 101 to that off-ramp was another reason why the barrier was in place as well.
Only in maniacal LA will some Highway A-hole take a $100,000 car and do such a jack-ass thing.
Showing posts with label 2007. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2007. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
JULY 17, 2007 @ 11:51am - NB Sepulveda Blvd at Washington Pl, Arco Gas Station
I had to get off the freeway this morning to pick up some gas. As I was approaching the entry driveway, a young man in his early 20's, shirtless with stringy blonde hair, was attempting to exit the gas station. His 4-door late 80's tan colored Buick was partially blocking the driveway to the extent that no one else could enter as well as exit the station until he pulled out into traffic.
Even though traffic was light, he was not making any move to merge into traffic, deciding to sit where he was for some reason. I was not blocking him from getting out, nor was anyone ahead of him trying to exit. Moments later what light traffic there was had gone completely clear, sans me and two other cars that wanted to turn into the station's driveway. Even though I was patient waiting for the Buick to merge on out of the driveway and onto NB Sepulveda Blvd, the two cars behind me were not so patient. The tapped their horns... just a little tap each. This the kid in the Buick did not like.
He started yelling in our general direction, sticking his naked arms out to his sides in a crucifixion style pose. He just continued to sit there. I decided I would go around the block and use the driveway on the other side of the station. By the time I came around and pulled into the station, the guy in the Buick was gone, but there was a thick blue haze of smoke hanging around the pumps. One of the cars that were behind me, silver Nissan 280 Zx, was starting to pump its gas. I asked the driver of the Zx where our friend went. He said that the guy in the Buick stomped on the gas squealing his tires as he pulled onto Sepulveda a few moments after I left to go around. He went on to say that a few seconds after that, a Culver City Police cruiser sped past the station in an obvious attempt to catch the speed exhibitionist.
Finally a cop around when you need one. It figures it would be in Culver City.
Even though traffic was light, he was not making any move to merge into traffic, deciding to sit where he was for some reason. I was not blocking him from getting out, nor was anyone ahead of him trying to exit. Moments later what light traffic there was had gone completely clear, sans me and two other cars that wanted to turn into the station's driveway. Even though I was patient waiting for the Buick to merge on out of the driveway and onto NB Sepulveda Blvd, the two cars behind me were not so patient. The tapped their horns... just a little tap each. This the kid in the Buick did not like.
He started yelling in our general direction, sticking his naked arms out to his sides in a crucifixion style pose. He just continued to sit there. I decided I would go around the block and use the driveway on the other side of the station. By the time I came around and pulled into the station, the guy in the Buick was gone, but there was a thick blue haze of smoke hanging around the pumps. One of the cars that were behind me, silver Nissan 280 Zx, was starting to pump its gas. I asked the driver of the Zx where our friend went. He said that the guy in the Buick stomped on the gas squealing his tires as he pulled onto Sepulveda a few moments after I left to go around. He went on to say that a few seconds after that, a Culver City Police cruiser sped past the station in an obvious attempt to catch the speed exhibitionist.
Finally a cop around when you need one. It figures it would be in Culver City.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
JULY 14, 2007 @ 3:35 pm - SB 101 Fwy at White Oak Blvd Off-ramp
Maybe someone out there can tell me... exactly what is the maximum limit height a driver can stack broken down cardboard boxes in the back bed of a 1985 Toyota mini pick-up? I would think no higher than the cab of the truck would be prudent.
Today I see this truck, faded blue in color with no license plate, driving in the number two lane of traffic traveling no faster than 45 mph. The flattened cardboard boxes stacked in the bed were piled above the truck bed to a point about 6 feet above the top of the cab. The towering layered stack was semi-secured with motorcycle tie-down straps hap-hazardly attached to the cleats bolted on the outside of the bed. The excess strapping material was flapping in the wind.
As I drove behind the truck, I could tell that at any moment this pile of cardboard was about to fall off the truck. I hastened passing the truck as a precaution to not being involved in any foreseeable accident should the load shift and spill on the highway. As I passed and look back in my rearview mirror, I see the cardboard stack severly waver from my passing draft. This caused the truck to waiver as well. It almost looked as if the truck was about to roll up on two wheels on one side, like one of those Joey Cheetwood Stunt Show tricks. I also see that there are 4 workers sitting in the front seat of the truck. Inside the front license plate frame was a white and green "Chivas" embossed vanity plate.
The driver obviously had no brains. He was laughing at something between himself and the others in the truck. I doubt there were 4 sets of seatbelts in the truck for all the passengers and driver. I further doubt the truck, and driver, were insured. I have absolutely no doubt that the truck was being piloted by a Highway A-Hole.
Today I see this truck, faded blue in color with no license plate, driving in the number two lane of traffic traveling no faster than 45 mph. The flattened cardboard boxes stacked in the bed were piled above the truck bed to a point about 6 feet above the top of the cab. The towering layered stack was semi-secured with motorcycle tie-down straps hap-hazardly attached to the cleats bolted on the outside of the bed. The excess strapping material was flapping in the wind.
As I drove behind the truck, I could tell that at any moment this pile of cardboard was about to fall off the truck. I hastened passing the truck as a precaution to not being involved in any foreseeable accident should the load shift and spill on the highway. As I passed and look back in my rearview mirror, I see the cardboard stack severly waver from my passing draft. This caused the truck to waiver as well. It almost looked as if the truck was about to roll up on two wheels on one side, like one of those Joey Cheetwood Stunt Show tricks. I also see that there are 4 workers sitting in the front seat of the truck. Inside the front license plate frame was a white and green "Chivas" embossed vanity plate.
The driver obviously had no brains. He was laughing at something between himself and the others in the truck. I doubt there were 4 sets of seatbelts in the truck for all the passengers and driver. I further doubt the truck, and driver, were insured. I have absolutely no doubt that the truck was being piloted by a Highway A-Hole.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
JULY 12, 2007 @ 1:34 pm - SB 405 Fwy and 710 Fwy
Here's a Highway A-hole we will see a lot of in the future. It's that moron who feels so superior to be commuting with the rest of us, he's thinks he's obliged to ignore the law.
In this case, it's a late 1980's Dodge Sonoma truck, dark green in color with the complete CA license plate number of 5T20280. Driving beyond 75 MPH and in the fast lane, he enters the HOV car pool lane as a single driver. On this freeway, a car in the HOV lane must have two or more people in it, or else it's a hefty fine. He must have had a turd in his pocket because he was most definitely the only one in the truck I could see.
He continues to drive fast and tailgate upon others that happen to be driving at a slightly slower pace in the same lane. Rather than just accept the fact he will have to drive 3-5 MPH slower, he rides up on the drivers ahead of him and flashes his high beam headlamps in an attempt to get the slightly slower traffic out of the carpool lane to let him pass. His antics work on some drivers, not so much with others.
What a douche-bag. I wish there were more CHP cruisers on this freeway this time of day. A year of so there were, but you rarely see them now outside of being parked at the Carson Truck Weigh Station N of the 405 and Avalon off-ramps.
In this case, it's a late 1980's Dodge Sonoma truck, dark green in color with the complete CA license plate number of 5T20280. Driving beyond 75 MPH and in the fast lane, he enters the HOV car pool lane as a single driver. On this freeway, a car in the HOV lane must have two or more people in it, or else it's a hefty fine. He must have had a turd in his pocket because he was most definitely the only one in the truck I could see.
He continues to drive fast and tailgate upon others that happen to be driving at a slightly slower pace in the same lane. Rather than just accept the fact he will have to drive 3-5 MPH slower, he rides up on the drivers ahead of him and flashes his high beam headlamps in an attempt to get the slightly slower traffic out of the carpool lane to let him pass. His antics work on some drivers, not so much with others.
What a douche-bag. I wish there were more CHP cruisers on this freeway this time of day. A year of so there were, but you rarely see them now outside of being parked at the Carson Truck Weigh Station N of the 405 and Avalon off-ramps.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
JULY 8, 2007 @ 9:10am - Encino Farmer's Market Parking Lot
I was at the Farmer's Market today in Encino. It's on Victory Blvd just east of White Oak Ave about a 1/4 mile. Farmer's markets attract terrible drivers who have no clue on how to park.
Today's Highway A-hole is a black haired woman who looked to be in her mid to late 30's. She was wearing one of those earthy embroidered flour sack sundresses so popular with the counter-culture crowd. I had just parked two spaces away from her 2000-ish Yellow VW Beetle with the last 4 license plate numbers of 0998. There was a 1970's style "flower-power" sticker in the back window. Just great, she's a Hippie. She was apparently having trouble parking straight in the very narrow and short stall she chose to park in, and was backing out and pulling back in numerous times. Sure it was a spot close to the gate of the market, but it was obvious only a motorcycle could safely park in the stall.
I stood there watching her for a good five minutes while she continued to get frustrated. Meanwhile, there were dozens of cars waiting for her to finish her parking so that they could get by and park their cars. The line of cars behind her had stacked back all the way to the only entry, and exit, driveway to the parking lot.
With the cars backing up on Victory Blvd, horns were honking and people were shouting. It became obvious that she wasn't going to get herself into that parking stall to her own satisfaction, and she was becoming very un-nerved about everyone honking and yelling. Her mantra was getting fucked by her dogma at that point. She finally said screw it and left her car half way parked in the stall. She locked the car and walked though the gate and into the market area. People were furious that not only had she held them up, she left the car half-way parked with the front of the car sticking out into traffic with only enough room for a sub-compact cars to pass.
I hope that Tommy Chong is her husband... and beats her ass for being a Highway A-hole.
Today's Highway A-hole is a black haired woman who looked to be in her mid to late 30's. She was wearing one of those earthy embroidered flour sack sundresses so popular with the counter-culture crowd. I had just parked two spaces away from her 2000-ish Yellow VW Beetle with the last 4 license plate numbers of 0998. There was a 1970's style "flower-power" sticker in the back window. Just great, she's a Hippie. She was apparently having trouble parking straight in the very narrow and short stall she chose to park in, and was backing out and pulling back in numerous times. Sure it was a spot close to the gate of the market, but it was obvious only a motorcycle could safely park in the stall.
I stood there watching her for a good five minutes while she continued to get frustrated. Meanwhile, there were dozens of cars waiting for her to finish her parking so that they could get by and park their cars. The line of cars behind her had stacked back all the way to the only entry, and exit, driveway to the parking lot.
With the cars backing up on Victory Blvd, horns were honking and people were shouting. It became obvious that she wasn't going to get herself into that parking stall to her own satisfaction, and she was becoming very un-nerved about everyone honking and yelling. Her mantra was getting fucked by her dogma at that point. She finally said screw it and left her car half way parked in the stall. She locked the car and walked though the gate and into the market area. People were furious that not only had she held them up, she left the car half-way parked with the front of the car sticking out into traffic with only enough room for a sub-compact cars to pass.
I hope that Tommy Chong is her husband... and beats her ass for being a Highway A-hole.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
JULY 7, 2007 @ 1:30pm - SB 405 at Sunset Blvd
Look Eduardo, just because you drive a brand new, dark charcoal grey, 2007 Range Rover and have Consulate issued license plates doesn't mean you have the right to cut in and out of the carpool lane double yellow lines. That constant in/out/in/out maneuvering all the way to Wilshire Blvd off-ramp you were doing served no purpose other than causing those you were cutting in front of to slam on their brakes, which affects all those others who were following the law by not crossing double yellow lines and driving in a courteous fashion. I still beat you to the EB 10 connector where you peeled off, and I didn't have to break the law to do it.
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