When I moved to Los Angeles for college, my insanity went out the window almost immediately. And when I say it went out the window, I mean it flew out the window of my car as I sped at 80mph down the 405. Now those of you from LA have probably already written me off as a liar because, when can you ever go that fast on the 405?! Trust me, when you're as crazed as I am, anything is possible. My 2001 Yellow Volkswagon Bug is on just about every LA driver's hit list at this point and that's fine with me because I think they all suck at driving. Every driver thinks to themselves,
"Why can't everyone be as good at driving as I am?! Bunch of morons"... as they cut 10 cars off and nearly kill the entire carpool lane.
Well, after spending the equivalent to a good year of my life sitting in traffic, I've really learned a lot about different types of drivers. Here are a few examples:
1. The Mexican in the Old Pickup Truck
Okay this sounds totally racist, but there's always that one pickup truck, driven by a Mexican man, that is literally going 30mph on the freeway. Usually, the driver has a friend in the passenger seat with him as well, and they just appear to have absolutely no where to be. Not only are they driving obscenely slow, but they're usually in one of the middle lanes and are completely unaware of the continuous honks and and angry gestures. And don't worry, if you're a female and you happen to pull up next to them in stopped traffic, they WILL stare at you the whole time. You thought that their total lack of awareness ended with their terribly slow driving and apparent inability to hear honking? Nope, they lack social awareness as well. Nothing is more awkward than trying to pretend like you don't notice two Mexican men staring at you.
2. THE PRIUS
I used to think that Prii (yes that's the plural of Prius, I just googled it, don't you hate them??) just couldn't go that fast because they're so fuel efficient or whatever, but I have seen some Prii just haul ass, so it must be the drivers' fault. My impression of Prius drivers is that they think that since their car is saving the environment, they can do whatever they want. And apparently what every single Prius driver wants to do is go exactly 65mph in the fast lane. We get is Prius, you are better than us, your carbon-footprint is tiny and you follow every law to the tee, now get the fuck out of the way and let me speed home in my gas guzzling, eco-destroying car.
3. Taxis
I live really close to LAX, so dealing with taxis is an everyday struggle for me. Usually, they take their sweet ass time, probably trying to cheat some tourist out of more money. But then, all of the sudden one will cut you off out of nowhere, cursing at you in some Middle Eastern language. You can bet that if there is someone blocking an intersection or awkwardly way to far past the stopping line at a red light, it's a taxi man. And do not get me started on Prius Taxis, those were masterminded in hell, straight from satan's private office.
4. The Surprisingly Angry Soccer Mom
This isn't your typical suburban soccer mom driving her kids around in a beat up mini-van. This mom is a ticking time bomb, probably alone in a Range Rover. She starts out going pretty slow, but if you so much as merge in front of her, you better believe it's on like donkey kong. I don't know if it's the pent up anger she has towards her husband's mistress or one too many Bloody Marys at the tennis club that she's channeling, but that bitch is coming after you.
5. People in Mercedes and other Expensive Cars
These drivers are one of two extremes. Either they believe that since they have a big engine, they are therefor a certified race car driver. Or, they are so worried about hurting their precious baby that they stay about 50 yards behind the car in front of them at all times. The race car driver I actually have respect for, I consider myself on their team in the game of beating all the shitty drivers. I'm like the chubby kid that hangs out with the popular kids. No one would think I could hang, but I've got a great personality and terrible road rage.
6. 18 Wheelers
Honestly, I hate all trucks and I pretty much have a panic attack every time I pass one. However, what I hate the absolute most is 18 wheelers that think they have any business being in the fast lane, or in any lane besides the far right for that matter. I'm not above cutting people off (actually I do it all the time), but I think there's a special place in hell for truck drivers who think they can drive in the fast lane and I make sure that they know that. This means that I swerve in front of them, as close as I can possibly get, all the while honking and most likely flipping them off.
7. The Asian Driver
I know it's a stereotype and I know you all saw this one coming from 20 miles away but it's an absolutely true stereotype. Every time I see a horribly slow driver, every single time, I think to myself,
"God this person is fucking cryptic. Are you too busy reading a hieroglyphic newspaper to see how fucking slow you're going?" (I swear a lot in my head while I'm driving). And then, as I'm angrily passing them, I glance over expecting to see an old man with a gross sun-spotted scalp and giant spectacles staring at the road like he's trying to read advanced organic chemistry, but instead, I see an asian woman who has absolutely no fucking clue that she's holding up 50 cars. I hate to be racist and everyone has their strong suits, but I'm sorry to say, you guys should stick to math, driving just isn't your thing.
8. The "Drunk Driver" Who Just Turns Out to be Father Time
A few times now, I've almost called the police because someone was swerving like they were milking their second fifth of Jack Daniels while driving. However, when I pass the car, I'm disappointed to see it's just the oldest fucking person on the face of the earth. This person clearly needs to get their license revoked, but how boring. Watching someone get a DUI is exponentially more entertaining than watching an old man try to battle his Alzheimer's and remember how to drive a car.
9. The Ego Driver
Everyone knows this driver or is this driver at some point. They're usually going a good 70-75mph in the fast lane. In fact, they might as well be in cruise control they're digging the pace they're going at so much. Then along comes a car that wants to go 80mph, no big deal. So the car tries to go around the ego driver, this is when the ego driver speeds up to 85mph. Then, the poor car that just wants to go faster, and probably get home to his sick mother or children he hasn't seen in 3 months, now has to fall back behind the ego driver who of course slows back down to 70mph. Another typical move is when the ego driver speeds up to 90mph to get in front of you. You think to yourself, whatever floats your boat Herbie Fully Loaded, but then they slow down to 70mph as soon as they're in front of you. Typical.
10. Me
Watch out.