How To Respond To Driving Conditions In Southern California
How do you view driving and drivers in southern California
? I think your answer will depend on whether or not you have become adjusted to the high speeds, the necessity for constant freeway driving, the heavy traffic, and the lack of predictability on the part of other drivers.
While I was living in Orange County, I distinctly remember instances where my life flashed before my eyes. Whenever my parents visited from my Phoenix home, I watched as my father's knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel hard.
Whether you are just visiting or you have moved to the area, you need to become accustomed to this kind of madness (but not sink into it) if you are going to make it out with your sanity.
I have often heard native southern California drivers say that they handle the driving environment by being just as aggressive as the next guy. This is ultimately what made the freeways such a terror in the first place, so emulating poor decision-making skills will only make things worse.
While you are on the road, try to avoid the strong emotions that can lead to poor judgment. If someone cuts you off or even if a driver comes close to causing an accident, yelling or making obscene gestures will not make any situation better. If you need to, be willing to pull over for a minute to catch your breath and clear your head.
Even in bad traffic, you need to keep yourself from tailgating. On the southern California roadways, traffic can often be stop-and-go, and you never know when there will be conditions that cause the need to stomp on the brake. Tailgating in these situations is extremely dangerous, so just avoid it altogether.
To keep yourself from riding someone's bumper, simply slow down. This may irritate other drivers, but it will help keep you safe from causing an accident. Keeping others from exhibiting this behavior is much trickier.
My husband tends to do a little tap on his brakes as a warning, but if the driver behind you is both tailgating and not paying attention, this may cause a rear-end crash. So, just try to use good judgment and change lanes if you are able.
Changing lanes and merging can be very difficult on southern California roadways, so give yourself plenty of time to do so before you need to exit or reach a particular road.
Having a GPS system--either coupled with a rental car or one that you purchase yourself--could be an invaluable resource in case you get misdirected or need to make changes in your route due to poor driving conditions.
Be sure that you have the contact information of a towing company and an auto repair shop just in case. You can never be too careful, after all.
by: Art Gib
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