Front of the line

The public transportation system in LA is a GODSEND. I have saved over two thousand dollars in gas these past 7 months because of it and I am eternally grateful. Driving really is a hassle in LA, and I think it is the top contributor to a majority of peoples attitude here. When you meet a stranger who has lived in LA for over 5 years, works in Downtown, commutes to and from every single day, they are not happy. Every single time I merge onto the 101, going either North or South, I immediately regret my decision and start hating the drivers around me. I have to consciously force myself to smile, make myself think happy thoughts, sing to music, in order to distract myself from the idiots who don't know what a speed limit is. And by that I mean they are driving 15 MPH below it.

Think about the act of driving, this machine that moves on four wheels and the fact that it is all dependent on a small metal key (with modern technology nowadays, you don't need a key, but just hear me out). This key that not only lets you inside of your vehicle, but also has the power to turn on this massive metal machine capable of killing both you and anyone it comes in contact with. The danger we put ourselves through in these metal machines that run off flammable liquid just to get from point A to point B, and the amount of trust we have in drivers around us that they wont use this machine against us. It is incredibly interesting. Sure, we have seatbelts. Sure, we have airbags. Sure, we have electric vehicles. Sure, there are policemen and women to keep the roads safe, but THINK ABOUT IT. How many of us really wear seatbelts? I know I do every single time, but I also know people who don't. Airbags are our friends if we are going above 40 MPH. If we crash at a speed less than that and the airbag goes off, the chances of us getting hurt, or dying, are exceptionally higher. Electric vehicles are great. Everyone should have one. Policemen and women can't be everywhere all the time. There simply aren't that many of them.

My point is this; drive cautiously. Know that this machine you are using, at your disposal, is exactly that. A machine. It has no idea what is right or wrong, no matter how many modifications or voices you add to it. Be smart. You may think tailgating someone will make them go faster, but when they slam on their breaks, and you missed the chance of slamming on yours by .5 of a second, you'll be in a whole lot of pain and debt. DO NOT, and I will capitalize all of these words, DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE. And if I find out that you have, you'll be in a whole lot more pain that having a hangover. Too many lives have been lost, too many people are in jail and too many mothers worry about their children for this to continue. Just don't. It's not hard, in fact it is incredibly simple. Just don't.

I was driving on I-5 Friday night, heading to San Diego, around 9 p.m. and we were in a slow patch. For some reason there was traffic at 9 p.m on a Friday night. I was in the fast lane, which wasn't fast at all since we were in traffic. There was a medium sized, white, Ford SUV behind me who was incredibly close to my back bumper. I like to give some space between myself and the person in front of me because if someone needs to merge over, or they have to hit the breaks, I have time to react. Little miss white Ford was not a fan of that. There were a couple spots where we were able to accelerate to maybe 60 MPH and then slow down again. In these spots, White Ford, without a blinker, would quickly swerve into the next lane on the right and speed up in hopes, I assume, to pass me. I accelerated too, but as soon as I caught on to the game, which didn't take very long at all, I made sure to only accelerate enough to where I was next to the car in front of White Ford in the next lane and White Ford could not pass me. This happened three times before white Ford merged to the other side of the freeway and was an asshole to someone else. Talk about reckless driving! They didn't care. They were so blinded by their own ego and road rage and this obsession with being in front of everyone that they insisted on putting 20 other cars in danger because they had to go fast. They just HAD to be in front.

Can I tell you a secret that will shatter your view of driving forever? THERE IS NO FRONT!

It is absolutely impossible to be 'the front of the line' on a freeway because I 100% guarantee you there will be someone in front of you. WHO KNEW!? Freeways, highways, interstates go everywhere. EVERYWHERE. For you to be so astonishingly bold in the idea that you can be 'in the front' on a freeway means that you simply don't understand the vastness of this city, this state, this country or let alone this planet. You will never be in front. Ever. Get off your phone and over yourself.

I end with this; don't be an asshole. I realize all specimen have one, but it doesn't give you the right to be selfish, egotistical and naive. If you ever feel like you 'deserve' something, take a look at the widowed mom working two jobs supporting her four kids and still manages to make it to all the soccer games, ballet recitals and family reunions. Sometimes life is really hard, but when you make the choice to push through, rather than sit on your ass, you will always gain experience, and THAT, my friends, is worth gold.

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