Driving in Southern California

I won't drive on the freeways if I can help it. I don't go out much in the rain, either. It's not so much because I can't drive, it's because I have my doubts about the drivers around me. Here's why:

Magnet Bumpers: I was taught defensive driving in WV, though the defense was often due to weather concerns, not other cars. Here, I think the lessons are in offensive driving. Why? Because most drivers behind me think there is a magnet between their bumper and mine, so they stick to about three feet behind me.

If I ever have to stop in a hurry, the laws of physics tend to point out the likelihood that there will be a car accident. Really, you might want to study the notion that two objects that occupy space and have mass cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

Use of Turn Signals: This seems to be totally random. Some drivers use the turn signal to change lanes or turn onto another street -- then fail to turn them off. Others have no idea what they are for and never touch them. However, the worst is when the signal is turned on then not used. The cars behind me don't like that I must wait until the turn signal person commits him or herself to the turn --

Red means Stop, Green means Go: In some areas, drivers have it backwards. They sit twiddling their thumbs through most of a green light, then take off leaving the rest of us waiting. Unfortunately, only some of us actually do wait. Many drivers keep going through the red like it was green, probably out of sheer frustration.

Texting and Apping: You know it's against the law to text while driving and I know it's against the law to text while driving, so why are people still doing it? While it is not illegal to app and drive (yet), it's another factor that brings distraction to drivers. It really is a good idea to keep your eyes on the road --

It's a STOP sign: Stop means to cease all movement. It means that you need to look around you for other drivers, especially if they don't have a stop sign. It does not mean slow to a roll glance up from your iPhone and keep going.

Safety Zone: In defensive driving, we are taught that we should keep a distance between us and the vehicle in front. The faster we drive, the longer that distance. That does not make the space your personal miraculous space to change lanes, especially if the distance between me and the driver in front of me is relatively small. I might have to hit the brakes and the guy driving three feet from my bumper will hit me, and then knock me into you.

Rain: Thank God it does not snow where I live. It's bad enough when it rains. You see, you can't do the same things on a wet road that you can on a dry one. That is particularly true of tailgating. Accident levels grow exponentially when it rains in this area. Speed, distance between vehicles and your tires are all factors to consider when making driving decisions on a wet road.

I don't claim to be a great driver. I've got my problem areas. I know what they are and I stay away from them as much as possible. All I ask is that everyone else does the same thing.