Driving Etquette in the O.C.

I drive by this all the time!

    You've seen the commercials, you've swooned at it in the movies, and you can't WAIT to drive on it. I am of course, talking about the California Highway. The PCH (Pacific Coast Highway, for those who are not from SoCal) is one of THE most filmed roads in America. You see the winding roads that are sided by sparkling blue oceans,  beautiful rolling hills of coast brush and interesting sandstone. The lone car is shiny, sleek, and the people in it smile gaily up at the camera as they zip along the coast. 

   If this is what you pictured, then you are seeing Hollywood magic at its most powerful. Contrary to popular belief, it is also one of the more deadlier roads along our 'pristine' coast. If you are intending to move to SoCal, please, let me be the first to warn you: We (yes, I include myself in this one) are INSANE drivers. If you think taxi men blaring their horns and saying F********K you! is scary and stressful, try getting into a fender bender with a man whose car makes your 'expensive' SUV look like it belongs in a trailer park. 

     That being said, here are some things to remember when driving the freeways and surface streets of Southern California. Remember, people here are rich, and they get most of their money from suing out of towners like yourselves from your 'lack' of driving knowledge.

Freeways:

-When merging you DO NOT SLOW DOWN. You speed up to the normal speed of 80mph as fast as humanly possible. Not doing so will result in cars PLOWING INTO YOU. I hate to tell you, but as a SoCal girl, we KNOW when you're not from around here (your license plate doesn't even need to be from out of state). Politeness is NOT our strong suite on the freeway.

-The speed sign may say 60mph/104 km, but 75/125km to 80/128km is standard. If you go in the fast lanes (The two far left lanes) you will get honked at, and people will zoom around you, get in front of you, and then slam on their breaks. I've seen it done more times than I want to say.  

-Get used to people riding your tail--its so common here no one even CALLS it that. 

-We DO NOT slow down to enjoy the beautiful beaches, craggy sandstone cliffs, or palm trees. Its hot, we have places to be, and WE NEED YOU TO FREAKIN' MOVE! For your own safety, pull to the side of the road if you want to take pictures.

SURFACE STREETS:

-Unless you see a sign that says 'do not turn on red', you are free to make right hand turns. Waiting for the light to turn green WILL result in some one getting out their car and screaming at your window, or them blaring their horn until you move.  I wish I were kidding.

-The sign may SAY 45mph, but most people go the allowed limit of 50, if not more. Get used to it. And if you DO want to follow the speed limit, stay on the right hand lane which designated for old people, newbie drivers, and out-of-towners like yourselves. 

-Get used to people weaving. That is pretty much what you learn to do as a teen here. Its a weave or be weaved world here in SoCal. Did I mention we have places to be RIGHT NOW? 

-If you slow down to let some one get in front of you, also making a waving hand to motion in the direction they can do so, is a good thing. This will result in a FRIENDLY encounter, and if you get lost, they might even be willing to point you in the right direction. And all from a hand wave! Who knew!? 

   To conclude, SoCal drivers are NOT mean per say--unless your driving slow (aka, following the speed limit)--but the sun DOES make drivers agitated, and we get A LOT of sun here. People in SoCal have places to be (where I have no idea, but it must be important since they're driving there so fast. Maybe they need to get to a Starbucks?), people to see, and don't have time for your 'following the rules' crap. Now that you are armed with this knowledge, you will hopefully use it to your advantage if you decide to visit  here.