Driving in the far right lane is a quick risky way to beat the morning traffic. Look far ahead to check for buses so you can zoom over to your left. Do quickly, being careful of traffic, do not signal, pass the bus and get back in your far left lane, continue, repeat.

Driving in the far right lane is a quick risky way to beat the morning traffic. Look far ahead to check for buses so you can zoom over to your left. Do quickly, being careful of traffic, do not signal, pass the bus and get back in your far left lane, continue, repeat.

Be extra cautious when the driver of the car ahead is wearing a hat.

Beware of large cars where you can only see the driver's head.

When opposing traffic makes left turns in front of you, allow for 3 cars turning after the signal changes to red for them and green for you.

Here is a little something I wrote yesterday on my way to work in traffic.

My Morning Commute

My morning commute is always a challenge, never knowing what awaits me once I’m on the road.

Will it be an accident on the 405 that will delay me an hour or so, or just a little old lady driving very, very slow?

And what about cars that weave in and out, like they are knitting a sweater? The drivers should know better.

Today it could be the sun that gets the job done. You can’t see where you are going, when it’s showing.

Or is it the rain that causes pain, with cars “Slippin’ and Slidin’” (like Little Richard).

Maybe it’s just they way things are when you drive in your car?

And don't forget about people on motorcycles. In other states lane splitting is illegal but it is actually LEGAL here in California. A lot of drivers don't seem to know that and always try to block us. So the next time you get pissed off when a biker goes in between cars; you have no reason to.

Rush hour on the 101 thru Hollywood is 24 hours a day.

We can't forget to include in the handbook that while traveling through the crowded streets of Beverly Hills and the adjacent neighborhoods to expect sudden right turns from the left lane while the driver is talking on the cell phone! Or the sports cars who love to ride in the blind spots of large SUV's and get upset when the SUV makes a lane change and doesn't see the sports car. And then flip you the bird because you drive an SUV. And to watch for people who like to rubberneck fender benders and slam on their brakes after cutting you off. There is always one guy who needs five car lengths in front of him at a red light on Wilshire Blvd. (during rush hour) and not caring that there are one or two cars who are behind him and blocking traffic from crossing behind him!! This list goes on!

My rule is "Get Outta The WAY!" If someone is bearing down on you, speed up, pull over or change lanes and let ME by. I you want to sightsee, double park, save gas, etc. get in the right lane or park it. On the other hand if I am cruising along and you pull up behind me, don't tailgate, just go around.

It took me a trip to Las Cruces, NM, this summer to remind me what an overcrowded driving cesspool L.A. is. They don't go into an intersection to make a left turn on a green light like we do here. They just sit there and wait behind the white line until it's safe to turn. I thought it was a law of their's. I finally asked someone, and they said it wasn't a law but just the way they like to drive -- nice and relaxed. They can even also get across town any time of day without worrying about the traffic. It took me a few days there to detoxify my polluted L.A. driving habits from my system, but now I am back i've degenerated back to my old sh-t head L.A self.

Women are the worst drivers, they never get out of the merge lanes.
We men made it worse by giving them cell phones so now they can all call each other and slow down the merge lanes even more making it next to impossible for people to get on or off the freeways.

When driving on the freeway, remember which lane you have to be in next time a freeway merges.
So, be all the way in the #1 lane when merging from the 118 east onto the 210 east. When coming down the 14 into the valley, also the #1 lane is best. Be in the #1 lane when you approach the 5/118 west interchange. This way when you enter the other freeway you don't have to worry about people letting you in. Never be in the first lane people would have to merge onto while entering the freeway. When driving for a few miles, the middle is the best. Oh, one more thing. Get used to people thinking that the speed limit in the diamond lane is at least 85 mph.

You never know where the street work and street closures are. My route is Hawthorne North to La Brea Bl North to Sunset. I always have to be ready to go west to La Cienega or East to Crenshaw

For opposite traffic, when the left-turn signal turns red; Be prepared for at least 3-additional cars to try and turn left

Finally, be fearless and fearful - the 18-Wheelers many with double loads are everywhere in the morning/evening. You cannot let them make you backdown, but don't be foolish

The driver of the car moving slowly in open traffic is:
a) a senior citizen
b) a person talking on their cell phone
c) someone lost
d) all of the above

Most people wear out their brakes before they run out of gas, because they tailgate. ALL ACCIDENTS on the FREEWAY are from MORONS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE. Then there are multi-car pile ups.
Leave 100 feet for every 20 mph. So 85 mph is 400 feet. Not brain surgery. I noticewhen I dothis everyone (except morons) else follows suit

After being tailgated in the car pool lane, all the way over Sepulveda pass (going 70)... when the car pool lane was a little wider near Sunset, the truck behind me passed on my LEFT.. between me and the wall!

Orange County 5 freeway speed limit seems to be 80 and above.

South 605 from the 5 also seems to be 80 and above. Someone passed me yesterday, weaving in and out of the carpool lane at least four times before disappearing.

Golden LA Freeway Rule: Death before courtesy

Prime Directive: Do it to the other guy before he does it to you

Current event stupidity: SUV owners who can no longer afford their gas bills and now drive 50-55 MPH in 65 MPH zones...IN THE LEFT LANE 'cause that is where they've always driven

Worst driving move NOT perfomed by someone on a cell phone...an attorney on the 405 who had a legal contract held in one hand (with the steering wheel) and a pen in the other. Speed going from 35 - 90 MPH, and weaving from lane to lane as he marked up the contract while driving.

My rule is that if you are about to merge onto a freeway, there will always be some zippy pinhead behind you who will cross the solid line and immediately cut you off so you can't enter the freeway at the supposed correct dashed line. They're just as likely to be in a Prius as an SUV, and they're almost certainly on a cellphone and hand-gesturing while talking.

Here are some "rules" I've learned in my years of driving the mean streets and freeways of L.A.:

If you are only driving 70 mph (or slower) in the fast lane or HOV lane, expect to get:
1. Cut off
2. Flipped off
3. Shot
4. All of the above.

For merge lanes and transition roads: Do not expect other drivers to allow you into their lane if you wait until the last moment -- However, if you waited until the last moment, you have to find the one driver who isn't driving 2 inches off the bumper of the car in front of them, and cut them off.

If you do merge last minute you may be:
1. Honked at
2. Flipped off
3. Followed
4. Shot
5. All of the above.

People driving the actual speed limit on the freeways are:
1. Unlicensed
2. Elderly
3. In a Driving School car
4. On the phone
5. Soccer moms with 8 kids in the back
6. Trying in vain to force other people behind them to drive the speed limit.
7. Aware that a police car is either ahead or behind them somewhere.
8. Mr Magoo
9. Some combination of the above.

For 30+ years, I was a CHP Officer.
There is an effect called "White Door Fever". That's when you watch someone going 90 suddenly see a Black and White up ahead. They are on the brakes so hard that the grille is almost chewing concrete.

It is interesting to watch traffic from your personal vehicle.
When I went to San Diego, I noted that people would go 85-90, get within 100 yards of their exit, then try to cut across all four lanes. I called that the San Diego Syndrome.

Commuting into Los Angeles, I noted that we would slow to 25, the as the freeway straightened, we were back up to 80. Suddenly, you would be on the brakes again.
I deduced that the drivers were slowing if there was a hill or curve ahead that they could not see around.
I called that the L A Syndrome #1

Last year, I fled California. Before I left, I noted this phenomena:
A car would be coming up from behind at 90-100.
You would expect them to slow behind "The Pack" , OH NO--LA with its "Commuter Lanes" separated only by double yellow lines, would come into play.
The person coming up at Warp 9 would swerve into the commuter lane, pass the pack and continue on.
I called that LA Syndrome #2.

I driven in LA for 6 yrs. I've learned a few rules.
1. If your driving in the fast lane and someone flashes there headlights; that means their driving faster than you and get over.
2. Watch for speed demons dodging in and out of the carpool lane.
3. If your in the carpool lane drive at least 65-70mph. I don't know how many times I've been stuck behind a car going 50 with no one in front.
4. I've been in the fast lane and when I try to get over(while signaling) the driver on the right I'm passing will speed up or if I slow to go behind with slow down. Watch for people who just have nothing better to do.

And so forth.....