Los Angeles Insight: Baby You Can Drive My Car

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1. How many hours a week are you stuck in your car?

Thankfully, not very many. Since I work for myself, doing computer troubleshooting and training, I only have to get in the car for each call, not a daily commute. Lately, a lot of my clients have been in the Valley, so that helps a lot. According to my statistics, I have spent 28.5 hours in my car in the last 10 weeks. That is on business trips only, though.

2. What music is in your car, right now?

James Taylor, David Wilcox, America Sing, Yo-Yo Ma Suites for Unaccompanied Cello

3. What do you do while stuck in traffic? Eat? Sing? Primal scream?

Mainly I suffer from large attacks of claustrophobia. If I am truly stuck in a place with no alternate routes or off-ramps I can build up quite a panic. As you might imagine, I try not to put myself in those situations.

Otherwise, I listen to NPR or KZLA. I know when I have been spending too much time in my car by how often I start a conversation with “Well, I heard on NPR the other day…”

4. If you could give citations to other drivers for bad behavior, who/ what would you ticket?

Hmm, that is difficult, as there are so many. My pet peeve lately is Compact parking spaces that are so small even my Honda Civic Hybrid won’t fit in them. Then , of course, the SUV drivers who insist on taking up 1.5 of these same “compact” spaces to park their Hummer.

People who pull forward in the LEFT HAND LANE, so that I can’t see to make my right-turn on red. People who INSIST on making a left-hand turn when a couple of rights would be more expedient and safer for everyone involved.

Finally, since I was just involved in an accident that totaled my vehicle, people who run red lights. I was broadsided crossing Van Nuys Blvd by a red light runner a week ago. There was no evidence that he even hit his brakes before plowing into me. I am still feeling sore on my right side where the console of my Jeep decided to strike me. Then I spun completely around. I prefer my thrill rides at the amusement park, thank you. It could have been worse, of course, but it is still irritating have to shop for a new car when the old one was just fine, thank you.

5. What's your favorite place/freeway to drive in LA?

Mullholland Drive, PCH, Santa Monica Mountains Canyon Roads (Malibu, Zuma, Topanga, etc.), Angeles Crest Highway, Routes 126, 33 on the back way to Santa Barbara, Across the desert on the 10, up the Grapevine on a good day.

6. What's your least favorite?

405, 101, 134, 57…oh heck, all of them!

7. What's the craziest thing you've ever seen another driver do?

Wrong way drivers, drivers backing up on the freeway, The usual litany of complaints, but don’t get me started or we will be here all day.

8. What's the craziest thing you've ever seen left on the side of the road?

Ex-wife. (Ouch, no, dear, just kidding! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!)

Nothing really jumps to mind. Mainly old couches, refrigerators, tires, etc. I must not be paying enough attention.