Friday night after work I drove from Sherman Oaks to Seal Beach. It's pretty much a straight shot down the 405. Since it was Friday night, and since it's Southern California, what should have been a 45 minute drive was nothing short of an hour and a half. But it's cool. It's to be expected. I was listening to good music and I am a very patient person, so I didn't really get mad...until I looked over to the carpool lane. As I was completely stalled in the second furthermost left lane, watching the carpool lane drivers zoom right past me, I wondered, "How many of you 'carpoolers' are legit?"
Have you ever paid attention to the carpool lane and how many people don't actually obey it? I never have before Friday night. I always assumed that most people would follow the honor system and not take the carpool lane unless they have a passenger in the car with them. Isn't the fine something like $300? Now, obviously, I didn't expect everyone to follow this law. But I was shocked to find out how many people broke it when I made a conscious effort to pay attention - SHOCKED, I tell you! I would say it was more than fifty percent. Just about every other driver whizzing pass me did NOT have another passenger in the car with them! And do you know what I noticed about these law breakers? Most of them were white, middle aged men driving nice cars.
Now, I don't want to turn this into a "the white man is evil" rant, but come on! REALLY? One man was even on his cell phone! That's knocking two birds with one stone! He probably had an open whiskey bottle in one of his many cup holders as well! It just made me really mad. I can't stand people who think they are above the law, and don't follow the rules. I understand that you don't want to sit through two hours of traffic. I don't either! But I do it because I know I'm not more special than you. I'm not saying that all laws make sense or are even just (Prop 8, anyone?). But laws do exist for a reason - especially traffic laws - and we follow them for the safety of everyone else! Otherwise, we might as well be driving in China!
Have you ever paid attention to the carpool lane and how many people don't actually obey it? I never have before Friday night. I always assumed that most people would follow the honor system and not take the carpool lane unless they have a passenger in the car with them. Isn't the fine something like $300? Now, obviously, I didn't expect everyone to follow this law. But I was shocked to find out how many people broke it when I made a conscious effort to pay attention - SHOCKED, I tell you! I would say it was more than fifty percent. Just about every other driver whizzing pass me did NOT have another passenger in the car with them! And do you know what I noticed about these law breakers? Most of them were white, middle aged men driving nice cars.
Now, I don't want to turn this into a "the white man is evil" rant, but come on! REALLY? One man was even on his cell phone! That's knocking two birds with one stone! He probably had an open whiskey bottle in one of his many cup holders as well! It just made me really mad. I can't stand people who think they are above the law, and don't follow the rules. I understand that you don't want to sit through two hours of traffic. I don't either! But I do it because I know I'm not more special than you. I'm not saying that all laws make sense or are even just (Prop 8, anyone?). But laws do exist for a reason - especially traffic laws - and we follow them for the safety of everyone else! Otherwise, we might as well be driving in China!
Preach it! I have a real problem with people who think the rules dont apply to them.
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