It's raining, it's pouring... - Democratic Underground

huskerlaw

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Wed Jan-23-08 06:25 PM
Original message

It's raining, it's pouring...

just in time for the beginning of rush hour! Wheeee!

I just love driving in Los Angeles during a rain storm!

:crazy:

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lost-in-nj

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Wed Jan-23-08 06:26 PM
Response to Original message

1. the old man is snoring

he bumped his head
and went to bed
and couldn't get up in the morning

lost

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huskerlaw

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Wed Jan-23-08 06:29 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. indeed, except here

all of the bumps are going to originate with morans who have no idea how to drive with liquid on the roads. ;)

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Kutjara

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Wed Jan-23-08 06:30 PM
Response to Original message

3. It's like Holiday on Ice, isn't it?

I swear, all someone has to do is throw a half-drunk Big Gulp on the highway around here and twenty cars will spin out on the slick. I've never seen people more congenitally unable to drive on wet roads. OK, I spent years living in the UK where you need a snorkel to walk to the corner shop, so I suppose I've developed the necessary wet-weather driving skills, but still.

I honestly think there's some chemical mix in the atmosphere over SoCal that, when mixed with water and dropped on people's heads, acts as a strong hallucinogenic. They totally lose touch with reality and start driving like crazy people. Talk about acid rain...

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huskerlaw

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Wed Jan-23-08 06:41 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. It really is

though I'm sure part of that has to do with the huge amounts of oil residue on the roads...they actually are quite slick. But the combination of people driving super slow because they're completely freaked out and those who don't realize that any driving adjustments should be made... :scared:

I'm not looking forward to the commute home.

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Shakespeare

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Wed Jan-23-08 06:47 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. It's all or nothing here, isn't it?

The collective stupidity here during any kind of rain just boggles the mind.

I'm SO not looking forward to the drive home tonight. x(

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huskerlaw

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Wed Jan-23-08 06:55 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. So true

Edited on Wed Jan-23-08 06:55 PM by huskerlaw

and honestly, under normal conditions, as a whole...LA drivers are pretty damn good. Of course there are exceptions, but per capita, we really do have a low accident rate. I'd far rather drive here than many less populated areas in the US.

But put liquid on the road and all hell breaks loose. Not to mention that a commute that typically lasts 45 minutes easily turns into 2 hours.

Stay safe on your journey home!

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Kutjara

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Wed Jan-23-08 06:54 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. Some of it has to do with the road itself.

When I first moved back from Europe, I was really surprised at how little grip California roads have. They've been constructed to be hard-wearing and long lasting rather than grippy. I find my tires squealing even at relatively low speeds on some corners near my house, and learned very quickly that stopping distances are about 20% longer.

UK roads tend to be built for grip in the rain. The downside is that the road surfaces don't last as long, which is why 50% of the highways seem to be under construction on any given day.

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XemaSab

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Wed Jan-23-08 07:36 PM
Response to Reply #4

9. A few months ago we had our first rainstorm here in SB for the season

and everyone was driving, like, 5 mph, and I was like "Come on, it's raining and you're all acting like it's 10 feet of snow." So I bombed around some people and just drove like I normally drive in the rain.

I got to an intersection where the light had just changed, braked sharply, and WHOOPS! Went about 10 feet into the intersection.

Fortunately the story ended well. Nobody was hurt, no cars were damaged, and XemaSab learned something about slick roads. but dude... :o

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puerco-bellies

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Wed Jan-23-08 07:32 PM
Response to Original message

8. The road conditions definately have something to do with our arid climate.

With the ten million or so cars and trucks on the roads every day here in So Cal oil residue builds up quickly. Ad water and the constant supply of new to L.A. drivers and the results are predictable. It only takes one little fender bender near a freeway interchange to backup traffic for miles.

L.A. has a reputation for bad drivers but we natives have grown up in cars and most of us are fairly skilled.

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