Traffic action
Yesterday I came home from the reading of a friend’s play in Hollywood and traffic was once again snarled. This time Highland Avenue, which connects the city with the valley, was for some reason closed. Flashing traffic message boards advised “Seek alternate route,” which I did. None of them were good. What should have been a 10-minute drive became a 30-minute drive. I was finally able to make my way to Argyle, which connects with the 101. Normally the 101 is not my preferred route — in my 18-year-experience of driving in LA, the 101 is third only to the 405 (at all times) and the 5 (heading south, at most times) in being clogged in traffic. This time the 101 was a breeze, once I actually got on it.
While waiting in the middle of three lanes — the leftmost and center lanes being left-turn only (onto a surface street or the 101) I saw a girl who had just filled up her car at a gas station on the right pulling her car into the right-most lane, which is right-turn only. I could guess what was coming. Sure enough, she pulled her car entirely parallel to the right-hand lane in an effort to cut in front of me and make a left. This is not only patently illegal, it is incredibly disrespectful to the 20 or 30 cars behind her who would like to make a (legal) right turn, even on a red light. Given my postings of the past three days, imagine my mood at seeing this. She looked at my imploringly, trying to use every ounce of her 20-ish cuteness to justify her behavior.
I rolled down my passenger window and saw her brighten, thinking I was going to accommodate her. Instead, I said, “Do you know you’re illegally blocking that lane, and cutting off about 20 people behind you who’d like to make a right? Have you even thought about that?” Her smile evaporated, the light changed, and not only did I not let her go, no one behind me did either. Maybe next time she’ll think first.