I've noticed that people in California don't use their high-beam switch. (or turn indicators but that's another rant)

When I'm on a back road full of twists, turns, and hills I'll light up the high-beams to get a better view of the road but when I see someone coming toward me I'll use this little switch on the steering column to shut off the highbeams.

In my 20 years of driving here I don't recall seeing someon in California do this more than a handful of times. The either are driving without their high-beams always off or worse, leave their brights on all the time blinding the heck out of other drivers.

On my SUV I've installed two 6" 150 watt "aircraft landing lights" to help deal with those that have their high-beams on all the time. I have managed to force a few people to lower their brights with the use of them but I'm talking about volunary use of the switch.

So is this a cultural thing here in SoCal or have things just changed with the times? In the mid-west I'd see every car I'd pass on such a road cycle their lights.

 

California drivers are morons which would explain our high insurance rates. I'm from the east coast and although east coasters might be impatient *****, Cali drivers just don't pay attention. 'Slower Traffic Keep Right' mystifies drivers here so they don't mind having a train of cars behind them forced to pass on everyone's blind side. But when it comes to high beams, you can't really be an expert or competent practitioner when you hardly ever use them...just not enough rural roads in complete darkness for everyone to know how to use them or follow established protocols.

 

I'm seriously considering installing some punitive lights for neglegent hi-beamers. My buddy has two sheer white 200-watt lights aimed backwards to "support" his reverse lights but he really does it to just blind the crap out of someone that deserves it.

People that drive around at night with their high-beams on highways or city streets should be stopped, dragged out of their cars by their hair, and kicked in the eyes with a steeltoe.

How freaking retarded can you be?
When you can see the HEADLINER of the car in front of you, thats a BAD THING!

The worst is when people have their turn signals on forever.
Add to that they speed up and slow down too? Get the gun out.

It's scary to drive on the same road as these idiots.

 

Heh, I've noticed that that rule seems to be non-existent here. I will say that they don't seem to tailgate quite as badly as people do in the East though. That's probably only due to 10 mph speeds on the freeway, and the rare times you do get to go 55 mph, it will suddenly slow to 5 mph all of a sudden and then go back up to 35, and then slow down, and so on.

 

Years ago I used a hand held spotlight to "remind" a user or two that their brights were on.

Their resultant anger and aggressive driving nearly got me killed. In one case, I'm convinced the azzhole would have shot me if he had a gun.

I was very young and stupid.....YOU be careful.

 

Hey Jim imagine what would happen if Cali drivers encountered black ice....

 

They'd probably try to shoot it or slide across 4 lanes to get to the number 1 left lane, slow down to a crawl and get on their cellphones for a long drawn out conversation with AAA mindless of everyone behind them.

 

Ive seen it...its ALMOST as funny as when midwest/east drivers encounter real traffic. Ive been all over the U.S. and can honestly say that the general population ANYWHERE really cant drive worth anything. The biggest problem is that people just dont pay attention to what is happening around them. IMO anyone who claims that people drive considerably better in their out of state "hometown" is just full of it.

 

+1, 95% of drivers on the road are idiots, im convinced of this.

 

Yah like when it rains that is the top new story...and not to mention all the wrecks and they say they can drive in any weather

 

It doesn't have to actually *rain* .. I like to kid with people about this...

Like if there's a *drop*, they rush news crews to the scene and interview people:

"Miss, you say you actually saw the drop hit the ground?"
"Yes, I was standing right over there!"

:: message flashes across the screen ::

STORM WATCH 2005!

"Was anyone injured?"
"No, but it was scary!"

RESIDENTS WARNED TO STAY INSIDE!

"You better take cover...."

:: cut to dry newscasters inside ::

"Wow Ken, we're glad we're in here!"

:: cut to weather guy who never does anything ::

"When will the rain end? Will it affect your morning communte? I'll have all of that and live storm tracking with our Dippler 9000x system2 right after the break!"

 

That's too funny. I like the Storm watch 2005 but with team coverage.

 

funny how socal news stations have better radar systems than counterparts in the midwest where it might actually be of GREAT value from tornados...

 

hey, black ice is where the fun begins!

 

One of the reasons I'm guessing for these stupid acts is the background of these drivers. SoCal (especially LA) are just filled with fobs (asian, middle eastern, e. euro). Their driving habits are so bad and just like in their own home countries they don't always abide by the rules, especially since they aren' always enforced.

Hence, they just bring these lousy habits when they immigrated over.

Now before anyone flames me, I'm just speaking from experience. I'm half white, half asian and I grew up in S.E. asia...so technically I'm a fob too...you just can't tell from looks, lack of accent and habits. I adapt very very quickly

 

+2

I use my high-beams at properly and at least once a week cause I can't stay off the back roads

Chris

 

Don't be racist you forgot about Latinos also....

 

no, we drive well so we dont get deported.