How a person thinks is how a person drives. Some do not prepare, live moment to moment, on the edge. These people drive fast, change lanes often and will generally cut you off, since it's not them that's fast, it's you that's slow.
Some people are distracted, by life, by emergencies, by anything but their current actions, living life on autopilot, drifting, as if unaware. These people are the ones blissfully unaware that they're holding up the left lane while being passed on the right.
Some are neither of these, staying in the moment, being conscientious of those around them, helping in ways they can when they're able. These people are thankfully the majority. These people drive in the right lane after passing on the left. They use their turn signals and get into their lane well before their exit. I like these people.
One day all of this will be software, but for now it's nerves, coffee, grey matter & adrenaline.
Drive safe!
Drivers, when in doubt: zipper! If you see an upcoming construction zone, don't fret. Those two or three lanes are going to do what they're going to do, which is usually what's least efficient.
If the right lane ends in a mile and you preemptively move to the left lane, that's your choice, but I guarantee you it will only enrage you as you see the right lane speed by you.
"They're cheating!" "They're only saving 30 seconds!" Etc., etc. All true, but just know that the most efficient lane merge technique is zippering.
What is zippering? Both lanes driving to the merge point without constantly switching lanes and then going one by one, left, right, left, right, one car at a time. That's it!
Will this ever catch on? Maybe not, but it's the best way to merge 2 lanes, and every vehicle is equal.
I truly wish highway management used signs that encourage (really just remind) people to zip.
An easy way to always ACE a perfect 4-way stop intersection: Whenever you slow to a stop, just look for who was there (and stopped) before you, let them go, and then it's your turn to go. Done.
This is not sarcasm, just my simple explanation of how to go through these pesky intersections.
Some people get upset or confused because there are 3 other cars and they don't know which of the 2 or 3 is truly up next. The truth is you can't know, nor should you; you don't have all the information. All you need to know is who was stopped before you, that's all.
I can't tell you how many people I see that don't pay attention, lose track, or go before their time.
How to never have blind spots in any car you drive:
1. Start neutral, head forward, and set your rear (center) mirror backwards for the center line of your lane of travel.
2. Lean far left, almost touching the window with your head, then adjust the mirror to where you can just barely see the side of your car.
3. Repeat, leaning far right over your center console, and adjust your right mirror to see just the edge of the right side of your car.
Now when cars pass, they'll disappear from the center mirror and be in your side mirrors, then they'll pass into what's visible if you look left or right.
Blind spots shrink to almost nothing. Still glance over your shoulder.
Pedestrians & trust are a ticking time b*mb. The few times I am walking around Santa Cruz and come across crosswalks, it reminds me how distracted drivers really are.
If I was a cop, I'd be able to meet my quota just outside Staff of Life alone.
I do a lot of driving, as you'd expect, and the worst offenders aren't even the drivers; it's the blind trust that SF'ers put in crosswalk signals.
If I had a dollar for every time I saw a headphone-wearing, eyes-down crosswalker blindly step out into traffic, I'd be able to afford my own island.
It's easy to make fun of SF people, but driving on Mission isn't that different. How are students smart enough to pass admissions but not have self-preservation?
The lesson here is as much for myself as it is for your headphone-wearing kids: don't trust a crosswalk signal, look twice!
Drive (and walk) safe out there!
