6PLU854 & 1UZ6--- Unified Grocers

What happens when you get a Lexus who won't yield a little room and a semi truck that won't use his mirrors? Here you go! I didn't get the full plate from the trailer, but it was from a company called Unified Grocers, who have their local branch in Commerce. Did take this screen capture of the cab, which has much numbers on it, but I didn't write any of that out.

I think if I were in the Lexus (6PLU854) I would be giving Unified Grocers a call!

Bicycle

Cyclists. I don't have a problem with them, except for the fact that it seems like a great many of them seem to think the law doesn't apply to them. I see a lot of them driving two and three wide, completely blocking whole lanes, not yielding the right of way, driving the wrong direction, crossing all the way across the road at random intervals, and almost never do you see them stopping at stop signs! When I see such flagrant and dangerous (and by dangerous, I primarily mean to the cyclist themselves, so one could make an argument for Darwinian evolution) behavior, I often make the comment, "Because the law doesn't apply to bicycles!"

Here we see a prime example. To start off with, it is fairly dark already, and you can see this girl has no light, front or back. Secondly, she's in between two lanes for no apparent reason. Next move, she rolls right over the limit line, then blows the red light in front of everyone who's turning left. A bit further up the road, she's pretty far out into traffic lanes (CVC 21202 - Bicycles traveling slower than the normal speed of traffic must ride as close to the right side of the road as practicable - a violation I see CONSTANTLY!). Finally, another blast right through a red light.

6YLV514

When I see someone who, pretty far on, gets over two or more lanes, I often have the thought that they're not paying attention to where they are going. This is another video that is a little bit lengthy primarily to showcase such a move. Right at the beginning, you'll see a Ford Fusion changing lanes to the left. Not long after that, they get over the second time to the interchange lane. I'm the type of driver where I plan ahead and am in the lane I need to be in to get where I'm going. 

The payoff for the lengthy video is at the end, where it truly seems like they aren't paying attention!

I Have to Turn My Head Until My Darkness Goes

Lest anyone think the title or the song it alludes to (The Stones' "Paint it Black") is used as a racist slur, I was using it more for the line that preceeds it, as this girl walks by dressed in her Summer "clothes". I know it's been hot hot hot for days here, but PLEASE! No one needs to see that! So as a special treat, you now get to see it!

As a side note, if you're going to go about in your underwear, at least find a pair that don't have a huge hole at the bottom!

8X33180 - City Wide Towing

Had another clip I have been attempting to use for the last two days, but for some reason Blogger gives an error every time I try to upload it. Instead, you get this:

Heading up to the stop, you'll see the tow truck drift a good couple of feet into the right lane. He corrects back, but is still encroaching. It's like he had no idea where he was headed! The part that doesn't show is after this, when the light changes, and he gets over to the right after all, as you can tell, crossing the solid white line. After the transition is a couple miles further up the road. Would like to have had a rear facing camera for that, and then before he makes the right turn. He pulled the EXACT same move AGAIN! Two lanes, one that goes straight, the other that turns right, and he's in the wrong one and crosses the solid white line again!

Tribute

Yesterday I was driving past General Hospital when I came upon this scene. I had heard on the radio that there had been another accident on Loma Vista in Beverly Hills that afternoon, with a police officer killed. Reviewing the video, it looks like at least 20 police cars, as well as four or more fire engines, and two police helicopters in the sky. I had not considered that the Coroners' office was there, and that there would be a turnout like this there.

I know I usually only have posts here when someone is breaking a road rule or making a dangerous or inconsiderate move, and with the law only when they're going outside the law, but for this I'll make an exception. I really do usually respect and appreciate the work of the local police.

The only call out I'll give here is that watching on the news last night, it sounds like the residents on this street had been complaining about big trucks on this street for a while. Maybe now someone will listen. There has now been a 30 day moratorium on big trucks put into effect.

6AFJ163

In case you might have thought I unfairly disparaged USC alumni in my previous post, here's another one doing the exact same move! This time in a Porsche Cayenne, and this time waiting until the were firmly into the solid white line to cross over. This is a rather lengthy video this time, because I wanted to show how long and how much free area was available for them to get over well ahead of the last second!

The bonus catch I got on this one was the Toyota mini truck that was ahead of them with dealer paper plates from Penske, pulling the same move, albeit not quite as late. Sure didn't look that new!

5XSS015 & 5XNV252

This is heading up the 710 to the transition to the 10. Always ALWAYS people who want to go East staying in the Westbound lane (which is clearly marked way back) until the last minute then cutting over. This car was totally predictable, it's an Acura, and they have a USC alumnus license plate frame. Pretty much most Japanese "luxury" model (a rebadged Toyota, Honda, or Nissan) you can count on having a rude, inconsiderate or just plain bad driver, it seems.

So it start off with the cyclist heading up. I don't count them, but, dude, watch out for the Acura! Sure enough, 5XSS015 starts signalling late, and doesn't even make an attempt where there's plenty of room ahead of the truck where the bike gets over, but waits until way late. Bonus, right as he heads right, you get the Nissan 5XNV252 (don't get me started on Nissan drivers) who it looks like heads to the left side crossing over the solid white line (and then proceeded to drive really slow).

VW

A return to one of the most prolific spots for seeing bad drivers, the South 5 at the East LA interchange! I'm sure I've mentioned before, but about a mile before the split, it picks up another lane on the left, which is clearly posted as going to the 60 East. There's always a bunch of people who wait until the last moment, then get back on the 5 South lanes. I've got what I think would be an excellent solution, but I'd bet that they'll never do it, because it 1) makes sense, & 2) would work.

Here's a prime example. This guy in the Volkswagen sedan (Jetta?) doesn't even start signalling until it's solid white line, and cuts over the full triangle, and causes the driver he cuts off to brake. I'd put money down that they come this way five days a week.

Reflexes

OK, I've got several more little video clips of bad drivers I could post, but for a change here's someone who gets the Rain Man Excellent Driver Award! Perhaps one day I'll actually make up an image for that, but for now, enjoy the good reflexes displayed by this driver!!!

Unfortunately, I've discovered that my cheap little dash cam, even though it has 1080p definition, isn't anywhere near good enough to catch license plate tags, even right up on them like this was! I'm either going to have to go back to using my still camera (which I never really much cared for, therefore the primary reason I stopped for so long) or the phone camera (really not a great format, being a flat little touchscreen) or just making a note and you'll have to take my word for it!

UPS

Hey, everybody!!! After a long LONG break, here I'm back!!! A few months back I picked up a dash cam, and believe me, there's no shortage of bad drivers I could submit from it!!! Now that I've remembered my password, I'll probably be posting more, but for now, here's a shot of a UPS truck making a last minute lane change over a solid white line with no signal!!!

Bonus, there's a Fiat that looks like they want to change lanes at the last minute, too, but they lack the courage of their convictions. They never did change lanes.

5WDU822

Here's a rarity for Max. I was actually walking for a change, when I came upon this scene.


It took me a while, but gave me plenty of time to get some good shots. Of course, this doesn't look bad from the pictures, so I'll give you the context.


There are two lanes that turn right here, and this ninny in a Nissan was in the leftmost of them, right at the front of the line. The light turned green three times before they finally went, but that is only what I saw. Of course, they were blocking the people behind them from going, yet only one of them actually honked. Of course that didn't do any good anyway. finally they went.


Now, here's the context: The two streets change to one way streets here! You cannot turn left, it's only traffic coming from that way.


You can't go straight, it is only oncoming traffic that way. The only option is to turn right! Well, I guess not, you could just sit there and block traffic!

Unexpected Detour

The other day I was heading across the San Gabriel river. Suddenly, all the cars ahead of me were stopping. Huh?

The police had the road blocked off going over the river. I don't know why, maybe there was a jumper on the bridge.

5RBJ796

Served on a platter! I had noticed this guy about five minutes before I snapped the first picture you see here.

I had been watching this glorified nissan go from one side of the freeway to the other for miles, keeping an eye on him.

Cut in front of me, and it was like he was posing for his shot.

As you can see, he was constantly from one lane to the other, always full on the throttle or the brakes! These pictures are over the course of about five more minutes.

To his credit, he always signalled, although usually right as he was heading that way. No matter, if you watched him at all, you could usually tell what he was going to do!

The final shot was the best, though, after all that, there you are in my rear view!

5CSB892

Dangerous and stupid and inconsiderate!



Take a good look at the first picture. It speaks volumes. This idiot is making a right turn from the center lane. You'll notice that it is fairly blind, because there is a bus in the way. You will also notice that they are causing the traffic attempting to go the right way to stop.



There were pedestrians in that crosswalk. They don't care.



In the last shot, you can see, they're a full car length ahead of me at the next light. Well, that was worth it!

4GTE127

I thought this was an unusual one. You will notice in the first picture, the driver's mouth is open. I don't think it ever closes.



I pulled into the spot next to this person. When I was pulling in, the driver was in the back seat putting a child into their seat (unlike some people!) and had the back door all the way open. No problem to me, my car isn't that big, and the parking spots are actually realistically sized. I pull in with plenty of room and park. No sooner do I get parked that she starts bitching at me about how I should have said something and she would have closed her door (which would have been impossible because her ass was hanging out at the time I was parking, and as I said there war really no need anyway). So, I did nothing wrong, and yet I get bitched at. Continually. All the way out of the parking lot. I swear, some people are not happy unless they are complaining about something. Or maybe they are never happy, and they try to externalize that onto other people?

The kid asks why that man is taking pictures, and babymomma answers "because he stoopid!" Isn't that *ahem* the pot calling the kettle black?

More Stupid Bus Drivers

I didn't get a good shot of the plate on this one, but he was heading for station 18, wherever that may be. While I was coming up the street, this bus driver already had his front end across the center lane of oncoming traffic. He was stopped there, because there was another car in the number two lane coming his way. As soon as that car was passed, he continues his turn, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! As I was taking the second picture, I was full on on the brakes and horn. Not like the light was changing or anything, either. I don't think there was another car behind me.

For someone who makes their living driving, you'd think they would do a better job.

3STR371

Subtitle="Parents of the Year!"

Way to go, parents! You've got the car seat all installed in the back seat, now if you'd just put your kid in it before you drove off, instead of letting him bounce all over the back seat!

CP76585

Subtitle: SMOKIN'!

Driving down the freeway a few days ago, I smelled it first. First thing I thought of: I hope that isn't me, but I don't know how it could be. Hmmmm... Smells like someone has their brakes or clutch burning!

Usually when you smell this, it's someone forgot to take off their emergency brake. I don't think that is the case here. I got up the road a bit, and came upon the source of the burn. This bus, another charter bus, I believe.

5WYR232 & 5WWZ581

Mini Vans. They have their place, I guess, but often they seem to be poorly driven.

The other day, I discovered what kind are the worst! Exiting the freeway (actually worse traffic getting off than if you continued on the freeway, for a change. I blame poor design) there was a row of cars stopped. At the last moment, the fool in the first crappy Toyota mini van cuts in.

While I was aiming for a better license plate shot, I got a bonus! Another of the EXACT SAME mini van does the same thing, only farther up, into the triangle.

Here is my first shot of the second mini van, tight on the back plate.

Here's a rear view shot of after I got ahead of the mini van on the street. Not very clear, but as you can see, they were anxious to be ahead of everyone on the freeway, but had no interest in doing so once we got onto the street!