Ginna Nguyen
Staff Writer
I have attempted with this column to offer you experiences, thoughts, adventures, etc. that will enhance your time in college and augment your personal and worldly growth. I wasn’t sure what to write about this week. I have some outstanding and enlightening columns coming up in the next weeks for you, but this week was simply void of deep inspiration. At least until about 10 people called me a maniac driver. So in lieu of my infamous driving amongst my friends, I am encouraging you to get out into a world other than that of Pepperdine’s, in true SoCal driving style with a little bit of Zen.
In order to achieve such a driving Zen, I give you this example: I have had some of the best conversations with God while alone in my truck, driving along Pacific Coast Highway at dawn or late at night on a wide open strip of freeway — windows down and music infusing the wind, of course. Truly, I find release behind the wheel and have often used my truck and the road as an outlet for stress, a path of contemplation, and way to unwind.
There is a freedom felt in driving and I encourage you to grab hold of the wheel and experience it. You currently reside in Los Angeles — one of the greatest cities on the West Coast. There is so much to experience here and in Southern California that it is absolutely essential to leave from time to time this small beach community. So with that in mind, I bid you hop into your motor vehicle, put on some really good, soul-reaching music and drive! But first, be sure to follow these driving concepts that are great for the beginning Southern Californian driver:
One: stop signs really just mean pause enough to make your brake lights come on and make sure you won’t hit anything.
Two: tailgate like crazy, but only if you are good at it. We do not need anymore fender benders on Interstate 10. And if you are being tailgated, move over. It’s common courtesy.
Three: blinkers. I have long since pondered the purpose of these. I mean, they are handy for quick lane changes for the person behind you not paying attention, but if you drive in California, you just know when someone is going to move over. Also, please turn off your blinker when you are not turning.
And why do people use their blinkers when there is no one around? Or when someone is in a right-turn-only lane and they put on their right blinker, as if it weren’t obvious they were going right … why do people do that?
Four: know the art of weaving — just because traffic might stand still on the 405 freeway does not mean you have to.
Five: ride the exit lane and then cut back into traffic. I like to play this game sometimes during gridlock. I see how many cars I can put behind me in traffic via the above two arts of driving. It makes me feel better about getting where I’m going. And it passes the time.
Six: save your breaks. There is this existing mentality that if there are brake lights ahead, you must break as well. If there is no car or object within a reasonable distance in front of you requiring a slower speed, then please do not break. You will create a traffic jam from Malibu to Riverside and then that would suck for about 2 million people. My dad calls those people turtles. Don’t be a turtle, please.
Seven: pedestrians have the right-of-way. Always. And pedestrians: exercise that right. You are in Southern California.
Eight: the state’s maximum speed limit is 65 mph. Cops like to hide at the on-ramps of freeways and on hideaways coming out of a long strip of road, usually downhill.
Nine: carpool. It’s not a typical Southern Californian way to drive, however I encourage you to do it. You know the reasons why, so I will refrain from futile repetition. Also, do not throw your trash out the window. It’s simply disrespectful and trashy.
Ten: have fun. If you think about the amount of hours of your life that you spend behind the wheel of a car, then why wouldn’t you want to have fun driving? I mean, you can sit behind your wheel and stare out the window and think only of your destination, or you could let loose and enjoy to journey. Let your automobile take you where it may.
So go — now that you know how to drive in the beautiful land of Southern California, I bid you to grab a friend, get in a car and go explore this crazy, wonderful world!
Oh, but please be safe. Be a maniac, but don’t be a stupid driver.
02-02-05
