Did you catch the subsequent "asshattery"? Equally descriptive.

Having long experience with both Washington and California drivers I'd say they're about equally bad at freeway driving.

Though I think Oakland has the nation's leading per capita on the number of drivers who consider stop lights to be friendly suggestions.

Come spend 5 days a week for a few weeks in rush hour traffic, then we'll talk ;)

No no, BTD! I have discovered that drivers *everywhere* regularly engage in asshattery, particularly when there's rush hour involved, and unless someone's living in the boondocks, these days you can find rush hour just about anywhere (yes, I found it in what felt like the middle of nowhere in UT... I've seen it in Michigan, too!). Unfortunately for Southern Californians, such as you, myself, and probably 50% of the people reading this post, rush hour is a 24-hours a day, thing.

The only thing I'm glad for is that I don't have to drive in Washington, D.C. Have you seen the way people drive out there? If you haven't been - check it out. It's insane.

Recent studies have shown that the safest driving areas in the country are the areas with the worst rush hour commutes. With everybody going 12 miles an hour it is really hard to hit someone hard enough to kill them.

That is what the guns are for.

Clue: bald tires on newly wet and oily road will not stop well.

That's what I tell people when they wonder how I could ever gather up the courage to drive in SoCal. (Actually, I got my first permit in Cali, so I learned on those roads). It's not dangerous driving, just hugely annoying. Now, night driving down there is a different thing- people can finally go fast, and they do!

We're making up for lost time!

Rose and I have witnessed 3 accidents with rollovers by vehicles just going too fast - all 3 happened while we were driving home from Disneyland.