All drivers, but especially professional drivers, have a duty to drive safety… particularly at a busy international airport like Los Angeles International (LAX). To the driver who weaved recklessly between vehicles and cut us off: I hope your license is revoked.
Reckless Airport Limo Driver Weaves Through Traffic At LAX
My dear mother picked up my father and me after we arrived on our Delta flight from Washington. My son Augustine came along too. As we were driving around the horseshoe at LAX, a black GMC Yukon that was behind us suddenly pulled into the lane beside us (without using turn signals), then pulled directly in front of us, forcing my mother to slam on the brakes.
We then watched him continue this weaving game as he desperately tried to save…a few seconds? LALA land is not a bastion of great drivers, but this was bad and this jerk should have known better.
I looked up his TCP number and found his info. I used that to file a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission. While I never heard back, I hope he had at least receives a letter in the mail putting him on notice that there was a complaint filed against him.
But my point here is simply to remind all of us that weaving through traffic to save a few seconds only creates danger for ourselves and others. This guy could have easily caused a massive accident and such reckless behavior should not be tolerated.
On a somewhat related note, I always chuckle when we cross the border into Switzerland with our car…Heidi always admonishes me not to go even 1KM/hour over the speed limit. Switzerland is full of cameras and speeding fines are quite punitive. The result, however, is that it is rare to see someone speed on a highway in Switzerland: the cost it too much. I hate red light cameras and the use of cameras to control traffic in general, but without adequate enforcement mechanisms, jerks like this driver will continue to flout the law.
CONCLUSION
It is never pleasant when a driver cuts you off, but it is particularly egregious at a busy international airport by a “professional” driver. Do us all a favor when you dive and be courteous to other drivers. Don’t be a jerk.
Every day I observe drivers using the right lane to turn left which means I have to brake to avoid hitting the vehicle. Truck drivers that wait until I’m near the intersection to slowly merge unto the main road. My all time favorite is the driving maneuver d’jour : green light with no vehicles in the road and the car in front slams the brakes unto a full stop with a car behind.
God forbid the guy wants to get out of the congested hell that is LA roadways. Good job Karen.
I’ve ridden similar Ubers in downtown San Francisco. While it might be unsafe from a certain perspective (and you wouldn’t be wrong) I am almost fascinated at how these “professional drivers” can find the narrowest of gaps and weave around traffic without sideswiping anything. I was in awe, really. I couldn’t manage getting my cab clean at that taxi arcade game 2 decades ago like these guys lmao
And then he flew to Orlando and got into a fight with the Spirit reps?
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/spirit-airlines-customer-arrested-for-putting-orlando-police-officer-in-chokehold-at-airport-deputies
People always drive so slow on these terminal roads. I don’t blame the driver.
All the women drivers creep with their mom mobiles and block traffic.
Welcome to MN!!! It is hell on Earth here in terms of driving. In the last few years people just went completely nuts to a point that has become dangerous to drive here. There has been several shootings due to road rage and people have been killed in their cars here. I simply ignore the jerks. Not worth stressing about these losers.
Your Brazilian roots which are steeped in heavy drama about, well, everything, is quite endearing. It’s Minnesota, Santastico.
Not following your comment here Stuart. Brazil has one of the worst traffic and craziest drivers in the world. Yes, if you know how to drive there you can drive anywhere. What I said about MN is that as you probably heard, people here are known to be “Minnesota nice”. That’s no longer the case. Drivers here lost their mind. They give middle finger to everyone, they honk horns non stop, there are road rages everywhere. For someone that was used to a very peaceful driving here, that is different. But for someone that has a 17yo starting to drive, that’s very concerning. There is no drama Stuart, it is just a different reality. When a father is killed inside his car driving his son from a baseball practice because the other guy that was a maniac driver didn’t like he honked the horn to avoid a crash is very very sad.
I’m certain you been in a car in Manhattan where your driver needs to drive like that or you aren’t going to be going anywhere.
I’ve lived around DC for most of my life. And driving here is not for the faint of heart. I could parallel park in 30 seconds because failing to do so someone would steal your spot. The beltway is a training ground for stunt drivers. And I once heard a cloistered nun swear while I was driving her. I detest driving for these experiences.
I now live in an exurb where I can walk safely and my biggest threat is an occasional bear. When people wave here they use all their fingers
Matt’s observation about Sweden makes me wonder about, say, 10 or even 15 years hence, when automated driving becomes the norm and then worrying about speeding tickets will be moot. Yes, it will be frustrating that the cars will obey the rules meticulously but it will mean the end of bad drivers, people who see the light change and wait 10 seconds to react, and so on. It will also probably mean the end of private cars in that why have a car in the driveway eating up money when it can go to “work” as an Uber 24×7? Why pay for parking space if your car is continuously working?
Even with ubers, private automobile ownership (for now) is more affordable even though the costs are high compared to trying to uber all the time but with automated driving, why own a car?
I also thought about celebrities I read about who got busted for drunk driving and such. They can afford a cab or even a private driver. Paris Hilton, for example, got a DUI. Pay someone to drive her home or heck, have him pay HER to document it. 🙂
Age means I don’t drive totally like an old lady, but I do relax behind the wheel now and factor in at least 5 minutes of “idiot time” for those who refuse to wake up at green lights and such and will stick me with it. Better to just take it easy about that than letting it ruin my day.
Mathew, do you tip your drivers?
My mother?
Geez where’s the hurry on the horseshoe given the traffic and the construction everywhere? . If that were my driver pulling that, he’d get a tongue lashing and a follow up from me with the company he drives for.