Ambulance Chasers?
It started many years ago with the "California Stop". Things are very casual here. Stop signs are merely suggestions, not actual rules to follow. At first, it was just braking a bit as you rolled up to the intersection, but not really stopping. That required too much effort, so now; we have modified that to a simple extended tap on the brake pedal to display the brake lights. The logic seems to be that the brake lights should be enough to let anyone know "Hey, I sort of slowed a bit and maybe looked at the other traffic, so I should be allowed to go, even if someone else had the right of way."
In certain "entitled" areas of LA (e.g., Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, etc.) a new system of pretend stops has evolved. Let's say you are at a nice four-way stop intersection. If the idiot in front of you actually stops, you now have the right to tail him through the intersection without making that pesky stop yourself. It's like a free pass. You see, when you're driving a huge SUV or a nice, extremely expensive, luxo-cruiser, you really shouldn't have to make a second stop at the intersection. As the theory goes, since cross or turning traffic has to wait for the car in front of you to go, they should and will allow you to cross with the first car. After all, when you live in the right neighborhood and drive an expensive car, your time is obviously more valuable than those other drivers' time. Often, a prerequisite for this sense of entitlement (and of course, rudeness) is for you to be engrossed in an important gossip session with your agent or producer on your cell phone.
Another driving phenomenon that we have been developing for the past 20 years in Los Angeles is a new definition of "ambulance chaser". As with stop signs, fire engine or ambulance sirens are merely polite requests for motorists to stop or pull over so that emergency response vehicles can respond to an emergency. In Los Angeles, where gridlock can and does occur at all times of the day or night, most emergency response sirens are seen as an opportunity to shave an extra couple minutes off your drive time. Hey, it's not like the ambulance will be able to get through traffic in time to save someone, right? You also don't have to worry about that annoying siren and flashing red lights that are coming toward you. The driver of an ambulance, EMT or fire truck is well trained to dodge stupid drivers. Even if he does hit you, you can always sue the county and get a large settlement. After all, it's not your fault that your agent called and you had to talk to her. You shouldn't have to watch the road when you are engrossed in an "important" conversation or if you're trying to change the CD. Whether the siren is behind you or in front of you (cross traffic sirens are completely ignored), it's your duty to take advantage of the situation and watch for the few suckers who feel obliged to follow the law and pull over or stop.
It's an amazing sight to watch. Suddenly there is disruption in the gridlock. Patches of opportunity appear. Most people are frantically checking to see why people are stopping or pulling over. When you are on your cell phone, with the windows up in your Mercedes, it's hard to hear sirens. It's hard to see the flashing red lights too. When more than 50% (and probably much more) of drivers have huge SUVs with heavily tinted windows, a quick check in your rearview mirror doesn't reveal anything. (Most Angelinos don't even know what a rearview mirror is... Alan) This all happens in about one second, so you have to move fast. If you do, you can pick up a few car lengths or even an intersection before the emergency vehicles pass. But even if you missed that first opportunity, there are many others. The moment the emergency vehicles have passed you, punch the gas and start the intricate driving moves necessary to dodge the not-yet-moving vehicles in front of you who are, themselves, still waiting for the sirens to pass. This works best if you, yourself, don't stop for the sirens. Don't worry! No one gets pulled over in LA for obstructing an emergency response vehicle. If you're smart, you can now surf the wake of the ambulance as it parts its way through the gridlock.
This technique works especially well if you are on a freeway. Even in Los Angeles, if you see flashing red lights directly on your bumper (but not before then), you might make the effort to change lanes. The opportunity now exists to be an ambulance chaser. As soon as the ambulance has passed, change lanes to get right behind it. Don't worry, everyone else is doing it. If the CHP even wants to bother with you, the officer will have his pick of dozens of others doing exactly the same thing. Hey, who ever said there was a law against ambulance chasing? Lawyers have done it for more years than most of us have been alive. If you're lucky, you can get an extra couple miles with an average speed of more than 20 mph!
The Murano Files
I live and work in the heart of L.A. I'm in Beverly Hills-adjacent (in realtor-speak). Most of my driving is on surface streets with some on the highway. Here are some real-world gas mileage statistics:
My ride: 2003 Nissan Murano
Miles per tank: 214
Miles per gallon: 11.46
Number of gallons: 18.67
Unocal regular gas: $1.719/gallon
Average speed: 15.3 mph over the past 1,641 miles
Average fuel economy: 11.2 mpg over the past 1,641 miles
Welcome to the real world of traffic in LA!
