heheh i was driving thru solvang one morning after work an i fell asleep a the wheel an woke up on the other side of the road just in time to swerve back but the car coming at me swerved off the side of the road an launched his car off a 10 ft cliff into a field of strawberries, i slammed on my brakes an went over to see if he was ok, he got out an laughed at me because he was sleeping too.

after that day i never got tired behind the wheel again

A quick light-flashing is an acceptable way to ask if the person will move over.  It is common communication throughout Europe and is being seen more here.  It is a request, "please allow me to pass".  Many regions in Europe do not allow right-side passing under any circumstances so if someone wants to pass they must do it in the left lane.  I know some people can take a civil form of communication and turn it into a contest of 'who's the bigger bully', but that is not the original intent.

Ah, Joty, that's sad.  My mom is coming for Thanksgiving.  It's a 1 1/2 from her house.  She is 77.  This is the first year she won't be driving up.  She says it just makes her too nervous.  So, my daughter will be leaving early to pick her up and then one of us will take her home.  She has always been better at coming to visit than I am going to visit.  So, I don't see her as much anymore.  I hate leaving our mountain.  But it looks like I'll be having to take more trips down it so I can see my mom more often.

As for the driving thing.  I'm a natural born speeder.  I try to get places quickly, then I feel foolish, when I'm sitting at a stop light with someone I cussed out and passed 20 minutes ago.  My annoyances are with those that are in the left lane and just absolutely will not pull to the right when they see a car coming up.  Or when you are on a two lane road behind a slow car who has 10 cars behind him and won't pull slightly to the shoulder to let others pass, sometimes they even speed up, when you try to get passed them.  I like being on the open road, no cars in front of me or behind me.  LA freeways make me insane.

Flashing with the headlights is a surefire way to start road rage in a lot of people.  In southern CA, it's just not acceptable, even though the intentions may be polite.  I was driving 100 on the 5 one day and some bad-word chick behind me flashed me.  So I slowed down and sat next to the trucks I was passing for a few minutes.  I mean, come on, is it necessary to flash someone going 100?  It's reeks of bitchy-ness.  I'm much more comfortable with multi-lane freeways, because there are so many options to get around.  LA is fun because it's so easy- impossible to get lost there.

Driving when you're tired is pretty scary.  I know there were many times I would drive until my head dropped and I had to shake it to wake up.  (Driving 70 hours a week can be pretty exhausting!)  It's most frustrating when you don't have anywhere to pull over.  The company I used to drive for was so wonderful about safety (somewhat because of an infamous lawsuit).  We could stop at any time, call and say that we were too tired, and they would either give us more time on our load or transfer the load to another driver.

I agree with TK  about flashing your lights at someone that is in the fast lane going slow.

It is a request, "please allow me to pass" though when I flash my lights that isn't exactly the phrase that pops into my mind ;) Nothing is more annoying than driving back from bakersfield with someone infront of you that just won't get out of the way.

Had to go into Northridge today.  Yuck .... but here's another rule everyone should know:  When you are merging onto the freeway, those already on the freeway have the right of way.  You have to MERGE ..... honestly, some people just kinda drive up  (with cell phone in ear) and pay no attention to the car already in that lane, in that spot.  Two solid objects cannot occupy the same space at the same exact time.  Unless of course, you happen to have left home in your good ole time machine. 

Some day I'm gonna run my 10,000 pound Lincoln right into that stupid little Audi/BMW/Lexus side panel.  "Honest officer, I was just driving along in the slow lane and this car came out of nowhere."  And --- I can cry on demand.  So, Audi/BMW/Lexus driver will so get a ticket and have to make a call to their insurance carrier. 

I'm in my early sixties - and just may have to give up driving.  It's making me crazy and really, I much prefer my happy self, usually capable to laughing at life's challenges.  Bad drivers are getting to me. 

Hey, I gotta ad my 2 cents here, please slow down when there's fog and you can't see 10 feet in front of you. I was on the 202 the other night with extremely poor visibility and someone, probably  TROUBLE, tried to ride my bumper the whole way home. Some of us have kids waiting at home for us, and I'd like to make it to my destination in one piece! 

Christine, I am so there with you.  I have a real life here!!!