Did Everyone Pay Off The DMV To Get Their License?
November 17th, 2009 by Braddah LanceIt's been awhile since we've had a road rage blog and I'm surah there'll be a few to come being da holidays and all but in just these past two days it killed me how people really don't know how to drive!
Or at least know some of da laws....... 
One thing I cannot understand though is our car pool lane. How da heck can there be SOOOOO many people blatantly in that lane with only da driver in da car?! Going into work not too bad cause it seems like people know dat da 5-0 are lurking around once in awhile but going home....... OMFG! If our car pool lane hea was anything like da mainland.... we (Da Wife and I) would be at home in less than 20 minutes tops. I mean seriously, da car pool lane should be pretty smooth sailing considering there are no cut-offs and even then changing lanes should be a piece of cake.
Oh, changing lanes.
Since when did just throwing your blinker on give you da right of way! Just this morning aftah dropping off Da Wife, dis expensive looking SUV pulls into da "loading zone" lane - with nothing to unload - and he well knows it cause he was timing da light to change ovah but too bad da light was green already and we was on our way..... he nevah care. He just flashed his blinker and threw da nose of his SUV in.
I nevah back down. 
Da lolo jammed his brakes and started blamming ME!
Wassap Wit Dat!
If I wasn't late for work I would of.......... wooooo-saaaaaa. Family blog..... family blog. 
And please, for those who actually use their signal properly and wait for an opening or someone who is nice enough to let you in....... please turn OFF your blinker aftah you change lanes. Again this morning on Nimitz had one huge delivery truck change from da far left to da middle and left his blinker on for da longest. There were two cars dat were being nice and leaving space for him to change lanes. Da first car waited a bit then just zoomed by. Da second (I was behind dis lolo) waited for like a minute! I nevah like honk my horn cause da braddah was being nice but hello!... you gotta catch da hint sometime.
So hea's a few tips you may or may not have known to help you out..... or at least use 'em so if you next to me I not going get some cage rage action going on. 
- Vehicles making left turns DO NOT have da right of way..... unless you have a dedicated left turn light signal. You know, da ones with da arrows pointing left.
*** FYI - Left turning vehicles are the most common AT FAULT accidents - If you're at an intersection waiting to turn left and there's a vehicle turning right, stay to the inner most lane..... that's why there's a SOLID LINE painted on the road. You stay in your lane and da oddah car stays in theirs.
- Please read/notice any signs when approaching intersections..... some actually say.... NO TURNS or NO TURNS ON RED.
*** FYI - Da big red circle with da line going diagonally through a turn arrow means..... NO TURNS! - When approaching intersections and you're in da far right lane.... slow down and STOP before you hit da crosswalk cause you nevah know if get pedestrians crossing right in front of the vehicle next to you. Most everyone doesn't realize dat if there are no STOP LINES (it's da big, thick white line going perpendicular to your vehicle ) then da beginning (front) of da cross walk is treated as your FIRST STOP and da back of da crosswalk is treated as your SECOND STOP. Most times people slow down and just zoom through. Maybe once or twice a week I get near misses walking to and from my car on South Street.
- If you leave more than a FIVE car gap and you're not in da far right lane...... you're in da WRONG LANE! Da three second rule is usually two to three car lengths and to promote traffic flow. You wanna hold up traffic? Stay in da right lane!
Ok, dat's all for now.
Got any to add?
Tags: Accidents, Braddah Lance Kwon, Car Pool, Changing Lanes, Driving, License, Right Of Way, Wassap Wit Dat!, WWD!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:35 am
And anuddah ting.........this cell phone law while driving is so B.S.! Walking yesterday past the main police station a guy in a truck's yacking on his cell phone! WWD? IN FRONT OF THE MAIN POLICE STATION??????
And not even walking halfway up the next block I see 2 other people yacking and driving on their phones........no "bluetooth". That's 3 drivers yacking in a span of 4 minutes!
OK.......pau my "driving" rant.
OL
November 17th, 2009 at 9:35 am
FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gotta say it............
OL
November 17th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Shmall kine mad, BL?
Yes, I have my share of road ragin' when I drive. Gotta drive defensively b/c get planny idiots on the road. Glad I passed all your helpful hints on driving.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Comes down to the arrogant, "it's all about me" attitude. At one time every driver knew the rules...written permit test and all the right moves during road test, but after...selfish arrogance.
Everyone knew the cell phone law was going to be hard to enforce.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:57 am
As much as I love Hawaii I think that the state is the home to some of the worlds worst drivers. The worst for me is that more often than not people don't turn on their left turn signal until the light turns green and I get stuck behind them. Is it so hard to signal BEFORE you turn - as you approach the intersection and not while you are sitting there or after the light turns?
Also, I don't think there would be nearly the congestion that we have now if people paid more attention and kept the gaps tighter not only on the highway but also in regular traffic.
I think driving with Aloha is great but don't interrupt the flow of traffic to let someone in. If traffic is moving then keep it moving. When you have to stop then it is OK to let someone in.
Whew! Thanks for letting me spew that!
Alan from Makiki
November 17th, 2009 at 10:09 am
BL,
I have some things to add to your list:
1. You don't have to wait for the light to turn green BEFORE you put on your left turn signal.
2. After you've completed your stop at the stop sign, you don't have the right of way.
3. Putting on your turn signal doesn't give you the right of way to change lanes.
4. Turning around to talk to your backseat passenger while driving is a good way to meet the rear end of the car in front of you.
5. Solid lines do mean something.
6. Reading while you're driving 60 mph is deadly and stupid.
7. Cellphone use while driving should be enforced by HPD and the penalty should be revocation of their license.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Can't say I agree with you on that, BL. Same thing happened to me this morning. Dude just merged into my lane AND then signaled after he's already in...WWD!!! Reminds me of the drivers in Cali when I was there. I don't think I've ever been scared of driving until I drove up there.
Also, I hate driving behind "slow drivers." You know, the ones that drive AT the speed limit while the cars next to them fly by. I can't stand those kind of drivers.
But yeah, I admit I still talk on my phone while driving...I just put it on speakerphone the whole time but I rarely do that unless it's a call I have to make/take.
Makiki - Agree with you on the left turn part. I've seen drivers stop at the intersection before signaling they gonna turn left....some don't even signal at all and just wait there to turn.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Howzit BL,
I gotta agree with Makiki, that's one of my peeves too, along with your experience of peeps just signalling when they next to you and expecting you to slow down and let them in. It's like they gotta get in front instead of slowing down to get in behind you. So many self centered rude peeps on the road.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:42 am
My pet peeve - when you are in the long line to exit the freeway and someone just drives up to the front and pushes their way in. What, they can't wait in line like the rest of us? It also causes the line to move slower because the people pushing their way in make it so the people in the back don't get a chance to move forward.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:43 am
why......just yestaday......we almost got karranged by one red light runnnah while crossing Beretania @ Lauhala.......AGAIN!
dang stoopid drivah when zoom tru da innasection afta da light was red for like 3 seconds! WWD?! since i usually look at all da oncoming cars while using crosswalks......we was prepared and seen dis "ainokea @-hole" speeding towards da innasection trying fo make da light. if we neva was paying atttention.....we woulda stepped off da curb and BAM!
maaaan!......one of dese dayz......
OL - make shua to reeeeally pay attention at dis innasection if you cross there during your daily cavorting routine. :p
it's a freakin free-for-all out dea! *sigh*
November 17th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Good morning BL!
I agree wit you and everyone else. We must have the worst drivers in the nation/world in dis state...
November 17th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Bre - yuuuup.....dass da kine peeps dat should have da bumpah stickah dat sayz.......
"Yes......da world DOES revolve around me!"
November 17th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Gotta agree with the "It's all about me" mentality of a lot of poor drivers out there.
Those are the buggahs who like to:
)
Drive into your oncoming lane when there is an obstruction in THEIR LANE
Assume they have the right of way at any 4-way stop, no matter when they got there
Drive the wrong way down one way streets, and expect YOU to move for them
Drive slow in the left lane (Oh look, they're talking on their cell phone!
Block you out when trying to merge
Okay, time to calm down!
Woooooooo-sah!
Woooooooo-sah!
Woooooooo-sah!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:00 am
nutz outside dea on da road. anudda one is in da parkng lots. since wen you throw um in reverse, back out couple of feet an den check if get cars? plenny times almost nail da cars an only stay going like 5miles an hour. now days jus find da farthest parking an walk.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:48 am
... I hear yah Braddah Lance ... I like chime in too ... but I no mo time ...
... just enough time to say ... that although Hawaii is the Land of the Aloha Spirit ... and for the most part, everyone is good ... Hawaii still has some of the most stoopid, inconsiderate, dumba$$ drivers around ... and with attitude on top of that ... enought to make my blood boil Korean RED!!! ... like yours ...
... Have a Good One Everyone!!! ...
November 17th, 2009 at 11:49 am
If they would enforce the existing laws of the road we could get rid of furlough days through accumulated fines (that's sad)...Ever notice how the only people ever opposed to enforcement are the ones consistently getting caught breaking the rules..
If you aren't doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. We all have places that we want to get to in as little time as possible, but to endanger others' property and lives in the sake of a few minutes is ludicrous. Think about how your actions affect others...oh wait, that's the problem. No one's thinking...
November 17th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Hah! Good post BL!!
My grandfather's favorite line to the lolo drivers, "Eh, where you 'wen buy you drivers license.... Holiday Mart?!!!!
Drivers that don't pay attention drive me nuts. I try and be cool to keep my blood pressure down but sometimes no can!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:58 am
It's the holiday season already and people are rushing around so you need to drive defensively. Yeah, the other guy might be wrong - but it's your car he whacked. Yeah, his insurance will pay for it - but you'll still be out of a car while it's being fixed. Drive defensively for the next few months.
Cool head main thing
November 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
The worst drivers I've seen? 'Vegas!
Sorry HNL2LAS but it's true. Those guys are unreal!
November 17th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Cannot help it... always gonna get IDIOTS on the road... and the FUZZ are never there when really needed... gotta just breathe and relax... these idiots' are just bachi-ing themselves...
What I CAN"T stand is peeps who insist on parking super close to you, barely leaving room to get in your car, and you know their door HAD to bump your car...
SO... these idiots get the KEY on the side of their ride... HEH HEH!!!
November 17th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
But since we're ranting ~
For all the pedestrians out there: When the "don't walk" sign starts blinking, that means don't start crossing. You too late. Wait for the next cycle.
Yeah, you can make it across in time - just in time - before the light changes. But cops are cracking down on drivers who don't wait for you to finish crossing. So even though you get across just when the light changes - the cars waiting for you to finish don't make the light.
It's just plain selfishness on your part. No aloha.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I think it's time, make that way past due, that Oahu got state troopers or a highway patrol division.
Let the police fight the crime. Troopers and/or highway patrol will handle the traffic laws. And traffic fines should go to the City, not the State.
Whaddya say, Mufi?
Whaddya say, Linda?
Whaddya say, (insert new police chief name here)?
November 17th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
BL - Easy tigah!!
My pet peeve is talking/texting on the cell phone while driving. That law is a joke. Everyone was scared straight for the first month and then back to the same ol' stuff. Those are usually the guys who cause the most problems. And you guys all right. It comes down to the "Ainokea" attitude.
Aigoo........yaema......
November 17th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
BL,
Thought of a couple more:
1. Tailgaters, what a bunch of idiots out there ! I can't go any faster than the guy in front of me. I find myself paying more attention to the idiot behind me then the guy in front of me because I'm afraid the dummy is going hit me from behind when I stop.
2. Old people driving in the left lane on the freeway. Grandpa or grandma, you not going as fast as you think. Driving 40 mph in the fast lane is irritating everyone around you. Get in the right hand lane or catch the bus.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I get 1 4 u...today i stay at one 4 way stop intersection and dis Ahole pedest was walking in da crosswalk and bradah was taking his sweet Atime crossing the street because he was busy texting while he stay walking...
November 17th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I think drivers in HI are not the most well-versed (trying to be polite, so major understatement,) but I will say that they tend to be a little more considerate of others too, so there's a bit of a trade off (I know, not much of one)
November 17th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
oddly (not "ODDly), the one that gets me most when driving at home is the driver who has too much aloha and too little common sense. the one who waves three or four cars in front of them when merging, not realizing that they're causing backup in their own (main flow of traffic) lane.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Now dat's some ballz he get.
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Nevah.
One less driver I gotta worry about.
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Let's hope these mandatory driving classes (underage) will pay off.
But they did catch quite a few.... it's just dat now it's tapered off.
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I know! I've had dat happen before and couldn't pass and next thing you know..... I gotta wait at da light again.
Exactomondo! If you have to brake suddenly to let someone in...... you're not helping anyone but causing an accident waiting to happen.
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Good ones!
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On which one?
I actually like mainland driving.... except da traffic but das why I nevah drive alone up there.
I tink we all do dat..... now.
I know! I no get dat either. Wat's one car length?
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I'm always yelling in da car, "don't let 'em in! Don't let 'em in!"....... then they always get one person letting 'em in.
And to add to dat, wen you merging it's every oddah! Then get some dumb jerks out there like try squeeze in two per space just cause.... nevah like wait one car length. WWD! It's not like you weren't going to be able to get in.
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Dat kine is so scary. I was on my bike last week and samething. Good thing I nevah "time" da light.
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I seriously believe we do..... but we da best at showing "aloha"....... both kines of aloha.
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I tink I saw dat before!
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Those some good ones too!
November 17th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
As long as law enforcement looks the other way, more folks will push the limits while driving. If the C&C of Honolulu wants to recoup some of the lost tax revenue they should really crack down on those folks breaking the law. You hit those lolos in the pocketbook and that should straighten them out. In California, the guys you always watch out for are the motorcycle cops. They stick to the book and cut you no slack.
@Uncle Rod…
I totally agree with you. The state should have a separate division patrolling the highways of Hawai’i. Maybe Mufi or Lingle can get Ponch and Baker out of retirement?
November 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
@King Katonk: Woo hoo! CHiPs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mykg83C-GJs
November 17th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
@BL...
I agree with u on all those points you made. Pretty sure we've all seen it happen at least once.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
What I see more and more nowadays are people who swing out into the next person's lane (mine!) when they're making a turn. Come 'on folks. You're not driving an 18 wheeler!
November 17th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@Largo -- Yeah! I see all these little Hondas and Toyotas swing left before they make that right turn! WWD!!!?!?
Get plenny people who take left turns "short" too, like they're taking a racing line, and come SUPER CLOSE to whoever is waiting for them to execute their turn, be it at a traffic light or stop sign. How many times I almost get my bumper clipped!
November 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I echo everybody esle, but the one that got me was the lolo's who didn't know how to merge on the H1 and slowded down instead of sped up. That one killed me each time. Funny this was I could always see them coming from the time they got on the on ramp. They had this look of uncertainly about them.
And the guys who designed the H1 eastbound in town, but I cut them slack because I doubt in the 60's anybody had any idea how many people would be living on Oahu. Too bad Panos wasn't around then
November 17th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
BS! I'm so proud of you still using the "Hawaiian" we taught you!
You NOT "lolo"......
Eh.....BL.....rememba when da bruddah wen give us "hassles"?
You and me wen straighten his okole out!
OL
November 17th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
A rant post!
I drive down Date St every day and inevitably there will be some lolo who is too lazy to pull in to one of the many lanes/driveways to pick up or drop off a passenger because heaven forbid they have to be inconvenienced to wait their turn to pull back into traffic.
You might say "why not drive in the center lane? Well, because that's the lane that gets backed up to high heaven because they're all waiting for the light to turn green to allow only enough time for one car to turn left into Iolani School.
Okay, so you get past all that and get to the Date St / Kapiolani 20 way intersection. Two lanes. Center lane turns left. Right lane also turns left or can go straight. What would make a person in the center lane think they can go straight? There's no continuing lane on the other side. There's been many times I've seen people giving the "look how cute I am, please let me hold up traffic and go in front of you cuz I want to go straight and don't want to be inconvenienced by going around the block" look.
Other than that, Kapahulu is a great place to live!
Mahalo BL, I think I feel better now. hahaha!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
sally, I lived at Date and Wiliwili for 2 years. No matter where you drive from there, Waikiki, H1, it's nuts!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
@Scott: That's the more civil end of Date St. I'm on the golf course side. My daughter says it's the ghetto. LOL
People are so rushed these days, I think that adds to the unsafe driving. Late for school, late for work, late for appointments. It all adds up to "GETOUTOFMYWAYIGOTSOMEPLACETOBEANDNOBODYELSEMATTERS!"
November 17th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Hey Scott, did you eat a lot of shave ice when you lived there?
November 17th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
oh oh oh! I got another one! (sorry)
One time I was at the old Police Station, ex husb was renewing his license and I sat on the side somewhere to wait. This lady came up to me, thought I was Korean (not the first, won't be the last) and frantically started telling me something in Korean.
My "huh?" face changed her words to "please... help... what say?"
I looked at her paper, pointed to the first line and said "name?"
How can anyone get a a license if they can't read English?
Amazing, just freakin' amazing.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:13 am
@sally
This will make your hair stand up and make your faux-Korean blood boil. In California we have elected state officials who continually push for legislation for illegal aliens to obtain driver’s licenses. They defend their motives by pleading to the electorate that this downtrodden group of people needs transportation to get to the jobs “most Americans don’t want to do” I know a few folks who have gotten into accidents where the other driver was unlicensed, uninsured or in the country illegally. Talk about a hardship for the law abiding citizen. Our legislature, at every level, has their priorities turned around in protecting the wrong group of people. And do you think they really care about following the rules of the road?
November 18th, 2009 at 7:18 am
@KK: Holy Moly what a crock o' B.S.!!!
It's like when you get that recorded phone msg that says "For English, press 1" and then "Para Espanol, ...." WTH?