L.A. Can't Drive

Idiocy Meter

Asshole Meter

One of the things that boggled me most about L.A. when I first moved here is that you have so many poorly kept cars in what is stereotypically known as a “car culture” town.  You know what’s a common sight?  Broken sideview mirrors.  You also frequently see broken or malfunctioning tail/brake lights, bumpers held up by duct tape or twine, and tires so worn down that the treads are almost non-existent.  Hell, even on this site you’ve seen posts of drivers without any working brake or taillights on the freeways at night.  We took this photo (SUV or minivan, I can’t remember) en route to a Dodger game a couple of years ago.  The center rear taillight didn’t work whenever the driver braked, and to say that the rear left tire needed some air was a gross understatement.  The right rear tire was inflated properly, so you would think this driver would have wondered at some point why his vehicle was rocking like a boat in choppy waters.  For some Angelenos, proper upkeep of their vehicles isn’t a priority.  For others, they’ve stopped caring when the warranty ran out.  I’m sorry, but who in their right mind puts a price on one’s safety?  It’s not surprising that people here don’t give a crap about the vehicles of others; I’ve already reported on a few occasions that the cars my wife and I own have had more dings and scrapes in L.A. in a few years than the entire time we’ve lived in NY.  Still, this is your own property we’re talking about, people.  Spend the couple hundred bucks and fix your damn cars…it may even save your life one day.

Filed under: car lights, clueless, observation