If you have ever driven in LA you know the pain of five o'clock on the 405 freeway. Actually you know the pain of any o'clock on the 405. I think of myself as a very defensive driver. I just don't need to get anywhere in that much of a hurry. I find my horn to be unpleasant. If I do have to use it I try to have a musical quality about it. You know, "beep beep please scoot over..have a nice day". There is nothing more aggravating to me than this sound, "BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP1x" Now, that's just not nice. I have and never will be one who's prone to road rage. But, I do have some friends that are riding that fence between aggressive driver and ass.

I decided to take it upon myself to solve the dilemma of where all this negativity is coming from. I decided I'm going to drive around town and see if I can gain any insight. While pondering this I made a quick stop at the corner coffee shop. I ordered it to go and decided to begin my research.

To continue my research I opted for side streets, after all it was eleven a.m. and who knows if the morning freeway traffic had died down yet. I remembered that the article also stated, "One of the main causes of aggressive driving is congestion.  The Los Angeles metropolitan area ranks first in the nation in traffic congestion?." Hmm?congestion, okay I'll buy that as a cause, nothing makes people crazier than being trapped. Whoa, hold on is that a Grand Opening of a new Starbucks? My research was put on hold while I stopped in to check out the new hot spot. Unfortunately, there were just too many people stuffed inside for me to get one of the free samples they were handing out.

My research was cut short by a page. I had to meet a friend for lunch and I was late. During lunch, I explained my research to a friend. She too, had no idea what would make someone so angry?pass the cream please?that they would actually wish harm upon another driver. No sugar, equal would be great?She did share with me that her normally very sedate and sweet fiancé abruptly gets a case of Tourettes when he's driving. Who would have thought a nice young man, who wears suits to work, and is marrying one of my best friends would yell things I wouldn't expect to hear in a Scorsese movie to a nice older woman doing sixty in the fast lane. We had no explanation.

She asked if I had time for an ice blended. We walked next door to a Buzz and ordered a mocha. Said our good byes, and I hopped back in my car and sat and sat. The parking lot was a madhouse. Oh, wait this is the perfect place for observation. Looking around I noticed everyone in their cars look so happy, no one had a sense of urgency about him or her. A few sipped ice blended drinks, is that a Vanilla? Ah, man, why didn't I get that one? Some were bopping up and down to whatever was playing on their car stereo. Fifteen minutes or so passed. I tossed my empty cup in the back seat and was growing tired of people trying to make a left onto the main street. Suddenly, I noticed a change in some driver's attitudes. "Beep". Uh oh. "Beep Beep". Please don't. "BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP1x" What? Why? We were all so happy a moment ago. What had changed?

The whole thing began raking my nerves. I just needed to get out of this damn parking lot1x All I wanted to do was go home and relax. The whole outing was to no avail. I learned nothing about road rage. Damn it1x You could have made the left1x1x Go just go1x1x I still have no indication of where people's anger is coming from. I guess some people just can't handle the stress of living in a big city.