DMV states driving is a privilege and not a right, and I wholeheartedly agree, and I also believe this privilege requires at least some basic driving skills, like keeping up with traffic and a fair enough sense of proximity around the motor vehicle.

Last night on our way home driving down the 101 in San Mateo, this mid-90s Honda Accord comes in from the Poplar onramp with ample space to smoothly merge in right in front of us. In freeway traffic, anyone on the rightmost lane expect several merge-ins and exits and therefore are a little bit more patient with people merging in and with those getting off the freeway. But if you want to enter a 65-mile-an-hour traffic, you have only a few seconds to spot an opening, look at your blind spot, and merge in. You cannot spend too much time in spotting an opening and certainly no more than maybe 2 or 3 seconds looking over your shoulder making sure your blind spot is clear. So what does the Honda do?

I wasn't about to play who-goes-first with anyone in freeway traffic let alone a moron slowing down one second just before merging in taking too much time looking over his shoulder. I have a vehicle on my tail going also at the speed of flow of traffic. Whoever you are, I did you a favor by passing you. Had I not, you and I would have caused unnecessary backup and some pissed off drivers simply because you can't hack it! If you can't properly merge in the 101, don't bother getting in any freeway and just scale the El Camino up and down. You obviously has no sense of your proximity, you cannot look at your blind spot and keep up with traffic at the same time, you cannot drive!!!

GET OFF THE FREEWAY!!!