That's OK. In Oklahoma when it rains 1.2 million people go stare at it.

Another difference: when it rains in Michigan (or pretty much anywhere in the eastern U.S.), there aren't a gazillion traffic accidents like when it rains in Los Angeles. I don't know what it is, but a lot of L.A. drivers totally lose it whenever it rains. Anytime I'm there and it's raining, I'll stay off the freeways if I can.

I don't know what it is, but a lot of L.A. drivers totally lose it whenever it rains. ~ Costed by: Cousin Dave at November 4, 2015 6:43 AM

Under normal driving circumstances oil and other fluids build up on the road and are ground into the pavement.

Rain brings up these fluids and washes them away. In places with frequent rain storms, there's no lingering build up because the frequent rain washes the fluids away.

In California, however, where May-Nov is rainless, the buildup just sits there until the first rains brings it to the surface. Drivers, acclimated to 6-9 months of dry roads, think the only thing they have to worry about in the first few rain storms is the water and that their tires are built to handle rain go speeding off on a now ice-slick highway.

In addition, the California driving test is simplistic and out of touch. When I came here and took the test, at least half the questions were about litter and traffic fines - not about things like actually handling your car, road hazards, etc.

When my friend's mother moved from Florida to North Carolina, she remarked that the driving test was much harder because she had to know about driving in snow to pass the test. No snow questions on the Florida test (when the once-every-decade snow fell in Northern Florida, the drivers were sliding all over the place). No snow questions on the California test either. I guess no one here goes to Tahoe or Northern California in the winter.

I haven't taken the now-required-for-teenagers driving course, but I'm willing to bet that, like the diploma mills that sprang up to grab the student loan money, they meet the minimum government requirements and are worthless in teaching actual skills.

Litter? I once had a deer jump in front of my car in Topanga.

Was it tasty?

Overheard out here in the lunchroom:

"Venison stew? Yes, please. (pause) How'd ya get this one? .270 Winchester?"
"Nope. 350 Chevy!"

Litter? I once had a deer jump in front of my car in Topanga. ~ Posted by: Amy Alkon at November 4, 2015 5:57 PM

I'm betting that what to do when that happens is nowhere on the driver's test. But, if you took the test, you'll know what the fine will be if you throw a cup out the window.