I'm posting this for people who don't generally drive through King County on a weekday, so that you may hopefully be better prepared for the unusual courtesies that you may not be currently enjoying in the country. I've spent a few years commuting regularly from the ferry terminal to various parts of King County in a full size pick-up, and I hope that my experiences can help you through this refreshing exercise.

If you drive a car (highways):
1) Do your best to ensure that no one else enters the highway from an on-ramp. Should you find yourself in the far right lane, near an on ramp, be sure to adjust your speed in sync with the attempting merger (either speed up or slow down or both, usually both) and force them to the shoulder if possible. These roadways are crowded enough, and you should help with the congestion whenever you can. The desired result is to see the attempted merger hit the ditch, sacrifice your own vehicle if necessary, it's worth it in the long run.

2)Turn signals are a very serious distraction on the interstate freeways. Never, ever use them as it may distract another driver in another lane, thus causing a possible highway fatality. Should you witness someone else using their turn signals, your best method of defense is to either speed up or slow down, accordingly, and get the flasher of death just behind and out of your peripheral vision, and keep it there. This is accomplished by keeping the front half of your vehicle aligned with the rear portion of the offenders vehicle in the adjacent lane. These drivers are well known around the metropolitan areas and studies show they have a much higher rate of just shooting across lanes, without any warning, like a drunks first day out of jail.

3)Speed limits on highways range from 55 mph to the incredible 70mph in outlying rural areas. However, only YOU can prevent serious highway fatalities. Many people attempt to do the speed limit at various times during their commute. However, if you maintain a speed of no more than 50 mph, you will never find yourself in an accident that could do any real harm. 50 mph saves lives, and now that you've been enlightened with this, your first duty is to move your vehicle into lanes further left until you have ensured that everyone behind you can not drive at maniacal speeds of 51 mph or more. You are the gatekeeper, and you are duty bound to protect the more foolish citizens from driving at the MAXIMUM speed limit.

4)It's best to exit the highway from the second or third lane to the left. Again, no turn signals, as stated above. Should you be nearing your exit and find yourself in the far right lane, it is generally better to pass a few vehicles in the last half mile before your exit, then exit in front of somebody else at a rate of speed less than the vehicle back and to your right. Exit in front of pick-ups if you area able to or even a semi-tractor/trailer combo. Be sure to apply brakes and remind everyone behind you to slow down. At times, this may draw a blaring horn or a waving middle finger from the offender behind you. Don't be startled, however, this is just the urbanites way of saying "Good Job, Keep It Up!". In the past, this has even been credited for sudden moments of generosity as passing motorists sometimes try to give you their half empty Aquafina bottle or room temperature Starbuck's Mocha. It's challenging actually getting the drink in the neighbor's vehicle at 50 mph and sometimes they wind up hitting the windshield instead, but it's the thought that counts. If the offenders compliments seem extraordinarily abundant, do them the courtesy of re-entering the highway in front of them, no matter how far onto the off-ramp you may be, and give them another mile or two to witness your gracious driving ability. This will also give them the opportunity to read your cool new license plate trim without squinting, just another courtesy that is available on King County's endlessly hospitable roadways.

Cheers, I'm ready for a Martini.

Sorry for the rant,