Uh.... this is some _other_ California you to which you are referring? Perhaps another planet you call California?
I'm being flip, of course, but I live in a pretty small 'burg way out in the desert and people here drive like stuntmen in Deathrace 2000. I could tell you some stories, but as I wasn't in my Vanagon for most of them I won't. I have no idea how things are these days in OK or TX but I think I could count on one hand the times a driver has 'made space' for me in 20 years of living here.
My wife can happily go to sleep when I'm driving on the highways around here but if she tries to drive she gets what amounts to anxiety attack. I've never personally driven anywhere quite like it, although Japan was close.

Cya,
Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 1:59 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Drafting (was Re: Engine to auto-tranny match and the Indy 500

Don, When in California, southern or otherwise, I've found the drivers
remarkably polite compared to those in my home environs of Oklahoma and
Texas.  Here, a lane change signal seems to be notice to the driver
behind that (s)he should jump lanes into the space you signaled your
intent to occupy.  some sort of a primal urge to conquer, I suppose.  In
California, folks actually make space for you, if you signal.  So far as
the speed limit and tailgating -- required practice hereabouts, it
seems, and the speed limit gives notice of a minimum, not a maximum.

On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 3:46 PM , Don Hanson wrote:

>   The 3-second rule?  Following at a safe distance?  You ever drive a
> freeway in So. Cal?  Crap, those folks rip along at 85+ within a few
> feet of
> the car ahead..If you leave even close to one car length some one will
> try
> to squeeze into that hole ahead of you.  All the while, talking or
> texting,
> putting on makeup, drinking a Latte, or driving a huge over loaded
> truck
> with 6 more lanes of traffic going the same speed...Makes drafting a
> semi
> out on the highways seem like a child's pre-nap relaxation game..If
> you dare
> drive at a mere 70mph...they give you "The Stink-Eye" as they speed
> past...
>   Don Hanson
>