Road rage?

[Wise_A]

I was coming home from the range last week, driving the speed limit in the far right lane, when I noticed a knucklehead tailgating me. He was making angry faces and shaking his fist and finally zipped passed me in the left lane. I could not understand what upset him since I'd been in the far right lane, going the speed limit (cops work radar often), for several miles. All that anger and we wound up at the same stoplight about a mile later. These idiots are out there and I refuse to engage w/any of them.

This skinny little 16-y/o suburban whitebread, while tailgating me in his mom's Corolla, flashed a universal "gun" sign at me, along with a bunch of other gangsta signs he must have seen in a Justin Beiber video.

He found it significantly less amusing when I put it in park at the next stop sign, turned around, and made direct eye contact. Proper 4-second spacing after that!

 

[Old cop]

You may be forced to, if one of them gets out of his vehicle at the light. Their rage blinds them to reason and common sense. Since you're a retired LEO, I'll assume you carry all the time, so you'll be prepared.

Thanks for your service and stay safe.

My reaction to that would be to drive away, if I could, and call 911 if the numbskull came after me.

 

[REM 3200]

I used to ride my bicycle to work, one morning just out of sheer boredom I started counting the little airliner whiskey bottles that I saw on the side of the road.

In 4 miles I counted 19 I started doing it every day when I rode my bike to work and that number stayed fairly consistent on that road.

It gave me a pretty good indication of how many people are actually driving around Colorado Springs half in the bag in any given time.

When I lived in The Springs, they used to say "Pray for me, I drive Academy".
South Nevada could get pretty wild too.

 

[otis24]

Just had an idea, what about carring a CB mic? In situations like this the "aggressor" may think you are some type of law enforcement or that maybe you are "calling them in". It might cause a person to choose to de-escalate.

 

[Terry Two Shanks]

Around here You have to drive defensively lots of drunks and oilfield traffic in a big hurry. I know a guy that got his CHL pulled because of a road rage incident. We are all here because we like firearms don't do anything that will cause You to lose that right. Remember living well is the best revenge. LEO around here deal with road rage everyday I'm sure they are tired of it and they are not going to have sympathy for either party.

 

[Smoke]

When I lived in The Springs, they used to say "Pray for me, I drive Academy".
South Nevada could get pretty wild too.

When I inprocessed at Ft. Carson we told if you drive on Academy you will be in an accident at some point

 

[deadear dan]

You did good. Don't know if you believe in the Almighty as I do, but it kind of gives me comfort knowing that NOTHING gets past Him and that all things will have to be accounted for.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

When I inprocessed at Ft. Carson we told if you drive on Academy you will be in an accident at some point

I was, just south of Drennan Road. A young Sergeant's wife pulled out of the side street where the fire station was (is?) looking north as she was turning south. She never saw my full-sized Dodge van until I took everything behind the rear wheels off her husband's Monte Carlo. She was lucky I was paying attention and locked up the brakes or I'd have blown that car in two.


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[jimmyj]

Road Rage

You just described Jimmy !
I was on my way to Walmart

I had almost the exact same thing happen to me a couple of years ago. I was really ticked off. When I finally pulled up along side the other vehicle, I saw some very elderly guy driving the car, totally oblivious to all that was around him. It seemed pretty obvious that he wasn't even aware of cutting me off.

You have to remember, some of these folks may not be able to see very well; they probably can't hear very well; they probably can't control their bladder half the time; they're taking at least 8-10 various medications, and they have to think twice about where they're going, because they keep forgetting. But, they obviously think they're okay...after all, they're still allowed to drive a car.

We need to remember that some elderly people are driving a car right now...and they don't even realize it. I guess I shouldn't make fun of these folks. I'll probably be in the same boat in a few years.

 

[nachogrande]

KEY WORD "THINK"

Just had an idea, what about carring a CB mic? In situations like this the "aggressor" may think you are some type of law enforcement or that maybe you are "calling them in". It might cause a person to choose to de-escalate.

Ragers are not thinking clearly or rationally. Last Christmas eve I was spat on by a road rager & my wife was driving. Yes I was armed & IF he had escalated further would have been shot. I guess old dogs can learn new tricks. I stayed in the vehicle feeling like a wimp, but ultimately felt sorry for the jerk, hiding from the cops or being arrested on Christmas eve. I told the cops I won't be pressing charges on someone on Christmas eve, but I wouldn't wind them giving him a wood shampoo either. FREE TIP, don't roll down your window, or engage.

 

[Rastoff]

I told the cops I won't be pressing charges on someone on Christmas eve,...

Why not? If they assaulted you, why does the date matter?

 

[Smoke]

I was, just south of Drennan Road. A young Sergeant's wife pulled out of the side street where the fire station was (is?) looking north as she was turning south. She never saw my full-sized Dodge van until I took everything behind the rear wheels off her husband's Monte Carlo. She was lucky I was paying attention and locked up the brakes or I'd have blown that car in two.


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Drennan and Academy? The fire station is North of Drennan on the northbound side.

 

[nachogrande]

THAT DATE MATTERS TO ME.

Why not? If they assaulted you, why does the date matter?

The guy had enough problems/issues, maybe kids. Call it holiday spirit??? I've been spit on before, it never killed me. He will get his eventually. We had company & didn't want to spend the night doing paperwork, or schlepping to court to testify later. I made a police report, my work was done.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Drennan and Academy? The fire station is North of Drennan on the northbound side.

Well, it might have changed in 30-some years. [emoji848]

Just looked at a Google Map. It must have been Hancock Expressway instead of Drennan Road. At any rate, the young lady was lucky. She wasn't wearing her seatbelt and the Monte Carlo just spun around her rather than ejecting her.

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[crstrode]

A month or two ago my wife and I were in the Seattle area for a concert. Due to unusual weather (snow) the locals all had their panties in a bunch with many cars in the ditch. Driving on a detour around a fender-bender, traffic was moving along at about 1 MPH.

I was slowly merging to the left to avoid a right-turn only lane when Bubba in an old pickup began flashing his lights at me and running up on my bumper. This went on for about two blocks until were we stopped at a traffic light.

Bubba drove up on the sidewalk and jumped out of his pickup waving a 4-inch hunting knife. He ran around to my side of the car hollering and gesticulating with the pig-sticker. Luckily for me, I had by then pulled a 38 snubby and had it pointed right at his face by the time he arrived.

It took Bubba about one second to recognize that his decision to pick on a grey-haired old man and his wife while armed only with a knife was a poor decision. He quickly returned to his vehicle and sped off.

Whew!

I told my wife how bad I felt pointing a gun at the guy - but then she asked: "Isn't that why you carry it?"

She also said I pulled the gun so fast she didn't even see me move

 

[Smoke]

Well, it might have changed in 30-some years. [emoji848]

Just looked at a Google Map. It must have been Hancock Expressway instead of Drennan Road. At any rate, the young lady was lucky. She wasn't wearing her seatbelt and the Monte Carlo just spun around her rather than ejecting her.

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The fire station is right between those two so that's probably the same fire station that's there now. I used to deliver pizzas to that fire station they tipped pretty good

 

[Muss Muggins]

Why not? If they assaulted you, why does the date matter?

It's not possible for me to not press charges against someone who spits on or at me . . .

 

[Old TexMex]

It's not possible for me to not press charges against someone who spits on or at me . . .

Read them their rights in the ambulance. as well.

 

[nachogrande]

I HIT A GIRL AND I LIKED IT.

A fellow student in college spit on me within 30 seconds of me walking into the school bar, coming there directly after karate class. He declined to come outside so I gave him a left, right and was coming with the uppercut when the bouncer (also in my karate class) grabbed me from behind by the shoulders turning me & I hit his drunk loudmouthed girlfriend (that likely talked him into spitting on me) in the solar plexus & they both were on the floor in a heap on top of the brass rail under the bar. I've matured since that time. As a kid me & my little bro would ride our bikes in opposite circles faster & faster, closer & closer spitting at each other as we passed. As an RN I've been spit, peed ,pooped ,bled ,puked & pretty much any kind of ON you can think of. Risking jail over some spit, ON CHRISTMAS EVE, with guests coming over shortly, NOPE. They never caught the guy anyway.

 

[Jon651]

Your experience is EXACTLY the reason why I have a dash camera installed in my truck! If something like this happens, I want the proof on video. Best $75 I ever spent, if only to provide a little peace of mind. I've got a small collection of videos showing other vehicles running stop signs and cutting in front of me, making illegal turns into my path and cutting me off for no reason that I am glad to have just in case there is an accident (so far, I've been lucky - but better to be prepared).

One caveat - I do not record audio on my camera, even though it does have that capability. It may be just me, but I think it's just too much of an invasion of privacy (both for me and any passengers I have) to have my/our voices recorded every moment I am in my truck. This may mean that any verbal interactions won't be memorialized if something happens, but I feel that the video (without the sound) should be more than enough in that case.

I very much recommend a dash cam.

 

[KSDeputy]

I pride myself in my self control, developed in 30 years of being a peace officer. I also remember what Dad told me. The more you stir s*** the more it stinks, and never get into a pissing contest with a skunk. I always drive the speed limit, it pisses a lot of drivers off, but I am not paying for a speeding ticket just because some idiot is in a hurry. Try your best to ignore aggressive drivers, confrontations always end up badly.

 

[Protected One]

I told my wife how bad I felt pointing a gun at the guy - but then she asked: "Isn't that why you carry it?"

She also said I pulled the gun so fast she didn't even see me move

Sounds like you married a smart woman.

 

[Dvan34]

Keith44spl

Thanks for posting this report. A horrible situation that just became more and more out of control. As I read it I was deeply affected. I can't imagine going through such a situation and aftermath as this. We can wonder about each of the 'victims' in this situation, as each were in their own way, and really arrive at any conclusion. This was truly a life-changing even for them both, in their own way. Each of us can only wonder how we would have handled this situation.

 

[gerhard1]

I had almost the exact same thing happen to me a couple of years ago. I was really ticked off. When I finally pulled up along side the other vehicle, I saw some very elderly guy driving the car, totally oblivious to all that was around him. It seemed pretty obvious that he wasn't even aware of cutting me off.

You have to remember, some of these folks may not be able to see very well; they probably can't hear very well; they probably can't control their bladder half the time; they're taking at least 8-10 various medications, and they have to think twice about where they're going, because they keep forgetting. But, they obviously think they're okay...after all, they're still allowed to drive a car.

We need to remember that some elderly people are driving a car right now...and they don't even realize it. I guess I shouldn't make fun of these folks. I'll probably be in the same boat in a few years.

I've had that happen to me. One time I was driving and this car cut me off, almost hitting me. I decided to let it go, and then we both ended up at the same place. When we got out of our vehicles, I asked him if he knew that he almost hit me. The other driver was an elderly gentleman and he was oblivious to what he had done. Anyway, I was polite and we parted on good terms.

Courtesy goes a long way in these types of situations.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Happened to me last week........

Pulling out of a little grocery store about a mile from home the only car in sight was just coming around a corner about a quarter mile down the road'
(two lane, mostly residential street, with a 35mph speed limit). I quickly brought my speed up to 40 ...... the car that I saw coming around the corner closed up tight on my six....... at about 55mph.

In my rear view mirror I see an arm come out and I get the single finger salute for a good 20 seconds...... I continue to drive at 40mph .... come to a stop sign ..... and get another salute!!!!

My "Spider sense" tells me the guy (30ish driving a muscle car) is following me.........

At the next stop sign I turn back into a three cul-de-sac housing plan..... the car follows me in...... I go to the end .... do a 180 and pass him going out..... he now knows he's burned and I'm not going to pull into a driveway..... so he can..... confront me?????

At that point, even thou I have me 3913 and a spare mag.... I decide I'm not letting him follow me home..... if he continues to follow me I'm driving past my house to the Police Station about a half mile from home.

Luckily when I exited the cul-de-sac I go left ...... he goes right.

 

[smithman 10]

Already there

We need to remember that some elderly people are driving a car right now...and they don't even realize it. I guess I shouldn't make fun of these folks. I'll probably be in the same boat in a few years.

Some of us are already in that boat.

 

[old tanker]

Do you have any bumper stickers or badges that could be considered politically provocative? I took mine off a while back to eliminate the possibility of attracting a negative reaction.

It doesn't take much. One of our line men stopped at a convenience store on his way to work. A couple of college age bozos came up from behind, snatched his hat off and called him vile names.

 

[n c rod]

Road Rage

If you engage someone in a road rage scenario and win, what can you win when you best an IDIOT ??

 

[gerhard1]

One time when I was a private detective, I had just finished visiting a client in the county jail and was driving east on a four-lane one-way street and this young kid apparently decided to play a power game with me. He gets right up on my rear bumper and I pull over so he can pass, and he follows me into the other lane. I change to the far right lane and he still followed me.

My response to this was to slow down to a crawl, and he is still riding my bumper. This went on for several blocks and I entered the freeway, and he is still following me so I drive at the minimum speed for a couple of miles, hoping that I can get rid of this crazy. Finally, he realizes that I am not going to speed up and he passes me, yelling (presumably) obscenities at me and giving me the salute mentioned previously in this thread.

If someone tailgates me like this kid was doing slowing down usually works and they either pass me or they back off. That's was my intention with this kid, but it seems that he had something else in mind.

 

[Rastoff]

The other day I was driving down the freeway in the right lane like I normally do. I noticed all the cars/trucks in front of me pulling to the left. This made the right lane completely open. I suspected there was some construction or an accident ahead and slowed down. But I didn't see anything so, I stayed in the right lane and started passing cars at a rapid rate. I was traveling about 5mph below the speed limit.

After passing about 20-30 cars, I see a sign that says right lane closed ahead, but I don't see any cones so, I keep going. I pass a lot more cars and wonder why everyone is over on the left.

Then a car pulls out in front of me. I think, "Finally someone else sees that this lane is completely open." Nope, he isn't trying to move ahead, he's trying to block me. He pulls into the right lane and just sits there. I haven't broken any laws yet and I'm not going to start now so I just stay there behind him. Eventually he doesn't want to lose his place in the left lane and moves back to the left. Needless to say, I continue on my way down the empty lane.

Sure enough some construction cones appear and I merge into the left lane. Interestingly, the cones start about 50 yards before the exit I'm looking for. I'm only in the left lane for about 30 seconds when I exit the freeway.

I'm sure that one guy who blocked me wasn't the only one who was irritated that I was moving when they weren't. Yet, I don't understand this behavior. Oh well, that's life. No reason to get angry about it because there's nothing I or anyone else can do about it.