Road Rage

[plume_mtb]

Why do cars make us angry?

I was thinking about this the other day. I love my car, so get that whole punk rock thing out of your head right away. It get's me around to places I can't get to by bike realistically, mostly to visit far away family members and to pick up groceries conveniently. That said, I avoid driving it as much as possible because it makes me fvcking mad.

Yesterday after a great trail ride we were driving back to town. It's a two lane road that splits and merges into a turning lane on both sides. I needed to be in the left hand lane because I was going on the highway. It was posted 45 and I was driving 45 but apparently that wasn't fast enough for the redneck who was tailgating behind me. Fine, tailgate all you want... whatever. I don't think too much of it and then he starts waving his hands in anger at me. I smile back through the rearview and brake check him a bit.

Stupid? Yes, ok, not the best move on my part, but it was just a little one, not that big of a deal... oh my gosh you would have though the world had ended for this guy. He drives past me and I give him the universal signal, while smiling at least. I then had to appologize to the passenger in my car, they were fine with it but I always feel bad about bringing others into a situation they have no control over. Any way... the guy is like waiting for me at the next light, ready to throw a can of something at us... ha ha, too bad we turned onto the highway and avoided further conflict.

Kinda a punk move on my part, mostly a dick move on his I difused it quickly enough which is good. The thing is, this guy is looking for a fight, you can just tell. I've had this sort of thing happen to me before (southern drivers are weird, some great, others not) where I'm passing people in the left hand lane, not just hanging out, but actually using the left hand lane for what it's for... passing and some jerk will come behind me and start freaking out. Ah!

So.. what is it? Is it the fact that our cars give us this crazy amount of power we take for granted? Why is it that you don't act like this when you're face to face with people but you'll act the fool behind the wheel? Cars sepparate us from actual human interaction, not unlike the internet. We are the one's who need to get there faster, not you! God. If we all could just take a deep breath and relax a bit, that guy that just cut you off wouldn't matter as much.

Here's to those new bike lanes I keep hearing so much about. $5 a gallon? Bring it on...

[phlatlander]

I have been blessed with a passive nature. When I see folks go off like this, I am fascinated & tend to provoke the behaviour — if anything to get them to purge their systems so they won't beat their spouse or pet or kids. I'd rather them take it out on me.

[S. cerevisiae]

This is another example of why weed should be legal. Admittedly one would be somewhat impaired, but they would also be more mellow and less prone to these behaviors.

At least in theory...

[nogearshere]

people is funny.

funny how things like other peoples driving become a PERSONAL issue for so many...if only they realized that most every other driver is as self absorbed (and therefore the actions unintentional) as they are...there would be doves and roses and zamfir music everywhere.



and that my friends is the day i start driving like an utter and complete jackaso...think of all the time i'd save...minutes crushing those pansies...

[davkatreb]

Yeah, I could never understand that. Some jackwad can't spare the couple of seconds to drive the speed limit, but he can find hours to follow me to my destination, get up in my face, try to "whup my hippie ass" (as if-These clowns are usually either about five foot four or morbidly obese with a three pack habit:rolleyes: ).

My current project is 90 miles from the house. The bulk of that travel is along Maryland I-70. The stories I could tell.

[mimbresman]

Try driving in Venezuela...no rules enforced, no traffic police, no speed limits, so there are some real a-hole moves on the road...but you get used to it. Now I drive almost the same. :)

[Spatafore]

I try to use the left lane only for passing (and exits if needed). If I am in the left lane and some is coming up behind me, I'll move over just like I would appreciate others to the same. But... If someone decides that they are too impatient to relax for a couple seconds so that I can move over without cutting off the person in the right lane and rides my ass then it's time to save gas and coast until that goof backs off.

On the otherhand, I do get frustrated when I am in the left lane and someone is going the exact same speed as the person right next to them in the right lane. I'll rant to myself in my car sometimes but I won't tailgate, flash my lights, or veer over to the left side of the fast lane right behind them to try to annoy them till they move. I figure that just because I am in a hurry doesn't mean that everybody else is.

Unfortunately, I sometimes have a bad habit of posessing a "payback" mentality when it comes to getting cut off. I know, it is a shitty attitude and I am trying to get rid of it but when someone pulls in front of me going 60mph and it results in only 3-5' of space in front of me... (Maintain... maintain Tom....)

Last year, someone did this to me and 3 cars ended up getting totalled. There was a woman about 30-40' in front of me during evening rush hour traffic in the rain at dusk. Some other woman decided to cut into the left lane, in front of me so that she wouldn't have to slow down and let drivers entering from an onramp merge with her. Well, right after she did that, I could see her looking into her rear view mirrow at me (She knew she cut me off big time.) and them "BAM"! The cars in front of her stopped and she plowed right into the first car. She hit her brakes so late that she fed me into the accident. (She was so close in front of me that I couldn't see around her minivan.) The Woman in the front car luckily didn't have her infant in the car at the time because the trunk and rear seat was pushed all the way up to the front seats. She only had liability so pretty much got screwed in terms of having transportation for a while. It got worse too! The first lady went straight to the hospital and was unable to make a statement. The lady that caused the accident lied and said that she had plenty of room and I hit her, then pushed her into the first lady. The police report put me at fault for the whole accident. Luckily, the first lady read the police report after getting out of the hospital and called me to say that was B.S. because she said she looked in her rear view mirror moments before and noticed me behind her with ample space. She went to the police station, mentioned this and stated that she noticed that the minivan was in the right lane right up to the accident at which time the minivan cut over. This totally saved my ass!!!

Now, I can't shake this grudge against "cutter-offers" and sometimes give back the scare that they have given me in these situations. Once again, I know that is a bad, not to mention an unsafe attitude to have. Just don't cut me off and we dont have a problem...

[poison idea]

i think you hit on all the points. a car is a huge powerfull machine that makes the driver stronger, faster and more isolated from other living things. drivers are locked inside steel and feel dominant and secure. it gives a false and elevated sense of powers without having to actually interact with anyone else. factor in the fact one can be as ignorant as they please and rapidly escape. in the real world if i flip off some 300lbs construction worker in a bar, i'm gonna get my ass handed to me, but in a car i can safely jet away. its a weird statement on life; how many people that wouldn't look you in the eye on the sidewalk turn into belligerent pricks once behind the wheel. with great power comes great responsibility...

i've got horrible road rage. in '00 i actually got out of the van with a baseball bat and chased some guy down the jersey turnpike before i snapped to and realized how deranged i was. now i drive a very slow pickup truck and bike whenever possible and avoid traffic.

[nogearshere]

got out of the van with a baseball bat and chased some guy down the jersey turnpike
wtf was wrong with the guy? i thought baseball was as american as apple pie?



joking aside, very good explanation...

[rockyrider]

the red mist will get you when you least expect it.

[althegud1srtakn]

cuz the cars are always in my way, same with those damn pedestrians too. funny thing is tho, when i'm in a car all these damn bikers and pedestrians are in my way, and when i'm walking all these bikers and cars are trying to kill me. i just can't catch a break no matter how i'm getting around.

[bdee]

One thing I've noticed is that I'm far less apt to be pulled into a road rage situation when I'm driving home from a mtb ride. Way more chilled out after riding.

Generally speaking I've come a long way in terms of reacting to overly agressive drivers. When I moved back to New England I was appalled at what I saw, then about 6 months later I was as bad as anyone else. It took a few sketchy close call situations for me to chill out, like the time I was driven off the road at more than 70 mph by a nut job in a Expedition. The guy felt I wasn't going fast enough in the left lane then changed lanes to pass me on the right just as I was getting out of his way. I jumped back into the left lane due to the confusion. Long story short he got pissed and went around me flipping me off and then cut me off hard and slowed down. I then got really pissed and went to pass him on the right (middle lane). He came over on me while I was passing and drove me off the right hand side of the road (whaling on his horn the whole time). He used a car in the right lane as a pick essentially boxing me in. So instead of hitting him, or the completely innocent guy in front of me, I ended up fishtailing down the grassy side of the road and eventually punched it and got back on the hwy. Thank you AWD. So ever since that incident I've refused to get too involved in payback etc.. I figure they'll get what's coming one way or another.

[tryandgetme]

I find it hilarious that people speed past me, and end up at the same red light as me. Then they hit the gas, take off screaming, speed, and get stuck at the same red light as me, a few blocks down the street.

I've never been succeptible to getting angry at other drivers, but I figure my bike and very slow army jeep help keep things in check too. Can't really drive too aggressively, because I've got 0 to 60 times measured on a desk calendar. And when you've got an oddball vehicle like an Iltis, people seem to give you all the time you want. And I havn't been honked at while riding a bike in probably two years.

[plume_mtb]

cuz the cars are always in my way, same with those damn pedestrians too. funny thing is tho, when i'm in a car all these damn bikers and pedestrians are in my way, and when i'm walking all these bikers and cars are trying to kill me. i just can't catch a break no matter how i'm getting around.

that pretty much sums it up nicely. It's all about me!!! get out the way. :D

[cMc]

i've got horrible road rage. in '00 i actually got out of the van with a baseball bat and chased some guy down the jersey turnpike before i snapped to and realized how deranged i was. now i drive a very slow pickup truck and bike whenever possible and avoid traffic.

In 03 I got out of the car and confronted a road raging bitch who tried to run me into oncoming traffic when I wasn't going fast enough. She was behind me at a light, the light changed and I didn't absolutely race up to the next red light, where I had to turn left. She honked at me, pulled to the right then back in front of me, barely missing the bumper on my brand spankin' new Audi. I had my bike on the roof and was coming home from a nice ride, mellow as could be. I got out of the car and the light and gave her what for, the whole speech about how she would never have been so rude to me if she wasn't in her car. She then starts laying into me about how I'm an idiot because I don't drive fast enough in my Audi, which she informs me is a very fast car (that one wasn't; my new one is). Beside the point.

I'm fed p, thow a few f-bombs at her and get back in my car and drive off. Bitch follows me home, and then half an hour later, the police came to my house, and ask me if I threatened the life of the other driver. I tell them what happened, they believed me but told me never to get out of the car again.

My wife was really embarrased.

:o

[nogearshere]

I got out of the car
unfortunately, face to face conflict resolution is frowned upon...that is why you drive your automobile at other automobiles...its considered less 'personal'.

you're a lawyer...and you knew (in the back of your mind) getting out could only lead to bad things...there is no instigator penalty in driving.

[rockyrider]

It does make you wish that Gallagher's hood mounted rotten tomato cannon was a reality.

[poison idea]

face to face conflict resolution is frowned upon
bullying sucks, but that statement is what is wrong with society today.
growing up i learned to keep my mouth shut and be respectfull as i did not like getting beat on by those larger than me.
at least face to face confrontation is open and honest. not just in terms of violence/aggression but in all communication matters. seems like artificial communication makes it too easy to manipulate and lie and weasle away -text messages, emails, phone calls even

[cMc]

face to face conflict resolution is frowned upon
bullying sucks, but that statement is what is wrong with society today.
growing up i learned to keep my mouth shut and be respectfull as i did not like getting beat on by those larger than me.
at least face to face confrontation is open and honest. not just in terms of violence/aggression but in all communication matters. seems like artificial communication makes it too easy to manipulate and lie and weasle away -text messages, emails, phone calls even


Troof. If people had to face each other, they'd be nicer or dead-er. Either's fine by me. :D

[tryandgetme]

It does make you wish that Gallagher's hood mounted rotten tomato cannon was a reality.

I knew a guy that made a confetti cannon that a few guys fired out the back of his pickup that made the victim blow confetti out of his heater vents for 3 months...

[S. cerevisiae]

As we're all sharing here...

Several winters ago I found myself standing at the driver's window of an SUV banging on the glass cursing out the driver. She had just illegally passed an entire string of traffic in near blizzard conditions to be first at the red light. What really got me was the child safety seat in her passenger seat (not back as is required by law in Ohio for those under xx lbs.).

My tirade went on about the nature of her mental acuity and the presence of her demon seed in an inappropriate portion of her vehicle.

The light changed, she spun her wheels in the snow, and traffic behind me had to wait for another cycle of the light.:o