Experience handling road rage cases?

[OmarCDS]

I commute to/from work -- about 25 miles roundtrip -- in the South Hills to Greentree area about once or twice a week during the summer and train about another 1,200+ miles/year just to stay in decent shape. Overall, I've been "lucky" to experience only a small hand-full of road rage cases over the last 10 years. Generally these cases happen with personal vehicles where I didn't have my cell phone and didn't get the license number...plus they weren't major enough to worry about…so I just let them go.

Last night I had a case where a van attempted to illegally pass me in the opposite lane of a severe downhill with a bump/gravel filled bend in the road after I appropriately signaled and moved over into the center of my lane (going the same speed as all of the other cars...about 22-23 mph as we approached a stop sign) specifically to avoid being passed during the dangerous bend. I've experienced my one and only crash so far on my bike at the upcoming intersection so I'm extremely paranoid leading up to it. To make matters worse, he flipped the bird as he proceeded to physically force me off the road and onto the shoulder before taking off. After safely pulling off onto the side of the road, I did signal/challenge him to pull over as I reached for my cell phone to call the police but he didn’t comply. Bottom-line and to the topic of this posting, this was one of those white business vans that was very distinctive and clearly stated the name of the business; so I know where to find this company and ultimately this moron driver.

My question to all of you, given the fact that I was fortunate not to have been hurt, is it worth the effort pursuing this person? Does anyone have practical experience with reporting road rage cases, such as this, to the business owner or to the police? I guess I want to consider all aspects and consequences before reporting this episode or decide to just let it go as I usually do.

Thanks, Chuck

***********

7/23
I really appreciate everyone's feedback on this and I've used most of your suggestions as to how best proceed...I'm going to forego the retribution with another vehicle though you all make tempting offers! For now, I’ve anonymously contacted the owner of the company via phone and will submit a formal detailed letter to her attention tomorrow. I will also submit a copy of the letter to the police for their reference. I did find out that their business closes at 5 p.m. and my incident occurred at 6:30 p.m. so she believes that this idiot might have been out in the van without permission after-hours. Hope she burns him a new one at the very least! Thanks again!

[kennbenny667]

I don't think the cops can or will do much, but I'd definitely call this gentlemen's employer and tell him what happened. Mention how this man is a representative of said company, bla, bla, bla, You might get an apology or you might get a personal apology, which would rule.

[Browne]

Yes, report him. Both to the employer and the police.

Experience tells me that the police can't and won't do much. You need witnesses, some sort of harm to have been done, and more witnesses. experience also tells me that the police place these cases low on their priority levels, so diligence is required.

I'm at the point of deciding whether I want to go to the Magistrate to file a civil suit against a driver, without witnesses. All police involved have told me that I won't get very far on just my word.

Hope this helps.

[steelrollin']

About a year ago I had a minvan full of highschools buzz me. It was on a down hill run accrossed a small bridge so there was no shoulder and when they blew by the mirror was over my handle bar and just for fun they hit the horn. Then a half mile later I saw them pulled over in a parking lot. Dumped the bike and ran up to the drivers door yelling obsenities. The kids eyes got huge and he just gunned it out into traffic damn near causing anther wreck. For the longest time I have regretted yelling at him cause it gave him enough warning to get away. But now I realize it was a good thing cause if I would have gotten my hands around his scranny little neck I would have ended up in real trouble.........

[riderx]

For most people, nothing hurts worse than to get hit in the pocketbook. So, definitely report it to the employer. The employer will probably realize this can ultimately effect his bottom line. And if he fires the employee, it hurts his pocketbook. Probably won't happen, but then again others may have reported him.

do the police report too. Most likely nothing will happen, but it gets it on record in case he repeats this behaviour.

Besides, if your boss gives you sh!t and the cops give you a call, chances are most people will think twice the next time.

[Clark Kent]

Report him to the cops and call his place of employment.... Make sure to let the folks know that you reported THEIR DRIVER AND VAN to the police. That sucks large size. Its maddening when you are on the tar and keeping speed/holding a lane and some yutz squeezes up next to ya just because you are on a bike! Your going the same speed and holding a line...If'n you were doing the same thing on a motorcycle they wouldnt pull that crap. ARGGGHHH! You are lucky though! With his company name painted on the side you at least have a direction to go!

[Fergie]

Report it, but beware of confrontation...

Something that helped control my reactions against stupid and dangerous drivers, was a fellow I became good friends with through riding. He had a very dark childhood, and began fighting for money at the age of 15. When he became 18, he joined the Marines, and ended up in the special forces. After leaving the armed forces, he continued to fight for money, and work as a bouncer, and trainer. At some point he got seriously into body building, and began taking large doses of steroids. During those days, he weighed close to 300lbs (6’2”) and had thighs almost as big as my waist. I remember him taking about traffic incidents from those days, and just how "out of control" his mind was during that time in his life. Oh yeah, he drove an SUV, that he paid for by fighting professional matches.

That guy you just flipped off? … it could be him. Was it worth it? There are a lot of scary people out there, and the guy who stays to fight, probably has a lot of anger in his life, and may be fighting for different reasons then you.

If all else fails, I'll loan you my old '83 Volvo 240 wagon! That’s right the one with the different colored hood and grill, and rust spots around the doors. When people want to mess with you, PLAY BALL! HARDBALL!
It is amazing how 20 year old Swedish steel cuts through those plastic SUV parts! Fix your grill? $3500. Fix my grill? Why bother?

[tryandgetme]

PLAY BALL! HARDBALL!
It is amazing how 20 year old Swedish steel cuts through those plastic SUV parts! Fix your grill? $3500. Fix my grill? Why bother?

rofl go get em fergie! get em for the rest of us!

[hophead]

I run an auto parts store with 13 delivery trucks, all lettered with phone numbers. I get calls every now and then from other drivers that tell me that one of my trucks cut them off or was driving too fast etc. I appreciate every call that I get. I'm sure that sometimes the caller is the one at fault and is just calling to bust my driver's balls, but there can sometimes be a pattern. If I continue to get calls on a single driver, I can be pretty sure the complaint is legit. I take action against the drivers as the situations warrant. Any responsible business owner or manager will be glad that you made the call. We spend over a quarter million dollars a year on auto insurance among our four stores, so any help getting a dangerous driver off the road is appreciated.

Absolutely make the call every time. You don't have to give your name. Just tell the manager or owner what happened. Guaranteed you aren't the first. And if that doesn't work, I also have a vehicle that I'd be glad to lend you to handle the situation:

[davkatreb]

I don't think the cops can or will do much, but I'd definitely call this gentlemen's employer and tell him what happened. Mention how this man is a representative of said company, bla, bla, bla, You might get an apology or you might get a personal apology, which would rule.

Bullshit. For best effect, use the following procedure.

1-Deal with the asshole.
2-Call the employer and tell them where they can pick up what's left of their late employee, if they are so inclined.

A motor vehicle is A DEADLY WEAPON!!!!! When will this finally sink in? The jerk threatened your life!!! If he's done it once, you can bet he will do it again. He has THREATENED YOUR LIFE!!!

[joe mamma]

A motor vehicle is A DEADLY WEAPON!!!!! When will this finally sink in? The jerk threatened your life!!! If he's done it once, you can bet he will do it again. He has THREATENED YOUR LIFE!!!


This is true. a car is a deadly weapon and if used intentionally to hit someone it is assault with a deadly weapon. now im no lawyer. but i think you should definitely call the cops just to get it written down in case you see this guy again and decide to go a few rounds on the side of the road. then def call the employer and have some of your friends call them to on different days and report complaints too.

just make sure hes out of the car and your off the bike before getting tough. i doubt anyone would hit you with a car. but you never know ... lotta nut bags out there

[steelrollin']

Energy = mass X velocity
Just some rough numbers:

35 mph X 5000 lbs --thats 2 1/2 tons of car going 35
35x5280/60/60 x5000
51.333 ft/sec x 5000 lbs = 256,666.667 ft-lbs of energy

for comparison

9mm 115gr bullet @ 1155ft/s = 341ft-lbs
30-06 180gr bullet @ 2700ft/s = 2913ft-lbs
22 long rife 33gr @ 1500ft/s = 165ft-lbs

so having some blow by you at 35mph is roughly the same as 753 9mm rounds or 88 rounds out of an 06. This all came about after having a talk with grumpy old grampa who blew by me. He missed by less than three inches but didn't seem to grasp the consept or why I was hopping mad.........

[hairygrump]

just make sure hes out of the car and your off the bike before getting tough. i doubt anyone would hit you with a car. but you never know ... lotta nut bags out there

Exactly 7 days ago a local mechanic that I ride with sometimes got aggro back against some drunk kids that were tossing crap at him. I haven't heard the story from him yet, but apparently he damaged their property because they were trying to take his life, so they tried harder to take his life. He got hit, he got dragged, and he got ground up pretty bad.

I'm never going to tell anybody it's bad to stand up for yourself, but the rule should be that you take your shot when and where they can't take theirs. If you can put a u-lock through a window and be disappeared before they can turn, that's one thing, but it's even safer to be able to take your shot through the courts or their employer. I'm a believer in the application of U-lock Justice (http://ricecooker.kerbau.com/rambo/downloads.html), but I'll be damned if I'll be crippled for life trying to administer it. I'd rather ride away pissed with a tag number.

[hophead]

U lock justice.....I like it :D

I have used lug nut justice and CV bearing justice, but never U lock justice.
Unfortunatly, I use a cable lock.

[vladamir]

I myself have only had to threaten the application of "U-Lock Justice". After purchasing the U-Lock it seemed inherent that it was meant to perform double duty; it was designed with this alternative application in mind. ;)

[hophead]

How about we invent something more appropriate for use as a bike lock and a tool for self defense. I envision a medieval mace; A stick with a chain attached to an iron ball and a pad lock. As a matter of fact, we could start a whole new sport--Car jousting!!! The cyclist will carry a long pole to challenge his motorized opponents. The only fitting name for this pole will be a "Lance".

Hell, I don't know why I didn't think of this before. After all, our state sport is Jousting. No kidding, it really is.

[steelrollin']

"I envision a medieval mace; A stick with a chain attached to an iron ball and a pad lock."

Said device is called a morning star, and could crush plate armor, but was slow getting the second shot off or in. The real problem is esculation cause most folks in these parts are armed. The bumper is bad enough.......

On the oppiste side I had some one who I was total expecting to cut me off stop and wait. She backed up traffic and waved real big. Must of been a fellow rider.

[davkatreb]

Did twenty-couple miles of mixed towpath and rail-trail on the Monocog today. So I get on Pennsylvania Avenue, heading across the rail-trail. Slow down for the stop sign at the rail-trail and hear someone gunning an engine behind me. Traffic light 50 feet ahead is red anyway; who's going anywhere til it changes? So I crank on it, car ends up staying behind me. Pedal up to the light, 30 seconds later it changes and I head on across Main and up PA Ave. and home. Car is behind me the whole time, revving his motor. Cross High Street and the car whips around me, driver yells some moronic chit out the window. I pedal the hundred yards or so to my alley and turn in, fuming. Bike goes in garage, I go up the steps and into the kitchen. Wife says she needs to go to the store. I volunteer and head out, hoping I'll run across the a-hole so I can tell him I didn't quite catch what he had to say, and would he maybe care to repeat it. In and out of the store, don't see hide or hair of the motorist and I get to thinking maybe it's for the best. Damn, though, I sure could have made his day.

[tryandgetme]

you know, I've started just staring at people with a boggled look on my face because I cant hear a damn thing between their noisy vehicle and the dopplar shift...its done wonders for my temper thinking (and probably being right) that they are just plain stupid and dont realize I cant hear them yelling...

[hairygrump]

A drunk girl yelled "your ass is flashing! you have a sexy ass!" at me (pants-mounted blinky, no bag b/c of the fixy jaunt I'd been on early that evening) while I was riding home from the Zebulon Pike (http://www.zebulonpike.com) show on Saturday. She was in a cab with the window rolled down. At a stoplight I reached into the cab and pinched her cheek and said "You have a sweet face."

That got some oh-my-gods. I don't think anybody was pissed though. There wasn't any rage in there, but I thought it was a funny story and sort of apropos of road interactions.

Solve the cyclist/driver tension: Practice random flirtatiousness and senseless acts of drinking.

[Clark Kent]

A drunk girl yelled "your ass is flashing! you have a sexy ass!" at me (pants-mounted blinky, no bag b/c of the fixy jaunt I'd been on early that evening) while I was riding home from the Zebulon Pike (http://www.zebulonpike.com) show on Saturday. She was in a cab with the window rolled down. At a stoplight I reached into the cab and pinched her cheek and said "You have a sweet face."

That got some oh-my-gods. I don't think anybody was pissed though. There wasn't any rage in there, but I thought it was a funny story and sort of apropos of road interactions.

Solve the cyclist/driver tension: Practice random flirtatiousness and senseless acts of drinking.

YEHHAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWW!!!

[steelrollin']

Solve the cyclist/driver tension: Practice random flirtatiousness and senseless acts of drinking.

AYE, AYE Capt'n

[model3224]

although it's highly illegal, i've been carrying a nightstick around in my bag for the past few weeks. it's never been used, and i don't intend to. but it is big, black, and scary. even more so when it's being wielded by a loud scruffy guy with tattered clothes.

this city is filled with not just mere assholes, but outright predators. and i've learned that--as in nature, if you look like you shouldn't be messed with, people won't mess with you. you don't have to go to my extreme, just the idea.

don't wash the bike. or your clothes, often. don't be afraid to take your share of the road. act crazy. riding a bike is a perfect way to relieve stress, and some of that stress can be expressed in a constant, under the breath, unconcious rant. don't be afraid of "looking wierd." people are cautious of those types. and they'll be cautious of you on your bike.

above all, have no fear. if you do, it will exhibit in your riding. and that riding will create opportunites for the assholes, and even just the merely ignorant, to act against you. after all, lions don't go for the strong, fast gazelles running proud; they go for the weaker ones at the back.

[jaypee]

..one of these:

http://www.hotshotproducts.com/hs2000.htm

You can pick 'em up here relatively easy here in the MidWest and their long length would allow you to poke 'em in offending car windows, etc.

Not that I'm condoning any sort of illegal behavior, but a 72" cattle prod with bright blue arcs of crackling rage at the tip would most likely scare the shit out of anyone harrasing you.

A drunk girl yelled "your ass is flashing! you have a sexy ass!" at me (pants-mounted blinky, no bag b/c of the fixy jaunt I'd been on early that evening) while I was riding home from the Zebulon Pike (http://www.zebulonpike.com) show on Saturday. She was in a cab with the window rolled down. At a stoplight I reached into the cab and pinched her cheek and said "You have a sweet face."

HEY! I was at this show, did this occour right outside the Triple Rock? I may have heard this going on as a bunch of riders were leaving as I was being carted out by my PBR savior, Jana. BTW, the face pinching move had to be sweet. Perhaps a "purdy mouth" comment would have worked as well..

[SanDiego81]

although it's highly illegal, i've been carrying a nightstick around in my bag for the past few weeks. it's never been used, and i don't intend to. but it is big, black, and scary.

I also read somewhere that one guy carries a set of brass knuckles in his bag just in case. I think it was in the Infrastructure article a couple of issues back. Of course, no one wants to use any self-defense tool, but hey, when self-preservation is a top priority you gotta do what you gotta do, illegal or not. Especially in Southern California, where road rage and assholes in cars are all over the place.