Road rager on Beltway 8

[SlowDave]

Boy, what a nerve. I learned to drive in Houston, and believe it or not, everywhere else pisses me off. Houston freeways transport a very high rate of people per lane-mile, IMHO. While you will be dead if you drive the speed limit in the left lane in Houston (and possibly in the right lane as well), in San Antonio, I can hardly ever reach the speed limit on 1604 as any semblance of traffic results in the fast lane running about 5 mph below the limit and the right lane 10-15 mph below the limit. Not a wreck or anything, I'm talking Saturday afternoon kind of light traffic. If I'm out there at 10 p.m. and go 7 mph over the limit (77 mph), I will pass EVERYONE.

Also, there's a weird deal here where people don't accelerate on the entrance ramp, but rather get up to speed over their first mile after entering the freeway. Stuff drives me nuts.

Anyway, my dad is a left laner, and it's all about selfishness. I'd argue that even the guy who stays in the left lane through town is wrong. It's just changing lanes. Not brain surgery. Move over, when you come to an entrance ramp and there are a bunch of people entering, you can move to the left if it's open, or not.

Whoever that was with the "don't make the other driver brake" plan, I thought surely I was the only one that thought that way. Exactly the same way I do it. Won't kill me to drop the cruise and let someone go by on the left before I pass the car in front of me on the right. If someone moves over for me after a quick flash of the brights, I always wave at them to thank them, and then I move over as soon as safe just to encourage them and help them see that I don't think I OWN the left lane and I will do the same as I ask them too: leave the L lane for passing. Also, you should always be happy to let a faster driver through. Think of him/her as a minesweeper for radar on your path and thank him as he goes by. I do.

[.45mac.40]

Too many of us, too often ....
So many distractions....
"HIT ME .... I NEED THA' MONEY !!!!"
Mac .45 >>>>>> ##%%##

[Captain Matt]

Because the steadily moving car always has at least 4 car lengths in front, at 35 mph he hardly ever needs to brake. So, he is on cruise control, and no one else is. He arrives at work more relaxed from not fighting the traffic.

That's a nice theory and it sounds convincing at first but in the ten years or more I have been hearing some variation of that theory, nobody has ever been able to demonstrate it in practice during rush hour on I-45 around Houston.

[neiltus]

1. Don't drive the speed limit in the 'fast lane'. Regardless of if it is the speed limit or not, laws, your religion, ethics, or your car veers to the left, it's simply not a safe thing to impede traffic. If some idiot wants to drive 80 or 120 for that matter, it is not your responsibility to govern their actions-let your tax dollars work and let our great servants fix the situation.

2. People saying don't look at him/her. What if you need to ID him? What if it's an undercover cop? What if you see him waiving a gun? What if you pass a TXDOT sign that is looking for the car that just passed you? I think if you believe this you need to stop carrying because you did not listen to "be aware of your surroundings" speech. This applys just as much in car as on foot.

Yes, I know there are gang member that will not shoot until you look. But seriously, your chances of that are near none.

There is a difference between passive and just being ignorant to the situation.

[joe817]

neiltus, control your language and your anger please. This is a family oriented "G" rated forum. Thank you.

[nils]

Sadly, Houston is famous for our bad drivers, and our road raging idiots. Just keep your head, be safe when confronted by these jerks, and make sure that they don't follow you home, or to wherever you're going. if they do, be ready to either stay in your car and dial 9-11(probably the smart thing to do), or be ready for action upon exiting your vehicle. Because of all of the loonies in Houston these days, I carry everywhere..even little trips to Blockbuster, or to get gas.....be safe

[USA1]

Because of all of the loonies in Houston these days, I carry everywhere..even little trips to Blockbuster, or to get gas.....be safe

me too . we all should .

[joe817]

Because of all of the loonies in Houston these days, I carry everywhere..even little trips to Blockbuster, or to get gas.....be safe

me too . we all should .

Me 3. We all should.

[stuart]

Seems like road rage is everywhere. I live in Vidor. IH-10 runs over our city. The 5 mile stretch of 10 between Vidor and Beaumont is a free for all. Seldom any cops on the road. My wife and I stay in the slow lane. We see a lot of honking and obscene gestures in the rush hour. I see people traveling near 100 mph all the time. My method to deal with road rage is: I rarely honk, no screaming, no gestures, no tailgating. If somebody wants a problem, they have to bring the fight to me and leave me no choice and no way out. I have nothing to prove and will avoid these road warriors to the best of my ability.

[Hos]

Wow, I just read 6 pages about a simple road rage incident and mostly good and diverse comments. We don't need any forum rage though.

One time I rolled down my window to tell a similar road rager to pass me which only escalated the situation. Stupid, I KNOW. As though one can reason with an angry man in a 3 second conversation. A quick glance and evade is the best option.

Another key from the original post was when you called 911 on your phone so the rager knew LEO were on their way. Thank God we can take necessary measures to protect our families from some of these restless souls.