Road Rage WWUD?

[talltex]

I believe the reason for so much road rage is that there are so many angry people with anger management issues.

Avoidance is the best course of action. However, I would use my vehicle as a weapon before I would use whatever I am carrying at the time. That move would be my last resort. A little over a year ago I was driving home late at night on a 2 lane highway (I live in the sticks of east Texas). I see a vehicle approaching at a very high rate of speed from behind me. This guy pulls right up to my bumper and just sits there. I couldn't even make out the hood of his car. I thought about brake checking him but decided to just leave it on cruise control at 55 MPH and let him make the first move. We stayed like this for over a mile. All of a sudden, he slams on his brakes, dives to the right and performs a 180 degree turn. It was then when I saw that it was a local LEO and we were getting close to the city limit. He had many opportunities to turn around before he did but I think he was just checking to see if I would flinch.

I had that happen to me almost 30 years ago. I was heading home from a poker game about 75 miles from home and came through a small town about 3:00am...driving a bright yellow 77 Vette...noticed a couple of cars in a parking lot with some kids standing around...got about a mile out of town and saw headlights coming up behind me very fast. The vehicle ran right up on my bumper then backed off several times...figured it was a couple of the boys trying to get me to race. I waited until the next time they ran up to me and jerked it over to the shoulder and braked hard knowing they wouldn't be able to stop as fast. The car shot past me...it was Sheriff's dept. patrol car from that county...I honked as he slid by, and he immediately hit his lights and floored it, then turned off on the next cutoff we came to...lol.

[Purplehood]

I believe the reason for so much road rage is that there are so many angry people with anger management issues.

Avoidance is the best course of action. However, I would use my vehicle as a weapon before I would use whatever I am carrying at the time. That move would be my last resort. A little over a year ago I was driving home late at night on a 2 lane highway (I live in the sticks of east Texas). I see a vehicle approaching at a very high rate of speed from behind me. This guy pulls right up to my bumper and just sits there. I couldn't even make out the hood of his car. I thought about brake checking him but decided to just leave it on cruise control at 55 MPH and let him make the first move. We stayed like this for over a mile. All of a sudden, he slams on his brakes, dives to the right and performs a 180 degree turn. It was then when I saw that it was a local LEO and we were getting close to the city limit. He had many opportunities to turn around before he did but I think he was just checking to see if I would flinch.

I had that happen to me almost 30 years ago. I was heading home from a poker game about 75 miles from home and came through a small town about 3:00am...driving a bright yellow 77 Vette...noticed a couple of cars in a parking lot with some kids standing around...got about a mile out of town and saw headlights coming up behind me very fast. The vehicle ran right up on my bumper then backed off several times...figured it was a couple of the boys trying to get me to race. I waited until the next time they ran up to me and jerked it over to the shoulder and braked hard knowing they wouldn't be able to stop as fast. The car shot past me...it was Sheriff's dept. patrol car from that county...I honked as he slid by, and he immediately hit his lights and floored it, then turned off on the next cutoff we came to...lol.

Same thing happened to me back in the late 70's when I was a young hard-charging Jarhead in my '74 Duster jamming south along I-5 in Santa Ana, CA. It was quite late at night and some car was riding my behind for miles. I sped up, he sped up. I slowed down, he slowed down.
This went on for miles and he never changed lanes (remember, this was I-5 and it was pretty darn empty that time of night). I finally approached my exit and stayed in the fast-lane until the last second possible and peeled off the exit-ramp. As I looked over my shoulder (with my window open) to see who the you-know-what it was that had been tailing me I saw that it was a big black-and-white CHP cruiser continuing down the fast-lane.
And I am not exaggerating when I say that I clearly heard on his PA, 'catch you next time'!

[talltex]

I also ride a motorcycle and have found over the years that requires more defensive driving techniques than when I am in my pickup, along with the understanding that I would never win in a vehicle to vehicle confrontation. I have also seen folks blatantly take advantage of me on my motorcycle (i.e. look at me, make eye contact, pull in front of me anyway because they know I will stop or move).

I've been riding since 1968 and you definitely have to stay extra alert and anticipate drivers actions. However, in many instances, those situations where they pull out in front of you are not intentional. The brain is a funny thing, and many drivers, sitting at a stop sign or intersection, will look right at a motorcycle approaching and not "see it", because their brain is looking to see if a car or truck is coming and the bike just doesn't register. I've had to run off the highway to dodge one 3 times because of that...and in all 3 cases, I saw them looking right at me just before they pulled out in front of me. It was in the small rural area where I live, and I knew the drivers. They were all horrified at what they'd done, but swore up and down they "didn't see me" and I knew they were telling the truth. After that first incident I learned to watch their face as I approach...If they turn away and look straight ahead, watch out, because that indicates they think the road is clear and they are probably about to pull out. All three of those "pull outs" happened back in the 70's and 80's and I think it was more common then because there were not near as many bikes on the road...it seems like today, people are much more aware due to the vastly increased number of riders on the road.

[EEllis]

The officer would have to lie as he must witness in order to issue a citation. Most LEOs I know would not risk their career over this.

Not to cause trouble but if this is the case then how do police officers issue citations at accidents when they are not present during the accident?

[Keith B]

The officer would have to lie as he must witness in order to issue a citation. Most LEOs I know would not risk their career over this.

Not to cause trouble but if this is the case then how do police officers issue citations at accidents when they are not present during the accident?

In an accident you can usually tell who is at fault (rear car is always at fault, witnesses say car ran red light, etc.) With a road rage complaint you may not have evidence to substanitiate any citation.

[dicion]

The officer would have to lie as he must witness in order to issue a citation. Most LEOs I know would not risk their career over this.

Not to cause trouble but if this is the case then how do police officers issue citations at accidents when they are not present during the accident?

In an accident you can usually tell who is at fault (rear car is always at fault, witnesses say car ran red light, etc.) With a road rage complaint you may not have evidence to substanitiate any citation.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

Dashcam.

I got mine for $70, and it's proved it's weight in gold a few times already, just for the protection from potential situations that could have gone south. Accidents & Incidents like the above.

[Kanuk]

Just out of curiosity, what was the 'for whatever reason' he was so upset about?

I was in a new area. I made a right on red when I did not see any cars. I did not realize it was a 55 Mph area, and a mustang came right up my rear. there was a semi next to me so I accelerated as quickly as I could and moved over.

Not saying I was not at fault, just concerned for my life right after that.

[Kanuk]

Dashcam.

I got mine for $70,

Where does one get a $70 dashcam? is it forward and rearward?

And how have you used it? Can I produce it as evidence?

[Kanuk]

I guess living in Texas road rage is a common sight.

I take exception to this statement. As a professional driver,

I've driven across the country, lived in California, and Florida, and I have seen some very ignorant driving. But the drivers in the DFW area, are a special breed. The best I can say is they're angry. When you say a "professional driver" does that mean a semi? I have no problems when I drive my square body suburban. but I can tell you on a weekly basis I can find at least 10 people that drive angry. and this is a 30 mile commute.

In fact the litany of people on this post, and the high number of views would lead me to believe they agree with my statement.

[RJGold]

I also ride a motorcycle and have found over the years that requires more defensive driving techniques than when I am in my pickup, along with the understanding that I would never win in a vehicle to vehicle confrontation. I have also seen folks blatantly take advantage of me on my motorcycle (i.e. look at me, make eye contact, pull in front of me anyway because they know I will stop or move).

I've been riding since 1968 and you definitely have to stay extra alert and anticipate drivers actions. However, in many instances, those situations where they pull out in front of you are not intentional. The brain is a funny thing, and many drivers, sitting at a stop sign or intersection, will look right at a motorcycle approaching and not "see it", because their brain is looking to see if a car or truck is coming and the bike just doesn't register. I've had to run off the highway to dodge one 3 times because of that...and in all 3 cases, I saw them looking right at me just before they pulled out in front of me. It was in the small rural area where I live, and I knew the drivers. They were all horrified at what they'd done, but swore up and down they "didn't see me" and I knew they were telling the truth. After that first incident I learned to watch their face as I approach...If they turn away and look straight ahead, watch out, because that indicates they think the road is clear and they are probably about to pull out. All three of those "pull outs" happened back in the 70's and 80's and I think it was more common then because there were not near as many bikes on the road...it seems like today, people are much more aware due to the vastly increased number of riders on the road.

True about the failure to see motorcycles. I live in Houston so don't know most of the drivers I've come in contact with and can't tell whether it was blatant or just and oversight (feels very blatant when you're on the receiving end). It's a good reminder that what looks and feels blatant to me could just be a mistake on someone's part. That ties back to what most have said on this thread about just letting things go and not escalating.

Thanks for the reminder and perspective.

[seamusTX]

...but I can tell you on a weekly basis I can find at least 10 people that drive angry. and this is a 30 mile commute.

It's everywhere.

There is a perpetual traffic jam on I-45 south of Houston, around Scarsdale (for those who know the area). Everyone driving south from downtown or the airport runs into it. One day I rolled to a stop behind 10,000 vehicles, and this white yuppie-looking woman in the car behind me was literally screaming and gesturing with both middle fingers, while not bothering to steer. What did she think that was going to change? There are more cars and trucks than concrete. Deal with it.

I had a road-rage incident with a passenger in a car in Galveston, who was literally hanging out the window and screaming obscenities because (in his opinion) I turned on my turn signal too late. He was obviously either drunk or out of his mind, or both. The driver, to give him credit, was ignoring the goofball. He looked rather embarrassed.

- Jim

[Rotten]

The only time I would resort to using my concealed weapon in a road rage case is if the other person gets my car into a position where I cannot move and he/she approaches my car. If I can't get away and fear for my life I’m pulling out my weapon.

Also, someone mentioned pulling your weapon and the next thing you know the guy you pull it on is an upstanding citizen on his way to Bible study. I was taught in my CHL class if you pull you ever pull your weapon the first thing you should do after the situation is under control is call 911 and explain what happened and why you felt you should pull your weapon. If not the other guy is going to call 911 and tell a different story about how he don’t know why you showed him your gun.

I know a guy who felt justified to pull his weapon in a road rage case. He no longer has a CHL or lives in Texas. The person he brandished his gun to was an off duty police officer and she called 911 and followed him to his work place where the city PD were waiting for him.

As for road rage in Texas, I am in the DFW area and I don't see much road rage on IH20 or SH360. What I do see is people driving 50 in the left lanes and blocking a lot of traffic. Usually the road rage shows up when 15 or 20 cars are stacked up behind this slow car and someone in the back of the line gets upset and starts weaving in and out of traffic.

[Kanuk]

As for road rage in Texas, I am in the DFW area and I don't see much road rage on IH20 or SH360. What I do see is people driving 50 in the left lanes and blocking a lot of traffic. Usually the road rage shows up when 15 or 20 cars are stacked up behind this slow car and someone in the back of the line gets upset and starts weaving in and out of traffic.

Yeah, I see a lot of that as well. I also think you might see more or less road rage depending on what you drive. Like I said before, people don't mess with me in my suburban.

[dicion]

Dashcam.

I got mine for $70,

Where does one get a $70 dashcam? is it forward and rearward?

And how have you used it? Can I produce it as evidence?

Mine is forward and audio only, but there are models that do both, as well as track GPS position and speed, but after long hard thought, I didn't need all that stuff.
Even if the camera is simply looking forward & recording audio, it is usable to show what you were doing, even if the other car isn't visible. Eg, if you get sideswiped, and the other driver claims you changed lanes into them, the camera will show you were just driving straight when you got hit, etc.

I have not personally done this yet, but I know a friend of mine who had some guy hit him while he was driving, and tried to start something when they pulled over. My friend pointed at the camera, and told the guy 'dashcam', which shut him up immediately and caused him to back off.

You can produce anything you want as evidence in court, if it gets that far, but the real beauty of it is, if I'm ever in an accident, and the officer comes to me asking what happened, I can go "here officer, let me SHOW you what happened", since it has a display, and can instantly playback whatever it just recorded, right there, on the spot. In addition, it makes a nice submission to any insurance claim, and I'm sure your insurance company will love you if you can produce video clearly showing another party at fault.

Mine is the first one on this page, the DVR027:
http://dashcamtalk.com/dash-cam-comparison/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I bought it via Ebay from one of the sellers with thousands of positive feedback.

I got it via a recommendation from a friend of mine who had one.
I have two, one for my car, one for the Wife's. Since I bought mine, two other friends of mine have bought the same one as well, and many others are considering one, and none have any complaints, all from the same place.

EDIT: I pulled a small part of my drive home from work from my camera for ya to see it's quality.
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=TL2fcrTnmC0[/youtube]

[cw3van]

The officer would have to lie as he must witness in order to issue a citation. Most LEOs I know would not risk their career over this.

Not to cause trouble but if this is the case then how do police officers issue citations at accidents when they are not present during the accident?

In an accident you can usually tell who is at fault (rear car is always at fault, witnesses say car ran red light, etc.) With a road rage complaint you may not have evidence to substanitiate any citation.

That is correct at accidents police are called to investigate if one person is clearly in the wrong a citation is issued. Many cities have even quit doing that they just give you a blue form & have you call your insurance if the accident is minor. We don't want someone being able to call the police & based on their statement alone the police issue a citation.