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Well, it's been a couple of years now, but the other day I encountered another road rage idiot.

Scenario: Two left turn lanes from RR620 onto Galleria Pkwy, lanes are clearly marked - leftmost lane (mine) turns into the near lane, rightmost lane (his) makes a wider turn into the far lane.

Light turns green, we both start - and he turns sharply, encroaching into my lane for almost his full width; if I hadn't slammed on my brakes, we would have collided. I tapped my horn.

We both complete the turn, and as I pass him, there he is, looking at me, clutching a . . . gosh darned . . . cell phone to his ear. (no wonder he couldn't control his truck!) I just continued on, no gestures or anything. He drives slowly, and I draw well ahead.

About 1/4 mile down the road, I'm still in the left lane, he's in the right, and he comes roaring in next to me . . . looks like he finished his phone call, and belatedly decided he didn't like my tap on the horn . . . and he's gesturing and screaming something like a madman.

Maybe as a young guy, he just doesn't know how silly it looks to be screaming with your mouth wide open when the guy you're screaming at can't hear you. (Both his window and mine were closed.)

Needless to say, I didn't respond in kind - I waved, smiled (trying to stifle laughter) and thought to myself "If he only knew!"

He turned off into the shopping center, and I continued on my way. I hope he blew off some steam and didn't try to start something with someone else . . . but if he continues to fly off the handle like that, eventually he'll run into another hothead just like him. And things may get ugly.

Seems like those cell phones turn some folks into zombies until the end of the call, then who knows what you get after that. You did all that you could do, but I bet you are correct with your prediction of his future.

That kind of double left turn encroachment happens to me all the time around here. Plenty of double left turn lanes at intersections these days. Even with the turning lines marked through the intersection, it never ceases to amaze me how many want in a different lane than the one they should be turning in to. I'm as careful on the bike as I am in the car, and its saved my bacon numerous times.

Glad you didn't get hit and the situation wasn't escalated! I just have to keep in mind that when encountering such wonderful examples of gene pool stagnation, its not always best to stir it up.....

Heck, I had a Houston motorcycle POLICEMAN do that to me! Cut over from the outer left turn lane, across my bumper, into the left lane. Then, when he discovered a car on his back tire (me), he brake checked me, then pulled me over and wrote me a ticket for tailgating!!!

I had something like this happen to me last summer. For those of you in the Austin area, this was on Volente Road near Lake Travis.

We were coming back from the lake one evening around 930pm. The road is pretty dark and winds quite a bit. I was going the normal speed for the road, and some guy came up fast behind me and passed (it's a 2 lane road with no passing zones). He came up very fast around a blind corner and passed, so I was actually pretty startled. I flashed my bright lights just one time and very briefly once he passed. He apparently didn't like that though and came to a sudden stop in front of me. I just sat there behind him (about 2 car lengths) wondering what his plan was (and what my next action would be). After about 5 seconds, he just pulled forward and drove off.

I was carrying at the time, and I also had my wife and 2 of my kids with me. My first thought was "i sure hope he doesn't do something stupid'. Fortunately, he didn't get out of the car or do anything more threatening then stopping short in front of me.

I had a similar situation happen to me, in my case I was in the more right of the left turn lanes and the guy in the left lane decided he wanted to take his turn wide. I had to slow down and gave my horn a short honk as he came into my lane, additionally I went all the way to the right lane to further avoid the an accident. He decided to go rather slow after that and I passed him on the right (the lane I was already in). I didn't make any gestures to him as I passed and in fact didn't even look at him, it was no biggy. In hindsight passing him was a mistake as the guy decided to start following me. I wasn't sure it was happening at first but he was driving kinda close (a lot of people do though) however I sped up a bit and he stayed right with me. I had a right turn later with its own lane and as I had a sporty car waited till the last minute to change lanes ( it was clear) and he dove in right behind me. We eventually came to a T intersection where the road we were on intersected a busy access road . After stoping I was able to quickly turn and leave him trapped as there was heavy traffic at the time. I sped down the road and made a quick turnaround at the next intersection drove and drove through some side streets until I was sure I had ditched him.

I was kinda scared after this and in hindsight should have maybe made a quick call to the cops. I didn't have my CHL at the time so if the guy decided to do something I would have been in a bad spot.

Yeah, I don't understand people like that.

One time heading out of Frisco on a two lane road, I pulled up behind a guy at a red light. When the light turned green the guy in front of me took off at a blazing 5 mph. When I tried to pass him he sped up to match my speed, giving me the ol' one finger salute. When a car came the other way and I had to pull back in my lane back behind him, he'd slow down to 5 mph again, and would sometimes come to a complete stop. Every time I tried to pass, he'd speed up and give me his visual greeting again. Finally, when the road widened into 4 lanes, he took off doing 60-70 (it's a 40 mph zone).

I have no idea what his problem was. I guess he was just angry at the world that night. At one point after he sped away, I saw a police car turn onto the road with lights on and thought the cop was going after him, but the cop went about a mile then turned onto a side street.

I wasn't carrying at the time and this was shortly after my motorcycle accident and I was still on crutches, so it could have gotten ugly if he'd decided to do something. I resolved after that to get a .38 snubby that I can fit in my center console for emergency situations for the few times I don't carry.

Only use the horn to avoid an accident. If you have already taken evasive actions do not follow that up with a horn tap. Folks take it the wrong way nowadays. Do not look, wave, smile or in any other way acknowledge your adversary after an encounter. Use your preipheral vision to analize threat level. If stopping in traffic after an encounter leave enough space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you so you have a way out. If you happen to cause the encounter wave in an apologetic manner. If the other driver does not accept this that is on them.
Be safe out there!

Well handled HankB!! I have been teaching my 14yo grandson some basic driving stuff (he can get a learner permit in a few months - wow) - I let him drive me on the farm two tracks and stuff off the road. Anyway, I'm driving him home the other day from the range and a car kinda blocked traffic across two lanes trying to get in to the left turn lane and he just went ballistic over an 'idiot driver', pull forward, let us pass, etc. It was an excellent opportunity to give him the whole 'not worth getting bent over', and 'cool off' spiel and how that kind of attitude just will escalate stuff beyond control. I can only hope (if I am allowed to be around long enough to see it) - that if he starts carrying a weapon (legal CHL etc) and driving (or any other activity) - then he will remember these zen moments. I pray the peace be with him.

On the other hand - I'm also teaching him that if it comes to a fight - you fight to win and there are no rules...

A few years ago I worked at a different site and took a left turn with two left turn lanes on my way to work. I always used the right lane because of a right turn I had to make afterward. I was always aware of the cars to my left because so many cars would go straight from that left lane. Pretty scary when I was on the motorcycle.

I must be lucky when it comes to road rage. I always drive the speed limit or lower when I'm in my truck. Always trying to get decent gas mileage from the hemi in my 3/4 ton pickup. Even though I drive slow, I don't have problems with road rage from other drivers.

texanron wrote:Only use the horn to avoid an accident. If you have already taken evasive actions do not follow that up with a horn tap. Folks take it the wrong way nowadays. Do not look, wave, smile or in any other way acknowledge your adversary after an encounter.

Sad, but true. I have trained myself to never use the horn unless it is the last resort. 95+% of the time, evasive action is more effective than the horn, and the horn is not really needed to avoid an accident.

What is your opinion on using your horn to notify the guy in front of you that the light has changed from Red to Green? I usually wait 5 seconds, then give a light tap, and smile at the other driver to diffuse any potential anger. I am all for de-escalation, but I think its a bit extreme to wait through repeated cycles of a red light when the person in front of me is distracted.

Katygunnut wrote:

texanron wrote:Only use the horn to avoid an accident. If you have already taken evasive actions do not follow that up with a horn tap. Folks take it the wrong way nowadays. Do not look, wave, smile or in any other way acknowledge your adversary after an encounter.

Sad, but true. I have trained myself to never use the horn unless it is the last resort. 95+% of the time, evasive action is more effective than the horn, and the horn is not really needed to avoid an accident.

What is your opinion on using your horn to notify the guy in front of you that the light has changed from Red to Green? I usually wait 5 seconds, then give a light tap, and smile at the other driver to diffuse any potential anger. I am all for de-escalation, but I think its a bit extreme to wait through repeated cycles of a red light when the person in front of me is distracted.

What I try to do is give a VERY short double tap. (Uhh, with the horn that is, not the pistol! ) Idea is that its just a friendly wake-up call, not an invitation to a fight. Seems to work most of the time.

Kythas wrote:I have no idea what his problem was.

Sober people don't drive like that. Call 911 to report the drunk driver!

Katygunnut wrote:What is your opinion on using your horn to notify the guy in front of you that the light has changed from Red to Green? I usually wait 5 seconds, then give a light tap, and smile at the other driver to diffuse any potential anger. I am all for de-escalation, but I think its a bit extreme to wait through repeated cycles of a red light when the person in front of me is distracted.

sjfcontrol wrote:
What I try to do is give a VERY short double tap. (Uhh, with the horn that is, not the pistol! ) Idea is that its just a friendly wake-up call, not an invitation to a fight. Seems to work most of the time.

The short double tap in this situation is adequate. The light squatter has no denying they're distracted and will no doubt proceed forward. I would give them some space though and not follow really close behind them so as to show them you're not aggitated.