Aggressive Drivers: Getting Worse?

[John K]

Chris142 - Thanks. It may take a while to digest, but I figured it was something like that. Where does the name brownie come from? Interesting photo.
In the same situation in my Honda Odyssey I am tempted to do the same thing, but in my old age just say what the ****, let'em go. The Honda has pretty good power for a minivan though, and most people think they can take me.... You got a grin out of me though.

 

[Huhwhye]

I get retribution today. Muwahahaha!!!

SO! I'm leaving work. There is a right turn onto the street that leads to the fwy onramp. I am going 5MPH close behind the car in front of me, long line of cars waiting to turn (maybe 10) and I'm LAST in line. Remember I'm doing 5 mph. This guy in a neon tries to cut in front of me from the left lane. As he came up on me from the left I wondered why he didn't take the space behind me, there was a ton of room. So I say to myself, forget him. He can get in line like the rest of us.

So I don't let him in. If he waited 5 seconds he could have gotten in behind me since there was still room. Or he could have gone straight ahead and make a U turn (that's what I do when I miss a turn) GUESS WHAT HE DOES NEXT?

So this guy gets mad because being in front of 1 extra car was so important or something. He passes everyone and he makes the right turn from the left lane. "WOW!" I said, you believe this guy?

Well right around the corner there was a cop, LAPD to be exact, standing in the middle of the road. He yells "PULL OVER!" to the neon. The neon is on the wrong side of the road and the cop is standing 2 feet in front of his bumper holding his hand out saying "STOP NOW!".

As I drive by I say "THANK YOU OFFICER!" and laugh all the way home.

I think this is a common problem and the police know it. They sit at that intersection at the end of the work day. I've seen them there before.

 

[TheTanSedan]

Yeah, I miss rolling 78,000# down the big road. But these days, it just ain't got the same kick when:

multiple morons "pass" my rig taking -- no exageration -- two minutes or more, stuck in the bow wave. I'm running a governed 70 mph. I finally learned to get that crazed look on my face and start the rig towards the stripes. Most of 'em woke up got on top of the cruise control and got the **** out of the way.

Best to pass, for safety, without the cruise on. Ir regardless of circumstance.

And not re-enter the right lane -- no matter the vehicle type -- without 5-7 car lengths or more.

 

[Vilan]

quote:

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I think this is a common problem and the police know it. They sit at that intersection at the end of the work day. I've seen them there before.

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We have corners like that here too, but I've never seen any cops doing anything about it. Strange. They could fill their monthly ticket quota in a day or two, no problem.

 

[John K]

Here is a funny email I got today, that seems to fit this thread....

A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light
turned yellow, just in front of him.

He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her
chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of
a very serious police officer.

The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station
where she was searched, finger printed, photographed and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted
back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. "I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would ***** Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday- School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk.

Naturally... I assumed you had stolen the car."

Priceless

 

[farrarfan1]

Look at the members of this site that brag openly everyday about being aggresive drivers. Some use the more politically correct term "spirited." They also feel a need to use the words "redline" and "wide open throttle" to describe their daily driving habits.

 

[Gary Allan]

I've got to admit that I can get passive aggressive when someone is being needlessly overbearing behind the wheel. I was pulling out of intersection at the end of my block. It's a 25 mph zone and there was a full block between me and any car. A car was crossing the light when I pulled out. We both had to stop in 100 ft anyway at a stop sign. I wasn't in a real hurry. When he maintained a close following distance, I just couldn't resist. When the speed limit was 25 mph ...I did 25 mph ...while he was fuming ..I would glance left and right ..taking in the sights of the industrial area that we had to traverse to get to the onramp. I smoked at the time ...lit one up ..casually flicked ashes out the window ...I was sight seeing. I casually did my stops ..and my turn signal always turned on 75ft before it needed to be. My turns were deliberate and lacked any spirit to them whatsoever. Jeeeeust shy of being obvious. I counted on him thinking that I was really that disinterested in driving.


When I put my turn signal on for the onramp ..I noted that he didn't. I really struggled with the urge to "change my mind" (well in advance of where it would have been any safety thing - remember, I'm signaling 75ft ahead to have the annoying blinker remind him that he has to wait) and go straight. Boy that really would have had him blowing a gasket.

As he's passing by, I hear "FRAKKKKUUUUUU!!!!!" as the S10 Blazer slams into second gear ....rushing to the redlight at the next intersection.

Ahh ..the hee-haw I got from that.... and I didn't even feel guilty about it later.

Passive aggression always has the sanctuary of "law abiding" to back it up. Yes, it's a rationalization that allows you some self appointed "justice administrator" .....but, So?

Sometimes you just can't resist taking advantage of opportunity to have some fun at someone else's expense ..especially when you don't even have to go out of your way to do it.

 

[windnsea00]

quote:

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Originally posted by farrarfan1:
Look at the members of this site that brag openly everyday about being aggresive drivers. Some use the more politically correct term "spirited." They also feel a need to use the words "redline" and "wide open throttle" to describe their daily driving habits.

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What is wrong with going WOT and redlining? If I had no passion for driving I would buy a Camry or American car (excluding Vette, Viper, GT) and call it a day. I believe there is a difference between driving "spirited" in a desolate area and being overly aggressive in populated areas as much of these stories are related too. If I am on an open stretch of highway or road with a good view and no one around, I like to on occasion drop the car a few gears and open it up. Now tailgating, speeding in urban areas, and trying to drive fast in high traffic areas is just pointless.

 

[Jason8691]

I used to have a 68 Galaxie 500 4dr, no one got stupid around me. I think if you have a old piece of Detroit steel, people wont be as likely to be agressive with you.

 

[Gary Allan]

Yes, windnsea00, there's nothing wrong with having fun behind the wheel as long as you're not abusing others rights to go about their business in their driving. I can rationalize that easy enough. No harm ..no foul. It's, at least, responsible irresponsiblity.

 

[Palut]

quote:

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Originally posted by farrarfan1:
Look at the members of this site that brag openly everyday about being aggresive drivers. Some use the more politically correct term "spirited." They also feel a need to use the words "redline" and "wide open throttle" to describe their daily driving habits.

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Driving fast and driving aggressively are not the same thing.

Driving fast and driving dangerously are not the same thing.

Driving slowly and driving safely are not the same thing.

Just because one is speeding does not mean that one is driving dangerously. Just because one is going the speed limit does not mean one is driving safely.

 

[brianl703]

quote:

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What is wrong with going WOT and redlining?

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I believe there are two driving situations where WOT and redlining are not only acceptable, but likely much safer, especially in a low-powered vehicle:

1)Merging onto a highway (if you're going too fast for traffic, or to fit your car in, brakes are much more effective than the gas in case you're going too slow for traffic. Unless you don't care about slowing other drivers down, that is. If that's the case, I can only hope that you'll encounter a driver just like yourself...).

2)Passing in the oncoming lane of a two-lane highway. The less time you spend in the oncoming lane, the better.

 

[Gary Allan]

Yes, Brian, good choices. If you've got the smoke, you have more options.

Funny you should bring that up. With my 2.5 auto jeep ..even with a running start, if you can gauge the traffic with enough advance notice, you may be able to match their speed for a merge. All you have to deal with then is the driver who appears to need to create a near miss situation by plotting an intercept course via speed increase. Sorta like he/she's racing to beat you to the open position. I'm not sure of the origin of this reaction to merging traffic that otherwise would enter unimpeded ..nor inconveniencing prvailing traffic ..yet it occurs

I always admired how some drivers snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. It's kinda like a 5th column movement. They need to sabotage functional events.

 

[TheTanSedan]

Gary Allan, you've described my major bit of fun. I especially enjoy the speed limit. Having handicapped plates on a cherry older truck only completes the picture.

As to those who want to "defend" their behavior, do you ever make an exception, i.e., redlining in traffic or WOT on a local freeway?

Ever? Late to work? Etc?

The bad habits catch up with us. Better to learn lane discipline (99 out of 100 almost never have it), and doing the whoa, dude, radical thing like never having to slow for stop lights because one has learned finer judgment.

Sort of like stopping past that imaginary line perpendicular to the stop sign. It'll with one catch up sooner or later.

I've had my share of cars I could drive fast, outdriving the morons in faincy-mobiles. It's only practice and timing.

In short can you outdrive 'em in a big rig or a clapped-out, bolt-action '62 Ford pickup with drum brakes and bias ply tires? Driving a Camry IS boring. But so is a 'vette in any major metro area. No challenge or lack of skill take the fun out of it.

 

[brianl703]

quote:

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All you have to deal with then is the driver who appears to need to create a near miss situation by plotting an intercept course via speed increase. Sorta like he/she's racing to beat you to the open position.

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I slow down and get behind them, since they sped up, there should be an opening behind them...

 

[farrarfan1]

I never mentioned speeding, nor was I referring to the occasional need to punch it if you're trying to pass a semi going up a hill.The topic starter is frustrated at the daily ocurrences of aggresive driving which endangers he and his family. This is followed by 3 pages of stories about this behavior.I tried to point out the mentality of people that openly admit to (brag about?) being the type of driver under discussion.Hardly a day goes by without someone starting a thread wanting to be told what type of oil he, or she, should be using. Somewhere in the post will be a phrase something like; " by the way my car sees redline 5-6 times a day" or "I need something that will hold up because I regularly run WOT daily." Some just cut right to the point and declare themselves as agressive (spirited) drivers.Awhile back someone actally started a thread polling people about how many times a day they run WOT. Not all of the respondents drive in the wild open spaces of Texas or Montana.And not all were referring to merging safely onto the interstate. I just don't understand the need to brag about the type of behavior that Mustang_Cougar, and others, are upset about, or the need for some people to defend it by calling it fun.

 

[Palut]

Thanks for clarifying your statement fararfan1. As long as we're not equating courteous, safe, smooth high speed driving with dangerous rude driving, I've got no problem.

 

[farrarfan1]

You're welcome sir.The ability to aim a car at high speed in a straight line is easy to master. The skill to actually drive at high speed isn't.

 

[Cutehumor]

with heavy traffic on the interstates to work. there will be those who are running late and will weave in and out of traffic to get ahead to make it on time. or if you have a 70mph interstate and there is one person in each of the 4 lanes driving exactly 70 in the fast lane, I will change lanes very often to get around these left lane hoggers

 

[brianl703]

What is it with the drivers who simply MUST match speeds with the vehicle next to them and drive side-by-side?

Do they ever stop to consider where they're gonna go if something happens? Can't go left--they're matching speeds with a car on the left. Can't go right--same thing there. Makes you wonder how they intend to change lanes when their turn or exit comes up.

Related are the drivers who actually speed up when you try to pass them. I don't think many of these are actually intentionally speeding up...rather, they see their vehicle moving slower relative to another vehicle on the road and they assume that they're slowing down and push the "go pedal" as a result.