I was a victim of road rage

[4WD]

There was a study published some years ago (sorry, I don't remember the source) saying that waiting one or two seconds after the light turns green cuts the chance of a T-bone collision by about 80%.

On the other hand - my head is on a swivel at intersections - so I’ll already know if the coast is clear when the light changes - and I’m going through that “red zone” at a good pace …
In fact - I select my common routes based on intersections and avoiding LH turns …

 

[Shel_B]

There was a study published some years ago (sorry, I don't remember the source) saying that waiting one or two seconds after the light turns green cuts the chance of a T-bone collision by about 80%.

A few years ago, someone I know was hospitalized by a car running through a red light at the intersection at which I was stopped.

 

[Pablo]

You can pick where you go, you can pick where you live, you can pick your friends, you can select many things in life but you cannot choose your "friends" on the road.

IMHO FWIW (free!) is this is pretty soft rage incident. I've had three in my life, all when I was a younger and all in my decently quick modded Datsun 510. Two of those involve a chase - none of them were anything I did wrong. Just some idiot in the 1970's didn't like my hair, face, car, wanted my girlfriend (two of them she was with me), NO IDEA. Point here, not a new thing, and you are not unique. I was a decent driver and I had ways to lose the chuckleheads.

Anyway, you weren't chased. Glad you are OK.

 

[Pew]

While I've not actually counted, I'm somewhat surprised at the number of times weapons have been mentioned in this thread.

I love watching dashcam vids but I'm surprised by the amount of folks who brandish weapons during road rage. It's an unfortunate thing from extremely irresponsible people, patience is not a thing anymore

 

[PWMDMD]

Thanks for your thoughts. It really didn't bother me much other than to realize I've got to wash the car, an endeavor which distracts from my shiftless lifestyle.

While I've not actually counted, I'm somewhat surprised at the number of times weapons have been mentioned in this thread.

If we count all "weapons" - firearms, knives, bats, the vehicle itself, etc - there are far more of those than people which means there are a lot of them around and these people are by definition acting irrationally. That thought is always in the back of head with any encounter.

 

[Rand]

I usually give a quick toot if someone doesn't move in 3 or 4 seconds couple days ago I did that and the guy proceeded to look up from his cell phone at the green light flick me off for 5 seconds and then start moving. At an idle. This was now about 10 seconds after the light turned green. A quick wake up toot it's just because it seems like 1/3 of drivers now are getting engrossed in their Candy crush sitting at the red light etc I honked less than .25 second

So immediately after the intersection I changed Lanes to the right which ends in a 1/4 mile he then proceeded to drag race me..... and then tailgate me at 50 in a 35

 

[PontiacHO]

Typically these are folks that have that level of bravery because they carry a weapon. I’ll get flamed here but the majority of young guys with concealed permits-weapons are just itching for trouble…..and if they didn’t have that piece, they would get their butts whipped. Chicken shift punks otherwise.

 

[Pablo]

...........the majority of young guys with concealed permits-weapons are just itching for trouble….

Are there actual statistics on this? What age? How do you know? 55%? 75%?

Old guys are immune?

No way is what you wrote true. Some very few are, but it must be a tiny minority given the very few such encounters with actual concealed permit folks - sure you will get flamed because you are not allowed to just make stuff up as fact.

I mean you did write this, so please provide some scrap of proof. I would say most armed encounters, the aggressor is NOT carrying a gun with a concealed carry permit, but people just assume that. I will tell you and the statistics back me up, overall people with concealed carry permits are less, way less likely to violate the law.

 

[Pew]

Typically these are folks that have that level of bravery because they carry a weapon. I’ll get flamed here but the majority of young guys with concealed permits-weapons are just itching for trouble…..and if they didn’t have that piece, they would get their butts whipped. Chicken shift punks otherwise.

I've seen more dashcam videos of midlife to older folks brandish them.

I often wonder what is going through people's minds. I've had a 92 lb woman rage at me over not cutting off oncoming traffic to make a left at an intersection - she was behind me. I waited for the oncoming car to pass and we both still made the light. As I drove away, I felt sorry for her because I'm a very nice and gentle 6'5" 275lbs guy who chose to drive away. There isn't much should could do short of brandishing a weapon or hitting me with her vehicle if I wasn't a nice guy and chose not to drive away. Eventually, she or anyone who rages, is going to meet another person who isn't a nice person and is able and willing to escalate the situation well-beyond what they expected.

This is the same conversation I have with my kid when they start driving. You don't know the mental state or if the other person has weapons so just drive away.

I'm sorry that happened to you, Shel.

That reminds me of a dash cam vid where a small female like that got out of her car because a f150 stopped a bit close behind her at a red. She got out, punched his truck, went back to her car and got a bat. The guy was easily three times her size in height and weight (he had a stature of a military officer) got out his truck and she went straight back into her car with her tail tucked.

 

[Shel_B]

I will tell you and the statistics back me up, overall people with concealed carry permits are less, way less likely to violate the law.

While I'm not thrilled with the direction this thread is taking, I admit to, in some manner, contributing to it.

My experience in gun safety classes suggests that your comment above is true.

 

[jeepman3071]

It's not worth it to engage. I used to work in auto insurance claims. You name it, I've seen it. I had one where a lady in her 50's ran over someone in a cross walk simply because "they were taking too long". The person she ran over needed several surgeries. The driver had zero remorse for her actions..

 

[jeepman3071]

I will tell you and the statistics back me up, overall people with concealed carry permits are less, way less likely to violate the law.

Agreed. They are much more concerned with losing their privileges.

 

[PWMDMD]

I'm respectful to the people behind me, I'm sure they'd like to make it through the light too.

I'm a fanatic with reacting immediately to the light turning green and getting as many people through as possible - it makes the story about the 93lbs woman even weirder - I could not have made the left without getting hit by oncoming traffic. I have to make a very short left onto Main Street if I go to the gym after work and unfortunately even though I react immediately to the light, 90% of the time that means I'm 5 car length ahead before the person behind me starts to move and only 2 or 3 of the 10 cars waiting make the light.

 

[PWMDMD]

There was a study published some years ago (sorry, I don't remember the source) saying that waiting one or two seconds after the light turns green cuts the chance of a T-bone collision by about 80%.

I always look both ways regardless of the color of my light. I assume someone is going to run the yellow/red but when it turns green I've been looking left and right and I'm ready to go.

 

[Vil_Riker]

Can happen, we live in a stupid and violent society. I have had drinks thrown at me, gun brandished once but mainly it's cussing and yelling. By drivers in beat up trucks or old Buicks while I'm a pedestrian minding my own business on the sidewalk.

Never had issues in the "dangerous" parts of the city.

 

[spasm3]

Typically these are folks that have that level of bravery because they carry a weapon. I’ll get flamed here but the majority of young guys with concealed permits-weapons are just itching for trouble…..and if they didn’t have that piece, they would get their butts whipped. Chicken shift punks otherwise.

The majority ? How did you arrive at that ? Sure there is the occasional idiot with a concealed permit that does something stupid and it makes the news. Most concealed carry owners i know are very cognizant of the law and are not going to escalate a situation.

I think that's what @wwillson meant when he mentioned concealed carry. Concealed carry owners I know are very aware that you must not be in a situation that you , in any way are part of escalating. To be lawful, you must not escalate and its better if you attempt to de-escalate the situation.

 

[wander2039]

I had one last Friday and got it on the dashcam. Some people thinks it's my fault though. Guy was all over the road but had to follow him since I was turning and unfortunately he did to. So I was just going to go around him and just go on. He apparently didn't like that and wanted to race, in hindsight I should of just let him go but he was clearly unhinged regardless what I did. And no I didn't race him. Or maybe he didn't like the BMW don't know. I just didn't engage after, and he really didn't like that either. Have dashcam's in most of my vehicles now.

 

[Dave P.]

He must have been a jerk.

About once a week someone behind me will honk the instant the light turns green. Since I carry, I do not react to others' bad driving, but sometimes I sure feel like telling them where to go and how to get there.

But it wouldn't it be satisfying to step out of your vehicle, pump a couple of rounds right into the radiator of the horn-blower, holster your weapon, step back into your car and drive away....slowly?

 

[wwillson]

Typically these are folks that have that level of bravery because they carry a weapon. I’ll get flamed here but the majority of young guys with concealed permits-weapons are just itching for trouble…..and if they didn’t have that piece, they would get their butts whipped. Chicken shift punks otherwise.

That's not what FBI statistics show. Concealed carry permit holders very rarely ever commit crimes with guns.

 

[wwillson]

But it wouldn't it be satisfying to step out of your vehicle, pump a couple of rounds right into the radiator of the horn-blower, holster your weapon, step back into your car and drive away....slowly?

No