I was a victim of road rage

[ripcord]

I deal with frustrated drivers almost every day. I drive a truck that is big, slow, and heavy. It takes a while to come up to highway speed and I need to plan my moves in advance. Many perceive this as being picked on.

If everyone would just leave 5 or 10 minutes early they could just chill, save some gas, and make things safer for everyone.

 

[ecotourist]

My Tesla Model 3 gives a little beep when the light turns green. Score one for Tesla. They have some good ideas too.

 

[4WD]

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

For other reasons - this was actually taught to me many years ago in Driver’s Ed - once you have confirmed there is no traffic - get after it … (Treat it like a red zone) …

 

[Rmay635703]

There have been lots of people throwing tantrums, since last week.

Online if we compare November 2023 to November 2024 “engagement “ on the big 3 social media platforms is down about 20%.

If we compare November 2020 to today engagement is almost 80% lower.

So unless people are hammered having tantrums on planes again there is actually less “online “ social media commentary than in the past, meaning less tantrums as well, which is a long term trend as social media has become less relevant than say the golden age Circa 2012-2018

 

[daves87rs]

What concerns me most is that it is going to get worse,

Road rage has picked up big in the last few weeks around here…..

 

[daves87rs]

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.

It is currently one of the reason I won’t carry (at least for now)

My area has gotten especially bad with the road rage- with some doing things you would normally see on YouTube or Jackass (the show). Even giving them a piece of my mind could quickly turn violent That, and folks like to really turn on the drama and make it more intense.

One of my neighbors accidentally got a bit closer to another car (didn’t hit it), and before she could apologize to him coming up with him at a red light- he literally threatened to beat her and rape her daughter.

These are the kinda fools we are dealing with now. Not sure how I’d react if someone threatened my son……

 

[researcher]

Are the inmates running the asylum out there on the roads? Starting to sound like it!

 

[Lubener]

No damage, nobody hurt, time to move on.

 

[Jokester]

This afternoon, I was heading home from running an errand. I was on the main drag that runs through my town and was stopped at a light. The light changed, and I took a brief moment to look for cross traffic that might run the light before crossing the intersection. Literally as I started to move, the guy behind me leans on his horn as I moved across the intersection and down the road. I heard a thud, as if I hit something, and the guy who was behind me speeds by, cuts me off, and continues on his way at a pretty good pace, especially considering the traffic.

A few minutes pass and I pull into my buildings parking lot, head into my space, and get out to check the Camry. The passenger side rear quarter panel is covered with a splashed soft drink that looked like a cola. The shmuck behind me clearly threw his soft drink at me as he sped past.

No damage was done to the car, but it'll need to be washed. I suppose dried on cola will wash off. Really!

I ALWAYS wait a few seconds when the light changes to green as more often than not someone will run the red on their end. Of course I don't care what other drivers think as it's my car at slight risk, not so much theirs.

 

[Jokester]

There have been lots of people throwing tantrums, since last week.

Suppose we should say Make American Cars Great Again?!?

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Hopefully you washed it off already. Coke has a lot of citric acid in it and will eat the paint. Some people used to use it for dissolving rust.

 

[shortyb]

Funny, never had anyone do crazy stuff like that when I piloted the Felon Taxi. Now, in the Dadwagon? All the time. I try to drive in a very non-triggering way for the idiots out there, but someone always seems to go Karen from time to time.

 

[4WD]

I deal with frustrated drivers almost every day. I drive a truck that is big, slow, and heavy. It takes a while to come up to highway speed and I need to plan my moves in advance. Many perceive this as being picked on.

And the idiots that think the paint stripe at the red light is there for thier back tires

 

[2dogs]

Wash it off if you haven't already, and forget about it. Imagine going through life angry at the world.

 

[PWMDMD]

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.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I spend a fair amount of time on the roads. Some people are nuts. I think both medically and a function of broader sociopathy - only think of themselves. Trying to attach logic is a fools game.

Just try to make your way without getting hurt and let the idiots go do their thing.

 

[Number_35]

I ALWAYS wait a few seconds when the light changes to green as more often than not someone will run the red on their end. Of course I don't care what other drivers think as it's my car at slight risk, not so much theirs.

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%.

 

[Shel_B]

What was your rate of acceleration after you confirmed the intersection was clear and safe to proceed?

I have no idea what my "rate of acceleration" was. There was no timing or tracking set up. However, I was moving forward as traffic and road conditions allowed and staying within the speed limit.

 

[Shel_B]

My Tesla Model 3 gives a little beep when the light turns green. Score one for Tesla. They have some good ideas too.

And what is your point?

 

[Shel_B]

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.

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.