What is the safest reaction to armed road rage?

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While we know that things seldom play out the way we envision them, here's my take on it.

If I were on the receiving end of a road rage incident and my car became immobile for one reason or another (blocked in traffic, blocked by road rager, highly inconvenient mechanical failure, whatever) I would begin immediately getting out of the vehicle. I've got two kids myself, ages 5 and 10. Doing a Jesse Owens away from the scene isn't happening for me, either.

It's not ideal, but the first thing that comes to mind is as hasty a retreat as we can manage but keeping myself between my family and the potential assailant. The car can be used as an obstacle to the advance of the assailant for a short distance, anyway.

I have had a lot of ambush avoidance and counter ambush training and the thing that is hit on big time in every class, training session or briefing is to never allow yourself to be immobilized. Even slow movement is better than sitting stuck in a car waiting to be attacked.

I sincerely hope none of our families are ever in this kind of situation. But if they are, I don't want to look at my wife and say "Let's just sit here and see what happens". It's one thing to be blindsided and have no reaction time. It's another, in my opinion, to give away the time given to you.
 
aarondhgraham;

The cop who "chewed you out" for pulling off onto the breakdown was "technically" correct (in most cases ), but he was also stupid to
 
Same as any other dangerous encounter:

Evade and escape when safely possible, and fight back with reasonable force when unable to evade. Use force to maximum effect to end the fight quickly when needed.
 
Hello Charley C

aarondhgraham;

The cop who "chewed you out" for pulling off onto the breakdown was "technically" correct (in most cases ), but he was also stupid to

Honestly, I think he was just upset for having to deal with the situation.

He displayed that "bored cop" attitude during the entire affair.

Still, I believe I did the correct thing,,,
Pulling over avoided a running fight on the road,,,
Exiting my vehicle and staying behind it avoided being trapped.

Aarond

.
 
pulling over is a last resort.... slow down, let him get on with it...

and I mean SLOW THE F DOWN!!! right hand lane, 50 MPH slow..... get 911 (999 in europe right?), read the tag number of the guy harassing you.... mention road rage, and that you fear for your life because of that guy.... the guy with the problem will not stick with you for long... if he does, keep 911 on the phone and give them a blow by blow reading as to what's happening...

if you're on foot like the OP... escape and evade, period.... If you cannot leave the area, or if you have family with you, find cover, get 911 (999?) on the phone... again, state that you currently fear for your life and your family's life....

If you're armed, keep your family under cover.... draw ONLY if you have... but when you do draw, shoot... don't go waving your pistol at the bad guy, shoot to stop the threat in front of you....

Mike B
 
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if you cannot escape or evade, and you're armed, then is when your offensive / defensive pistol training should kick in....

I would stay on the defensive in a situation like that for as long as possible... you should be able to keep him at bay until the police arrive....
 
Everybody thinks they're tough when they're in their car, or on their phone, or on their computer. It's funny how polite people tend to be when they're standing within punching distance.
One day recently I had a guy on my tail all the way down my windy, 30 mph country road. He finally passed me then pulled over blocking my path. He got out of his car and I got out of mine. I had my 4 ft mahogany carpentry level in my hands holding it like a club. I'm not huge, but 6'1" and about 230. He was suddenly polite and in a hurry to leave. People just need to relax. I was just going to square up his head! Guess he didn't want a free estimate.
 
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