Close call today.

[WoofersInc]

The one thing I always hope to avoid almost happened today. I was driving and minding my own buisness when 2 cars that were street racing almost took me out. Natural reaction was to hit the brakes and the horn. Well the occupants of the second car took offense at the horn and waited for me at the light. They began flashing gang signs and yelling profanities at me. I immediately hung a right turn and went down the street. The car pulled around all the traffic at the light by going into oncoming lanes to follow me. I then noticed that the first car had joined them. I was by now on the phone to PD and was in full defense mode. The first car pulled up along side and there were 2 obvious gang members inside. They tried to force me to the shoulder of the road. I had now made the decision in my mind that my truck would be getting banged up because I was not going to let them get me stopped. I also by this time had my CCW gun in my hand but not visible to the oter cars as my truck sits up high.
I then recieved a break as traffic was stopped at a light with high curbs on both sides of traffic lanes. I was able to go over the curb in the center and back the other direction without them being able to follow me. I made good speed getting as far from the area as possible. Once I felt safe I had to pull over. The adrenaline had me shaking so bad I couldn't drive. PD took a report over the phone but said not to expect much since I didn't get liscense plate numbers.
This is the closest I want to come to pulling the trigger for real. I learned how fast things can go bad fo no reason at all. I hope that I never do have to actually pull that trigger.
I just wanted to share the experiance to remind others to stay sharp out there.

 

[RubenZ]

That sucks. It's cool driving a truck I've had a similar situation with poser ricers. Good thing my 2500HD Duramax Diesel can smoke them .

 

[Titan6]

That was a good move. With gang members you would likely have found yourself outnumbered and outgunned quickly. Gang members can be quite dangerous and ruthless.

 

[TallPine]

Makes 15 mpg not seem so bad, eh ?

 

[K5mitch]

Good move jumping the curb. I've done the same to avoid similar situations. It's almost worth it knowing I'm driving a tank on wheels (chevy 3500 dually). The only thing I would question in this case would be your decision to move your firearm to a more accessible position. Obviously one of the good reasons to do so would be that it's more accessible; but at that time it wasn't secured, right? What would you have done if you had to evasively manuever, while talking on the phone with the PD, with your firearm in your hand?

Overall good decisions IMHO. But hindsight is 20/20 and gives you a chance to re-evaluate.

 

[WoofersInc]

That why I will always drive a truck. Current is a 4x4 Dodge Dually. Big and heavy. As for getting the gun it was a spontaneous decision. Things were happening fast. I now understand about not saying anything immediately after the fact. I look back and realize that I did some things without even knowing I was doing them at the time. I had pulled my seatbelt tight in anticipation of having to use the truck for esape without even thinking about it or knowing at the time I was doing it. Also there was traffic so I must have been seeing the cars to avoid an accident but I still had full focus on the threat. The mind does a good job of blocking what is not needed I guess.

Like I said though. I don't want to get any closer than that again. Took me a few hours before my hands stopped shaking. My hats off to you guys in uniform who have to do this every day.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Also there was traffic so I must have been seeing the cars to avoid an accident but I still had full focus on the threat. The mind does a good job of blocking what is not needed I guess.

I've had a similar, if less critical, autopilot kick in. One of the main reasons practice makes perfect. Practice driving a car (basic experience for most), practice drawing, practice reloading. Not at the same time, obviously. Every thing the body has down pat is one less thing the mind has to focus on.

 

[obxned]

Ya done good!

 

[MT GUNNY]

as for where your firearm is

I mounted a Hard retention style holster to my dash down near the
steringwheel where my right hand can easily reach it .

I plan on putting a Buckstop bumper on the front and rear,
to help protect the truck.

Its hard to practic defencive driving. watching COPs on tv gives you options.

 

[IamtheNRA]

Yup...trucks are nice...I drive one to work every day...you sit up high and can see traffic situations develop sooner than you can in a car.

It is better to escape than to have to kill someone over a traffic dispute, but I am fully prepared to take a human life in self-defense. Better them than me!

 

[Lonestar49]

Good Job

...

Especially the part about getting rdy to accept that your truck was going to get some dents..

I bought (brand new) a 1990 Black, 5.0 Ford Bronco 4x4 with a Ranchero 4" lift kit, and still own it today, 119,000 miles later, still looks new inside and *out. *But when you get close, you can see some of the German Shepherds, tailgate scratch marks, as they tried to jump in or jump out early.. lol. Same engine, many new tires.. lol, but I still love it. And when I'm out and about, and yep, we got them gang Rice Rockets racing the streets too. Except the new FAD is to race in congested traffic conditions. I can't wait for the first (of many) that I piss off by accidentally blocking their change lanes (hehehe) to go for it, as they have no idea, that I finally want a new truck, and my thinking with my Bronco is, take a hit, get a dent, give a dent, no problem, "I have more insurance than they do" ..legally.

The gun is only a last resort option btw.

Seems, my vibes are getting heard, as I have not been challenged, as I smile at them, when they're pissed.


LS


PS.. Personal life; not to be used as a means of being the right thing to do by any readers.

 

[deck52]

Never ever intentionally do anything that might pi$$ another driver off, no matter how much they deserve it. Also, try real hard to not do anything unintetionally that might make someone mad. There are too many crazy people in the world and on the road anymore. Swallow your pride and survive. Just do what you have to do to avoid an accident/wreck. Don't lay on the horn to express your displeasure with anyone. This tactic has come for me with maturity and an incident 2 months ago that almost got my wife and i killed by a crazy woman at 70 mph on an interstate.

 

[Avenger29]

Something happens to some people when they get in cars. They forget that they are mere flesh and blood, and start believing they are invulnerable.

They will start acting crazy if they get angry, nevermind that they may be the ones in the wrong. They will try to tangle with larger vehicles, hit innocent people, etc.

poser ricers

I've never been able to understand how taking a Toyota and bolting a bunch of crap on it makes it cool. It is still going to be a little econobox.

 

[deck52]

It is still going to be a little econobox.

Don't underestimate the performance of some of the Rice Burners. A couple of years ago, one of the car magazines (I don't remember which one - probably Road & Track, Car & Driver or Motor Trend) did a test comparing the Subaru WRX with a Ford Mustang Cobra. The performance of the cars were virtually identical.

 

[kungfuhippie]

I've never been able to understand how taking a Toyota and bolting a bunch of crap on it makes it cool. It is still going to be a little econobox.

Damn straight-German is the way to go!

Honking at someone for cutting you off is not legal around here. A co-worker of mine got a ticket for "noise pollution" when he honked at a guy that cut him off. Horn is to avoid an accident... :banghead:

Basically IMHO not honking would have prevented the situation. Idiot drivers never learn-until they lose their car, go to jail, or get sued.

I chose my car for acceleration, speed, handling and braking abilities. I have been saved from wrecks by being able to avoid-braking, swerving, or accelerating.-Though I must agree that a large truck has great benefit-Walker Texas Ranger had a Ram

 

[starboard]

I do a lot of commuting through heavy traffic by motorcycle, and certainly its narrow profile and instant acceleration has been the one saving grace of this otherwise very dangerous method of transport.

Agile is good.

I also have a huge old truck with flaking rust-colored primer all over the front. Mothers shield the eyes of their children at the sight of this thing, and blue-hairs in Cadillacs fibrillate and drive into crowded street fairs. When I parallel park it in the city next to some yuppie status accessory, terrified faces peer our from nearby buildings, twisted in abject terror, mouths frozen in a silent scream.

Hideous battle-cruiser with thick steel bumpers is good.

The gas situation worries me greatly. I really dig trucks.

 

[GRIZ22]

It is better to leave your gun in your holster while you are trying to do something else like driving. I know of a case where someone tried to put their car into park with their gun in their hand which resulted in them shooting someone who should not have been shot.

By your own admission they probably got mad at your honking the horn at them. The horn is a warning device not for retaliation. Driving with your horn is not a good idea. The dodging, jumping curbs, making good speed and such could have endangered an uninvolved person.

As kung fu said the entire incident may have been avoided by not honking your horn.

I'm glad you got away and no one was hurt but chalk this one up to experience.

 

[ilcylic]

Good job in thinking "outside the box" and going over the curb.

I'm pointedly not going to join in lambasting you for using your horn. Idiots should be pointed out and ridiculed. A horn is an effective way of letting everyone in the area know that someone has just acted like a moron in public.

 

[bogie]

Leave your trailer hitch in - It's bye-bye time to any radiator behind it, maybe the top part of the engine too...

 

[arjppj]

i drive a jeep cherokee with front and rear tow hitches...and have the tow hooks in the recievers that point down in case i need to remove some body parts off other cars. I also made my own bumpers out of 2x4 steel that weight 50lbs a pieceand are WELL BRACED, so ramming someone to get put of a "situation" is easy!

 

[kungfuhippie]

I'm not lambasting anyone-I just was pointing out that the whole situation seems to have come from the horn being used. When carrying we need to act to deescalate a situation - behind the wheel or not. This is the same as not starting fights while carrying. I probably drive more than most on this forum and see more road-ragers and idiot than most here. They were all set off by something; being cut off, tailgaters, near collision, honking, traffic, etc. It doesn't justify their actions, just explains them.

The truth is that honking to

let everyone in the area know that someone has just acted like a moron in public

is the type of thing that escalates these situations, not honking would have saved a lot of reckless driving to evade and the adrenaline rush that followed. There is a reason that many states (if not all) have laws dictating when honking is the appropriate response.

 

[Crunker1337]

Way to keep a cool head. I'd have probably flipped and had an ND in that kind of situation.

 

[Avenger29]

The gas situation worries me greatly. I really dig trucks.

That's why I am working on going diesel. I am currently working on getting a '96 F-250 with the Powerstroke. As soon as I get it in the yard, the welder and torches are going to get some serious use...

 

[Sheldon J]

The real nice thing about a truck is that Curb's and bumper blocks are not even good speed bumps to them, try that in a low rider!

 

[marksman13]

You did good.

This is why I love my Nissan Titan! I don't have to worry about curbs or speed bumps. The two inch frame lift and all terrain tires, combined with the solid brush guard and 98lb tailgate mean trouble for anybody who tries to run me off the road. If I could only find a way to get more than 16.5 mpg.