Road Rage Close Call Tonight

[Griblik]

Howdy -

So, had a close call tonight, wanted to share.

Was driving home from work on a main road this evening around 20:30, heading to the grocery store. Crappy old subcompact pickup with a grizzly looking old dude is driving about 28 in a 45, starts to drift into the center lane to apparently turn left across traffic, without signaling. As he gets in the turn lane, I speed back up to the speed limit, which apparently was offensive to him, as he flipped me off when I past. After I was maybe 100 yards down the road, I noticed him turn back ontoo the main road. Caused me some concern, so rather than pulling into the closer south entrance to the grocery store, I went on up to the north entrance further down the road and pulled in. He pulls into the south entrance, and tears across the parking lot towards me. I am stopped while I evaluate the situation, and he starts to get out of his truck and yells, "Well, come on then!" at me. I this time I drive back to the opposite corner again, and sit and wait to see what's going to happen. He proceeds to get back into his truck, and again follows me back to where I am. At this time I am in escape and evade mode, have my girlfriend call 911, I hit my flashers and go. Driving as fast I could manage safely through back roads, and only slowing down enough to see that stop signs are clear, he chases me through 4 to 5 turns, swerving across the road and I believe attempting to hit me several times. Girlfriend is still on the phone with police at this time giving our location. He finally takes a turn the opposite direction as we neared the freeway, where I was heading as I felt I would more safely be able to outrun him if needed. The police asked if we had his license plate number, which we did not, but basically said they couldn't do anything if he was no longer following.

So, how would any of you handled this differently? I'm thinking the lessons learned are that I shouldn't have observed so long, and instead just bailed when I saw him pull back into the road to follow us. Additionally, wish I would have gotten his plate number while he was out of his vehicle in the parking lot. I was carrying at the time, a 15+1 Walther 9mm (which was much more comforting than the 6+1 9mm or the 5 shot .38 I sometimes am carrying) and my girlfriend had a 8+1 Walther .380. As he was pursuing us I drew my weapon and tucked it in between my seat, as I was not sure how the situation was going to develop and wanted access to it if needed. While at the time in the parking lot I had zero intention of engaging in a fight with him, and instead intended only to remove ourselves from the situation, as I saw how our "high-speed pursuit" developed through residential neighborhoods I almost wonder if it would have been safer to keep the conflict confined to the parking lot, and hopefully de-escalated it verbally, although I also had a Kimber Pepper Blaster available to me as a non-lethal tool if verbal de-escalation was not possible.

What should I have done differently guys?

 

[Mr. Farknocker]

Nothing different. You did right. Being armed doesn't give you a license to use it; and avoiding a conflict whenever and where ever you can is almost always the best policy. Killing or hurting someone even though you have the legal right to do so is not worth the grief nor the legal fees you would incur to defend yourself.

 

[VAPOPO]

Got a plate number. You did right by avoiding a possibly explosive and dangerous encounter. Some people you just cant reason with and this seems like one of them.

 

[Griblik]

Thanks guys. Good to be able to vent and get a little affirmation.

 

[kyletx1911]

Good job

 

[alsaqr]

You did good.

 

[bikerdoc]

About the only other thing I can offer is drive to police station if possible and lean on the horn. First wife did that 30 yrs ago and Mr. drunk, stupid, road rage guy, was dealt with using 30 yr ago practices.

 

[hso]

What would have prevented you pulling up to the lighted store entrance and entering the store while calling the police? You could have announced that some loon that had chased you was out there and that you needed help. Most idiots won't enter a lighted area where there are cameras and witnesses.

Involving yourself in any chase is unsafe.

 

[beatledog7]

I agree with hso. While the OP avoided an "armed" confrontation, chasing around in vehicles is also dangerous.

Road rage, as the OP called it, begins on the road. As long as it remains on the road, it will escalate.

Go as quickly as you safely can to a lighted, public place. Park close, in a handicapped space if you have to; that will be the least of your challenges. Remaining CCW, lock your vehicle, enter, call the police.

If the other guy follows, then you have a different issue, but with lights and a lot of other people around, he probably won't.

 

[BSA1]

As suggested I would have pulled into a lighted parking lot with patrons in it.

Second all he did was follow (chase???) you and stand in lot yelling. No weapon was displayed and he did not damage your car.

I would not have fled the parking lot and drove at high speeds through neighborhoods blowing through stop signs. Doing so created greater danger to the public. What if someone you didn't see was in the crosswalk and you hit and killed them? Are the cops going to believe that your story that you were trying to escape someone who you thought was going to kill you? Does it even matter?

Third you both were armed. I would have remained where I was with GF on the telephone with 911. I would not have done anything even if he started beating on my car with a baseball bat. That is what insurance is for.

Fourth if he started busting out the car windows while yelling threats well that is why you both carry firarms isn't it? And remember all of those witnesses in the parking lot and 911 tapes.

 

[bratch]

As he was pursuing us I drew my weapon and tucked it in between my seat, as I was not sure how the situation was going to develop and wanted access to it if needed.

Some of the FBI agents in the Miami shootout did this prior to engaging Platt and Matix and lost their weapons during the collisions. Your gun was most secure in the holster and if you had to bail out of the car quickly would still be with you. This is a reminder that we need to practice presentations from unconventional positions such as seated in a car.

 

[Kleanbore]

Hso and BSA1 nailed it.

Also, from our forum rules: " We generally discourage the discussion of road rage incidents, as the use of weapons is rarely if ever appropriate, and as driving techniques are beyond the scope of The High Road."