Road rage - course of action?

[j1133s]

"slower traffic keep right"

When there are multiple lanes, use the right lane if you are the only car on the road. If somebody comes up behind you fast, move to the right lane unless you are turning left (use your blinkers).

You sound like one of those drivers who thinks, hey I'm doing the speed limit so I should be a rolling road block in lane #1. Move to lane #4, 5, or 6 please.

Remember, road rage takes 2. Next time if you triggered a road rage case, just ignore them or give a friendly/sorry wave if they persist. No need to brandish a gun at all.

 

[98C5]

"slower traffic keep right"

When there are multiple lanes, use the right lane if you are the only car on the road. If somebody comes up behind you fast, move to the right lane unless you are turning left (use your blinkers).

You sound like one of those drivers who thinks, hey I'm doing the speed limit so I should be a rolling road block in lane #1. Move to lane #4, 5, or 6 please.

Remember, road rage takes 2. Next time if you triggered a road rage case, just ignore them or give a friendly/sorry wave if they persist. No need to brandish a gun at all.

Thank you Mr. Helper. Now read post #1 AND post #48. There was a reason I was in the left lane.

 

[FourTeeFive]

Um, 1K and FourTeeFive, PLEASE read my OP before sounding off.

Sorry about that, I stand (sit) corrected.

The rest of the statement stands though. I agree throwing up your hands shouldn't cause any response, but some psychos are triggered by anything. I TRY not to respond to what some morons do on the road, but I admit it isn't easy.

 

[teh Nub]

I don't respond to others when driving. If I did, I'd be yelling the whole time I'm driving with all the idiots cutting me off etc.

 

[Deavis]

I'd have to see a clear threat to my life.

What? Seriously? Why are we even talking about when to draw? People are talking about how crazy it is getting out there, ever stop to think it might not be them? The OP is asking about when to draw in this situation? How about not getting into such a situation?

Disengage, disengage, disengage.

Smartest thing I've read in S&T all night. Why am I not suprised at the source? If your gesture isn't politely letting the other driver know it is ok to take your lane or turn in front of you (you were paying attention of course) because you realize getting in gunfight over a minor traffic incident the you shouldn't be making it. Seriously, I understand being prepared but what part of deadly force does getting cut-off go under? Can things escalate, sure, but you already know your deadly force laws and have a plan, right?

 

[Deleted member 66305]

How about pulling out your trusty cell phone.

This is my first response when somebody gets road-ragey with me. I pull my phone, call my home phone, and make a production of reading his license plate and description of the vehicle -- it never fails; they always stop what they're doing, and slink several cars behind me, race off ahead of me, or turn off the road as soon as they can.

 

[ChCx2744]

Don't use this as advice, just as a...I guess "comfort" story for your efforts. When I had my 1989 Nissan 240SX piece of horse turd, I had an incident where someone would ride my tail end to the point where his headlights were not visible anymore. Mind you, I was in the lane to the right of the far left lane going about 70 on the interstate. I move over to the right to let him pass and he moves with me and starts honking, "throwing his hands in da air and wavin them like he just dont care." I start moving over lane by lane and at this point he is starting to change lanes behind me and riding my tail end on purpose. I finally get (here is my mistake) fed up and I look around to both my side mirrors and blind spots to make sure nobody else is behind him or besides us at least 3 car lengths away or in front. When I decide that there is nobody else in the danger zone, I grasp the wheel and FLOOR it. To my surprise, he barrels down my lane just to catch up with his birdy just flickering away. Long story short, one thing led to another and the guy ended up smashing into the back of my car. When I finally get out of my car to see if he was okay (IN UNIFORM), I started approaching his vehicle and he saw that I was LEO. That "OH ****" look on his face was priceless. He got charged with OCGA: Aggresive driving 40-6-397, Driver not excersizing due care 40-6-241, Following too closely 40-6-49, Reckless driving 40-6-390(a) and a nice, fat insurance penalty. I also got a nice 1998 Ford Expedition for it

Downside is I got stuck with a nice, fat insurance deductible, a week out of work and 3 visits to the chiropractor...

Best bet in a road rage situation is let them stay behind you if they want to waste thier battery on honking so darn much or let them get in front of you while you make a mental note/take a pic with your cellphone of thier tag, make, model, color and number of occupants of the vehicle. Then call the police and be darn sure of your directional orientation, because it will be that much easier to the dispatcher and officer to find you; police stations aren't always in convenient locations to highways/interstates (from my experience in LE, which is where 90% of road rage incidents occur in the first place) The police usually take road rage calls very seriously...I know I do.