Road rage

[Alyrahh]

I am, unfortunately, the owner of a flying middle finger, a palm that absolutely itches to blare the horn, and a foot that can't resist tapping the breaks when someone's a bit too close to my cars caboose.

I'm wondering where I stand amidst the road ragers out there. Am I really bad? Not so bad? Kiddie stuff?

So, my questions to all of you are as follows:

1.) On a scale of 1 to 10, what would you rate your "road rage ability"? (one being the lesser)

2.) Do you yell obscenities at other drivers, knowing full well they can't hear you? (minus the lip-readers)

3.) (For the guys) When the vehicle in front of you has been weaving, adjusting speed erratically, and just generally driving poorly, suddenly develops a second head in the front seat; Do you say something along the lines of A.) "That lucky sonofabitch is getting head! I should rear-end them and see if I can knock her front teeth out!" (said while blowing the horn in an effort to ruin the mood for them).

B.) "Someone needs to teach that boy some self control, he's driving for Chrissake!" (said while picking up the cell phone to dial the police) or...

C.) Lose yourself in a fantasy, pretending you're the man in that car and Britney Spears is the woman. (As your car dips off the edge of the road.)

4.) (For the gals) When you realize the car in front of you, the one keeps hitting her breaks for no apparent reason, is none other than the waitress from the restaurant last night who completely ignored you while flirting outrageously with your date, do you;

A.) Accelerate so you can pass her with your nose high in the air, making sure she see's the beautiful, new, expensive car he just bought you.

B.) Turn off on a side street, hoping to avoid having to see her again. or...

C.) Curse at her from the safety of your car, while occasionally hitting the steering wheel as if it were her face.

And finally...

5.) If a vehicle cuts you off on the freeway, do you chase it down, horn blaring, middle finger jabbing, and window rolled down to make sure they hear you telling them what a "dumb fuck" they are, even if it was the Baptist preacher from your Grandmothers church?

 

[Xander]

okay I'll bite:

1: 7

2: Sure, all the time. If more people are in the car. Passangers has been known to Moon, bad drivers.

3: Use the horn playing "yankee doodle went to town" while sticking head out of the window hollering WOOHOOO.

5: Please see no. 2. (Except more mooning if it's the local preacher)

 

[TN_Vixen]

I fucking hate stupid drivers. I'm horrible about screaming obscenities, flipping the finger and name calling in my car, with the window down... whatever.

Stupid guy once yelled at ME for not letting him jump in front of me when he knew full well his f'n lane was ending, tried to run over me for it and me with 2 kids in the back seat, PRICK. So, of course I chase him down, stop in the middle of the street, stick my head out of the sunroof and start screaming about what a stupid putz he is and asking him if he could live with himself if he killed two innocent children just because he was a redneck-whitetrash-too much testosterone-ignorant dumbfuck?

In retrospect, he coulda yanked one of them guns off'n his gun rack and blew my silly head off... but, hey.

My son, unfortunately, has also learned several choice words from me due to my inability to stomach stupid drivers.

Maybe it's passed down? I remember hearing my dad ask the guy in front of us who was driving waaaaaay to slow for his liking, "Why don't you get your thumb out of your ass and drive?" hehe.

 

[Guest]

Well, I'll admit it. I rank pretty highly on the road rage scale. I hate stupid people (especially stupid drivers), and I wonder how some Iowegians make it across the Missouri River "boarder" daily. No, I'm not stereotyping the Iowa drivers! lol I've seen bad drivers everywhere! It's just that here, in Omaha, the Iowegians who cross the Mo. DON'T know how to drive! I am very quick to lay on the horn when I feel I need to. (Even as a passenger!) I've yelled out my window many times, have told people that they were #1 in sign language, and if I feel someone has been riding my ass I'll start driving 30mph or slower until I feel they're gonna try to pass me, then I speed back up!

~Tiggs~
http://smilecwm.tripod.com/big/biggrin.gif

 

[Wizard]

I have to say ........At one time I was real bad 8 out of 10 ........Fingers , screaming , hell I'd even point them over so we would stop and argue some more...........I would do all kind of uncalled for shit just because there assholes.

Now I drive a company truck everywhere and don't want the company to get a bad name I have changed, and I also have learned as I got older it just isn't worth it...................***** is just to good to be another asshole myself.................


Hey don't get me wrong , they still push my buttons sometimes....................

 

[Alyrahh]

Well, I am very quick to lay on the horn when I feel I need to. (Even as a passenger!)

Me too Tiggs, as a matter of fact, my closest friend is currently threatening to handcuff both my hands to the passenger side door before allowing me to ride in her car. She's just not one of us, she drives along at a grannys pace, motioning to other drivers that it's alright to pull out in front of her. She's afraid to ride with me, she calls me "Aly Andretti" (Sp? I'm just not a racing fan, sorry lol)

 

[KillerMuffin]

OMG you wanna see stupid driving? Get in a big rig. You can way back me up on this one Thumper. People turn into raving IDIOTS around 18 wheelers. You know how the driver's manual says you should stay 2 seconds behind the car in front of you? Trucks require at least 4 seconds. Most of those trucks weigh 80,000 pounds.

I've seen people cut in front of them and stop. I've seen people try to push them into other lanes, they sit in blind spots, the don't let a trucker merge when lanes are ending, they sit right on the truck's backdoor. Most people don't realize that in a handful of states, like Ohio and California, that the speed limit on the highways for big rigs is 55 mph and the speed limit on the highways for 4 wheelers is 65. Yes, thats why they're going so slow. Not just to piss you off. I wish people would have a little more respect for the truck, there would be a few less accidents.

I've seen truckers get road rage too. As far as I'm concerned, these people are committing attempted murder and should be tried accordingly. One truck can do so much damage.

I don't get road rage. Ever. Aren't I perfect? (I don't drive.)

 

[Alyrahh]

Most people don't realize that in a handful of states, like Ohio and California, that the speed limit on the highways for big rigs is 55 mph and the speed limit on the highways for 4 wheelers is 65. Yes, thats why they're going so slow. Not just to piss you off.

I live in Ohio, take it from me, the speed limit being 55mph for the big trucks, doesn't slow them down one bit. I used to make the 2hr drive from here to Columbus each weekend, and even having the led foot I have, the rigs were always passing me like I was sitting still. Always saw at least 4 of them pulled over by the State Highway Patrol between here and there as well. Can't say I blame them though, from what I hear the majority of truck drivers absolutely hate driving through Ohio, so I would probably try my hardest to get across state lines fairly fast as well.

 

[KillerMuffin]

They speed like you wouldn't believe. Most trucks are governed so they'll only do 62 or 65 or something. And yes, most trucker hate Ohio. They call it the Nazi state or some such thing. I spose thats fair, Ohio hates truckers too. In my perfect world there would sane and reasonable laws governing commercial drivers and all commercial drivers would follow all of the laws. Blah. Like that will happen.

 

[Ezzy]

Dont get mad get even...

I drive busses and coaches for a living, between 30 feet up to 49 feet long rigid chassised vehicles, and if I’m not at work I like to either ride my motorbike or drive my car.

I don’t suffer fools gladly, and foolish drivers get even less from me, but I rate myself as about a 5 in your rating system, I may verbalise or gesture but I would rather get even than get mad.

If I am cut off, I like to find some way of either blocking the car that cuts me off behind the car in front of it, or I will find a way to be in front of it at the first chance I get, I wont break the law to get in front, but I will do what I can to show them that they would have been further down the road had they not cut me off.

As was talked about by KM with rigs, it is often the same for the busses and coaches; at 70 mph you need to be looking 400-500 yards in front for safety, people come past at those speeds then cut in front and drop back to 60 mph and wonder why you move out to go round them. They feel they have to be in front to be able to see, and they don’t want to pay attention to their driving.

I have several times seen accidents happen ahead, and attempted to slow and indicate the danger, only to have cars pass me at high speed and be forced into slides sudden braking because they would not observe what was happening ahead.

EZ http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm2/sleep.gif

 

[Bobtoad777]

I suffer horribly from road rage if I am driving any sort of Bibke be it pedal, scooter, motor, dirt what ever if its got two wheel on it and i am on it then Road rage goes through the roof. Purely for the reason other people in 4 wheel or more vehicles do not treat two wheels as a real legitamate vehicle and cause us accidents.

The worst thing I ever did is one night after 1 high beam to many {any of you who drive a bike know how blinding it is to be given a high beam} I went come and got 4, 1 million candle power spot lights and duct taped them to the front of my scooter{yes and 80cc Honda Aero 80}, then I got 6 Transport truck batteries and ductaped them into the rig wired it all up with a toggle switch and went out looking for some idiot moron to high beam and it didnt take long.

I waited for him to get about 100 yards away from me and hit the toggle switch, lit the road up light a baseball field during a night game. all that could be heard was a squealing of tires as he hit the breaks to stop himself from going into the ditch.

then I pulled up beside him and yelled at him, "How you like the Brights mo-fo?"

[Edited by bobtoad777 on 10-18-2000 at 07:22 PM]

 

[Ezzy]

EZ http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm2/sleep.gif

[Edited by Ezzy on 10-18-2000 at 07:35 PM]

 

[Bobtoad777]

thank you very much that should have been yards not years, fixed it thanks

 

[Sonora]

Stupid drivers make me crazy. Just last Saturday I was almost hit 4 different times. I don't know if it matters that all 4 were in trucks (3 pickups, one semi), and all 4 were men. The closest was a semi that was supposed to yeild pulling onto the highway in a one-lane construction zone and never slowed down. He almost smashed me up against the cement barrier. Conveniently the number to call to report his poor driving was ripped off his truck. His rig number was gone as well.

 

[Alyrahh]

I went come and got 4, 1 million candle power spot lights and duct taped them to the front of my scooter... then I got 6 Transport truck batteries and ductaped them into the rig

Duct tape, that stuff fixes anything and everything!

 

[Earthmuffin]

I have two adoreable editors in the back seat for most of my driving, so the swearing and gesticulating has decreased immensely over the last few years. I do comment that the speed limit posted is 45 it would be darned nice if the uneducated person operating the vehicle in front of me would notice and move up a notch from the 28 they are currently doing as I'd like to get home TODAY....

I live way too close to a school that teaches big rig driving....a good rule of thumb is: "Always yield to superior tonnage." I have a ton of respect for big rigs and the job the drivers have to do so the rest of us can have the things we want.

That being said PLEASE USE YOUR FREAKING TURN SIGNALS so I don't have to guess where you might be going. Wanna meet me? Great, let's not meet by accident. I need my vehicle.

 

[forgetunome]

Used to...

I used to be a person if you cut in front of me without leaving me any room for error, I'd honk my horn and gesture! Or if you went out of turn at a 4-way stop land on the horn again! Brake check people when they followed to close. And yes talk to the people in the other cars as they can't hear me. You know the guy "the light turns green and he's or she's still sitting there" I'm in my car saying "you IDIOT exactly what shade of green are you waiting for! Blare on the horn and laugh as they jump and take off.

But, now with people pulling out guns or getting out of their cars and beating you with baseball bats I don't make it so obvious that I am displeased anymore. My philosophy now is I let bad drivers alone because they can never see that they are in the wrong anyway so what's the use.

And as far as big rigs go...it always amazes me that cars think for some reason they can just pull in front and stop, or cut in a space that there isn't room. It seems to me that the smaller the car the stupider the moves they make around big rigs. It's like I have a small car so I can fit in there. But, can't they see that although they can fit if something happened that big truck couldn't stop in time to not hit them! GEEZ! Of course I have seen big rigs take advantage of their size also....when I was driving through Oregon I had a 18-wheeler run me off the road. I had gotten into the left lane to let people entering the freeway in and this big truck which was one of the ones I had gotten over for proceeded to pull on over....and I know he saw me because our eyes met in his side mirror! I had to pull off on the shoulder and come to a stop because if I didn't I would have run into the railings on the bridge ahead...OH I was angry...when I got back on I caught up with the guy...which yes meant I was driving like a mad woman! I pulled in behind him and started jotting down his "how's my driving #" I don't report stuff I usually just call them names and go on but....if he did that to me I can't imagine I was the only one. I think one of the other trucks must have radioed him to let him know his number was being recorded because without explanation he pulled over in the right lane and decreased his speed tremendously! But...I did report him and they said they would give him a corrective action hopefully he did because if he doesn't stop he'll kill someone. That for me was scarry! I was run off the road at 65 mph and had to slam on my brakes when I realized there was a bridge ahead I'd hit if I didn't get stopped!

Okay....I'll get off my soapbox! Drive safely everyone!

 

[Latina]

Husband and one of his friends were victims of road rage once. Redneck in pickup cut them off in traffic, friend honked, so redneck bumped his friend's car and evidently wanted to push them right off the road. They found a roadside police call box and called for help, idiot redneck fled, they don't know if police ever caught him, they didn't stick around to risk having the guy return.

Husband owns big, heavy antique car that literally takes half a block to stop. People on highway change lanes right in front of him, not realizing his car can slice through paper-thin Toyotas and VWs like a buzzsaw. He doesn't rage about it, though, just figures the poor saps don't know any better and are too busy yapping on their cell phones to notice or care about their suicidal maneuvers.

Husband only ever hit ONE car with his antique, a tiny Hyundai that crumpled-up on impact. Antique car, being of very thick steel, suffered only a half-inch dent in its front grille, while right-rear 1/4th of the Hyundai caved in (but nobody was hurt). Maybe that's why he doesn't rage: he's SAFE in his big heavy antique, it's the other guy who will get hurt or suffer dented fenders (not that we wish that on ANYBODY). Our everyday car is a big heavy Lincoln, too, so even in that we are less likely to have damage or be injured than with most small cars.

-- Latina

 

[lala]

when i first got into a car with my man, i was disturbed at his driving, he wasn't into road rage very often, he was just not as precise as he could have been. i got to the point that i now look any time any one i'm riding with changes lanes or turns, since i have had to look when he didn't so many times.

noticing my habit has done wonders for his driving, and he doesn't try to change lanes into other people or turn into them but maybe once or twice a week. (that's an improvement from three times every trip)

i as a passenger bitch about other drivers so much i've actually impaired my driver before. i've been trying to ease up

as for big things- my mom drives busses in a metropolitan type area. she bitches in her personal car for all the times she can't in the bus

also as for big things-

they get the right of way kind of like a herd of buffalo have the right of way when you're on foot!

that's my rant,...