Road Moron

[drmiller100]

Interesting comments from those who criticize oldmech for not turning the other cheek more effectively.

Irony?

a few weeks ago I was at a gas station with the suburban pulling a trailer with a car on it. I could only use 2 pumps becuase of how the station was laid out, and both cars were facing me. So, I gave a bit of space for the car to exit, and waited.
eventually the car pulled out, and a 20 year old dip**** in a mustang cut in behind the car.

So I nosed head on up to the mustang. Owner mouthed off, then I stepped out of the car (I'm 6'2 and 280). So the dip**** went into the store to pay, and wander around the store.
I struck up a convo with his girlfriend and friend in the backseat. She had piercings so I asked her how the fishing has been. I was friendly, and she mouthed off.
When all done, it was pretty funny.

[FXSTi]

15 seconds from the exit I would have just put on my left turn signal and let off the gas.

[California98Civic]

I think the speed limit is 65 on that stretch, right? You were doing 72. That guy has anger management problems. Maybe chemical dependencies to go with it. But you make a mistake in pivoting to return his plumage. You're not the old one [edit: "only one"] armed in Virginia. I had a friend get a gun pulled on her on I-64 once. Be careful out there.

[EDIT 2: I don't mean to judge... I have also lost my cool with aggressive people on the road... gave one the bird last year too. I'm not proud of that.]

[Frank Lee]

I recently had the pleasure of being a passenger in an SUV... one where the "driver" seemed to be about 70% engaged with his "smart" phone/30% engaged with driving. Every vehicle that came into view on the horizon was simply a reason to speed up a little more so it could be passed. And the "music" on the radio... that country "music". Oy. I thought my head was going to explode. Uncharacteristically, I said nothing, for fear that once those floodgates opened, the fury would sweep us all away. And to think this is the "norm" around here. That is why I have so little respect for people as a group.

[t vago]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I move over in the lane to the left edge, which usually gets the idiot to just go around me, but not this clown, he pulls up beside me and gives me the finger. I return the favor, so his next move is to run me off the road. The crazy thing is as he is pulling into my lane with his left rear tire next to my right front,
HE HAS HIS TURN SIGNAL ON!

It's still unwise for a motorcycle operator to return the hostilities being projected by an overly aggressive driver, regardless.

I routinely drive anywhere from 6 to 15 miles above the speed limit, following the flow of traffic as much as I can. When traffic is light, I generally settle for 7 miles above the speed limit. Even at those speeds, I still on a daily basis manage to get somebody who apparently loves my rear end. What to do? I generally ignore them.

It used to be that I did not like having somebody riding my butt. However, I got stationed in Italy for a good number of years. Over there, I quickly learned that riding one's butt isn't aggressiveness, as such. It's just how they drive. Also - straddling lane lines, backing up on a highway to turn off at a missed exit, being passed by motorcycles because they didn't even pretend to follow the lane markers, using the breakdown lane as a driving lane, having an Italian-style conversation on the cell phone (lots and lots of gesturing)... All sorts of things happened there every day, and Americans driving over there would either quickly get used to it, or get into a serious car wreck trying to respond to what they perceived as aggressive behavior. (I did mention that I was stationed there? That implies a continuing presence of some 10000+ American servicemembers and their families.)

Point is, responding in kind to aggressive behavior seldom solves anything on the road. Better to just ignore it or get out of the way. I know it's sometimes hard to ignore such behavior from the occasional jackanape. However, it surely beats getting plastered all over the road, especially if you're driving a motorcycle.

[MetroMPG]

These stories make me grateful for the sleepy corner of the province I live in. I haven't seen any driving worthy of a "me too" post for quite a while.

(Not counting a near-right-hook on my bicycle last fall.)

The city where I live was noted for being "safest" Ontario place to drive in 2011 by the Allstate insurance company. It's not uncommon for people to pull over and stop at the side of the road out of respect when a funeral procession is passing the other direction, or remain stopped at a fresh green light to let a procession get through an intersection unbroken.

(Should note that the average age here is about 75 though )

Still can't beat Nova Scotians for courtesy (IMO).

But I avoid the interprovincial freeways generally, rarely drive at "rush hour" (such as it is), and that probably removes 90% of the red-mist "gotta get there NOW" potential ragers from my experience, automatically.

Not everyone can be so lucky, obviously.

[Fat Charlie]

Wow. Every time I've seen a loser on your highways, a closer look shows that they've got US plates.

[Christ]

Hey, I drive somewhat fast, but within reasonable limits (PSL comes to mind). That said, I don't cut people off, or drive aggressively, and generally change my "attitude" for the locale to save grace for everyone else on the road.

When you drive like a Yorker in Pennsylvania, Vanians think you're an idiot. If you drive like a 'vanian in York, Yorkers think you're an idiot. Spend enough time in either, and you tend to learn the nuances of driving style, so the opposite thinks you /less/ of an idiot. Courtesy is universal, though. Even when it hurts (inside) to do it, just let 'em go.a

I try not to go to New York, though, for personal reasons related to their laws and that I have to disarm myself to cross the state line, as well as some mix of personal experiences that were less than worthy of my continued venture there.

[gone-ot]

...the only "safe" driver is a TANK driver.

[cfg83]

t vago -

Originally Posted by t vago

It's still unwise for a motorcycle operator to return the hostilities being projected by an overly aggressive driver, regardless.

...

I don't think Old Mech was riding his motorcycle. As you quoted, Old Mech is inferring he has two tires up front, or is his reverse trike already built?!?!?

I think the only "mistake" is reciprocating the bird, but I would guess we're all capable of that.

CarloSW2