Road rage, have you encountered it driving FFH?

[corncobs]

I had a very unpleasant expierience during my drive home today.

Driving along the main road thru town the guy behind me finally boiled over after following me for a few miles.

It's a two lane highway and he had plenty opportunities to pass me but apparently he had read my license plate frame too many times in big letters while riding my bumper.

So after he went thru an almost red light he past me honking screaming saluting and what not just to sit right next to me at next light which had turned red as well. (behind two other cars)!

 

He kept blabbing to my right in his awesome hamster ride (Kia Soul) during the entire red cycle. Apparently he didn't like hybrids very much since every cursing word was somehow combined with hybrid.

 

Of course he had show off is awesome ride by switching lanes again riding the bumper of the guy in front of him just so that I could wave him a good bye before turning.

 

Well I just wanted to share this story realizing that some people just don't get it or maybe his AC was broken and it was too hot for him 86F @ 85% humidity.

[jeff_h]

I have one, not a driving one but a parking one.

 

My wife parked her Energi at work and came out to find a large dual-wheeled pickup with sticker on the back that says "I <heart> Fossil Fuels", which belongs to someone in the same building -- she has seen it there several times but that one day it was purposefully parked outside of the parking space and left 2 inches of space between the dually wheel well (diagonal spaces so the next vehicle's rear wheels line up with your door) and her driver's door. So she had no choice to climb in from the passenger side, and thankfully that was the end of it. But I did want to stop and leave a note on the person's car that says "dude I also <heart> fossil fuels but just don't want to go broke paying for them, if you want to go right ahead, it's supposed to be a free country and I don't want to infringe on your freedom like you infringed the shit out of my parking space"... but instead we figured there's no use slopping with pigs so she just now parks in a different part of the lot.

[keithsm2]

What I have come to realize is that 95% of all people on the road "HATE" to be in their cars.....They cant stand it and cannot wait to get out of them!!! It is worse than prison.....so they drive like maniacs....switching lanes 4 or 5 times if it gains them one or two cars at a stop light....they think its great!!! They wait till last moment to switch to the open lane, when its been clearly marked for a mile that their lane is closed ahead. They are the reason it gets all back up!! Merge early and it all flows easier people!!

[hybridbear]

but instead we figured there's no use slopping with pigs so she just now parks in a different part of the lot.

You're probably right. My wife has taken to leaving notes on people's cars when they do things like that...she says that at the very least it makes her feel better. I think it just invites more problems...

 

What I have come to realize is that 95% of all people on the road "HATE" to be in their cars.....

I think you're right that most ppl don't enjoy being in their cars.

 

They wait till last moment to switch to the open lane, when its been clearly marked for a mile that their lane is closed ahead. They are the reason it gets all back up!! Merge early and it all flows easier people!!

Also...merging is a joke in MN. No one knows how to merge properly. The DOT even puts up billboards and runs commercials during road construction season to try to teach people the "zipper merge" so that people will merge correctly. They actually teach drivers to wait until the end to merge as that makes traffic flow better than if ppl try to merge early on. If everyone were to continue on in their lane until the end and then take turns with one car from the ending lane entering for each car in the lane that continues that would work best. Sadly Minnesotans tend to slam on the brakes and stop instead of continuing on to merge.

[corncobs]

 

Also...merging is a joke in MN. No one knows how to merge properly. The DOT even puts up billboards and runs commercials during road construction season to try to teach people the "zipper merge" so that people will merge correctly. They actually teach drivers to wait until the end to merge as that makes traffic flow better than if ppl try to merge early on. If everyone were to continue on in their lane until the end and then take turns with one car from the ending lane entering for each car in the lane that continues that would work best. Sadly Minnesotans tend to slam on the brakes and stop instead of continuing on to merge.

Now you have started a very touchy subject > merging to lanes.

 

I agree with you HB that the merge has to happen where the merging lane ends. But other people have different ideas I'm not saying that people should zoom up to the end of lane and merge there that just makes people mad including me. I usually find a spot and drive along with same speed so the guys next to doesn't get pissed when I zoom up and then try to merge.

 

I like to explain it the following way if someone argues with me; if you pull up the zipper on your pants no zipper tooth merges into the other side before its time otherwise the zipper would get stuck.

Unfortunately that is what we all see every day and it's the reason the lane merge doesn't work at least for the most part.

 

Now here is an interesting observation I think it was in Missouri they actually make you merge early and show signs that merging early is state law > makes no sense to me.

 

There have been many studies over this and one that seems to work better is a sign that shows both lanes merging into a new one. It seems to be a physiological thing that the other guy doesn't need to let someone else into his space when one lane truly ends.

 

[keithsm2]

maybe im confused.....but...if you wait till your lane ends to merge.........the people in the "through" lane will have to brake and / or stop to let the others in..... ( i guess there is no way to get around a backup if lanes are busy ) its just seems rude to the people that have been waiting patiently their turn to go for however long just to see somone zoom by that is late to the party and then get to go before ya.... :victory:

 

Very seldom see anyone cut in line at wal mart or somewhere they have to be face to face.....its only when they get in a car and are "untouchable"

Edited July 10, 2013 by keithsm2

[murphy]

In that situation I have seen many truck drivers block the empty lane and even the shoulder of the road to prevent cars from sailing up to the head of the line.

[keithsm2]

In that situation I have seen many truck drivers block the empty lane and even the shoulder of the road to prevent cars from sailing up to the head of the line.

hahah..i have tried that..with only about 500 feet to the end of the lane..People still go till the bumpers rub the cones!!! unreal!! should have their flashers on or something if an emergency....

[corncobs]

maybe im confused.....but...if you wait till your lane ends to merge.........the people in the "through" lane will have to brake and / or stop to let the others in..... ( i guess there is no way to get around a backup if lanes are busy ) its just seems rude to the people that have been waiting patiently their turn to go for however long just to see somone zoom by that is late to the party and then get to go before ya.... :victory:

 

Very seldom see anyone cut in line at wal mart or somewhere they have to be face to face.....its only when they get in a car and are "untouchable"

No they don't have to slam their brakes if they would leave enough space for a car to merge and not riding the rear bumper of the car ahead. You should have enough time to form a staggered formation way before the lane ends which would make the merge a breeze.

 

Yes you could do same .5 mile before the road closes but first of all you aren't using valuable road real estate and you open up the lane for those maniacs which try to get ahead 5 cars.

[GrySql]

This discussion has left out all the extra stimuli that people are ingesting/consuming these days.

Even with totally rational drivers problems will occur, now days who knows what is floating around in the other drivers bloodstream.

Add any emotional distress that driver is under and the fuse is lit for some unwitting victim to get the 'rage' directed at them.

[corncobs]

This discussion has left out all the extra stimuli that people are ingesting/consuming these days.

Even with totally rational drivers problems will occur, now days who knows what is floating around in the other drivers bloodstream.

Add any emotional distress that driver is under and the fuse is lit for some unwitting victim to get the 'rage' directed at them.

That and now we have added the consealed gun carry law in Illinois what a combination.

[acdii]

Takes a Special kind of Stupid to race to a red light
all I have to say on that!

 

 

 

If you dont like my driving

 

 

Stay the hell off the sidewalks!

 

 

What I dont care much for are those SKOS that ride your bumper even though you are doing the speed limit, and they have several opportunities to pass you yet they remain glued to your back side. I mean c'mon yes the Fusion does look good, but not THAT good.

[jeff_h]

That and now we have added the consealed gun carry law in Illinois what a combination.

 

That doesn't change things at all, that law just codifies/enables the law-abiding -- the ones who are more likely to disregard someone else's safety/life with a gun were very likely already carrying in their cars.

 

We have over 300k Concealed Handgun Permit (we call them CHP) holders in VA, over the past 7 years I can think of 2 (maybe 3?) road rage incidents on the highway involving a firearm and only 1 was a CHP holder, but is obviously not anymore! So while you might get road rage from others from driving too slow for them, the chance that someone carrying legally is going to pull a firearm is not something to worry about, IMHO.

[corncobs]

 

That doesn't change things at all, that law just codifies/enables the law-abiding -- the ones who are more likely to disregard someone else's safety/life with a gun were very likely already carrying in their cars.

 

We have over 300k Concealed Handgun Permit (we call them CHP) holders in VA, over the past 7 years I can think of 2 (maybe 3?) road rage incidents on the highway involving a firearm and only 1 was a CHP holder, but is obviously not anymore! So while you might get road rage from others from driving too slow for them, the chance that someone carrying legally is going to pull a firearm is not something to worry about, IMHO.

Agreed 100 % the stupid, bad and dangerous once can always get their hands on guns regardless of permit Edited July 11, 2013 by corncobs

[djminfll]

I had a very unpleasant expierience during my drive home today.

Driving along the main road thru town the guy behind me finally boiled over after following me for a few miles.

It's a two lane highway and he had plenty opportunities to pass me but apparently he had read my license plate frame too many times in big letters while riding my bumper.

So after he went thru an almost red light he past me honking screaming saluting and what not just to sit right next to me at next light which had turned red as well. (behind two other cars)!

 

He kept blabbing to my right in his awesome hamster ride (Kia Soul) during the entire red cycle. Apparently he didn't like hybrids very much since every cursing word was somehow combined with hybrid.

 

Of course he had show off is awesome ride by switching lanes again riding the bumper of the guy in front of him just so that I could wave him a good bye before turning.

 

Well I just wanted to share this story realizing that some people just don't get it or maybe his AC was broken and it was too hot for him 86F @ 85% humidity.

 

 

 

That doesn't change things at all, that law just codifies/enables the law-abiding -- the ones who are more likely to disregard someone else's safety/life with a gun were very likely already carrying in their cars.

 

We have over 300k Concealed Handgun Permit (we call them CHP) holders in VA, over the past 7 years I can think of 2 (maybe 3?) road rage incidents on the highway involving a firearm and only 1 was a CHP holder, but is obviously not anymore! So while you might get road rage from others from driving too slow for them, the chance that someone carrying legally is going to pull a firearm is not something to worry about, IMHO.

I have had a couple of incidents where some jerk just couldn't stand being behind me while I'm using ACC at the speed limit. Then when he finally storms past me, guess who gets stuck at the light up ahead? I do find that I am way more relaxed while I'm driving since I got the FFH.

 

As for the CHP comments, we have incidents of road rage here in lovely South Florida practically on a daily basis. Should you make the fatal mistake of cutting in front of someone, it's 50/50 that the person you just cut off has a gun in the glove compartment. So I just mosey along, and make sure not to cut anyone off and leave plenty of room for the merges!

[corncobs]

I do find that I am way more relaxed while I'm driving since I got the FFH.

You can't say it much better that statement is so so TRUE.

I catch myself a lot just smiling at all the restless drivers that can't drive relaxed like we can in our FFH's.

[acdii]

Agreed 100 % the stupid, bad and dangerous once can always get their hands on guns regardless of permit

You know that, I know that, and pretty sure everyone else on the forum knows that, but Our wonderful govna and that other moron in Chicago sure dont! Oh and there were so may shootings with "assault" weapons too, NOT! :)

 

Where I drive, bubba and his pickup is more of a threat than some goofball with a handgun.

[TX NRG]

That and now we have added the consealed gun carry law in Illinois what a combination.

So the Illini have joined the other 49 states. Next maybe balance the budget?

[corncobs]

So the Illini have joined the other 49 states. Next maybe balance the budget?

They kinda had join but I don't see much hope for balanced budget. If we would budget like our representatives we would all be broke and for sure wouldn't drive a FFH either.

[hybridbear]

maybe im confused.....but...if you wait till your lane ends to merge.........the people in the "through" lane will have to brake and / or stop to let the others in..... ( i guess there is no way to get around a backup if lanes are busy ) its just seems rude to the people that have been waiting patiently their turn to go for however long just to see somone zoom by that is late to the party and then get to go before ya.... :victory:

 

Very seldom see anyone cut in line at wal mart or somewhere they have to be face to face.....its only when they get in a car and are "untouchable"

It isn't supposed to be like a line that ppl cut in. Like the picture corncobs posted above it shouldn't be that one lane is the "through" lane and the other ends, it should be that both lanes end and that ppl have to work together to form one new lane. If ppl took that approach things would go much more smoothly.

 

No they don't have to slam their brakes if they would leave enough space for a car to merge and not riding the rear bumper of the car ahead. You should have enough time to form a staggered formation way before the lane ends which would make the merge a breeze.

 

Yes you could do same .5 mile before the road closes but first of all you aren't using valuable road real estate and you open up the lane for those maniacs which try to get ahead 5 cars.

Exactly. If everyone were to flow smoothly there should be no having to hit the brakes at all. Unfortunately this will never be possible with humans behind the wheel. Take a look at simulations of autonomous cars and how they merge. Since they're being controlled by computers they aren't displaying human behaviors of road rage, selfishness or greed that cause human drivers to block ppl out of lanes and do other things that slow down traffic. Until computers take the emotion out of driving I'm afraid that merging will always be an issue and a cause for complaint among drivers.

[kuzzi]

Living with a manufacturing engineer for a few months and carpooling with him to work has really helped me be more efficient at merging, allowing merging, and getting to work in at consistent traveling times.

 

Edit: And if I want to drive aggressively, I'll take the bike and be aggressively defensive.

Edited July 11, 2013 by kuzzi

[GrySql]

It isn't just car drivers either...

 

 

[kuzzi]

A similar scene unfolded in front of my house when I deliberately scheduled 4 packages to arrive at the same time from UPS, DHL, FedEx, and USPS. Each item was also sharp and/or dangerous (new kitchen knife block set, safety razors, tactical pocketknife, and mini hatchet/utility tool).

Edited July 11, 2013 by kuzzi

[Sleddog]

I have had a couple of incidents where some jerk just couldn't stand being behind me while I'm using ACC at the speed limit. Then when he finally storms past me, guess who gets stuck at the light up ahead? I do find that I am way more relaxed while I'm driving since I got the FFH.

 

As for the CHP comments, we have incidents of road rage here in lovely South Florida practically on a daily basis. Should you make the fatal mistake of cutting in front of someone, it's 50/50 that the person you just cut off has a gun in the glove compartment. So I just mosey along, and make sure not to cut anyone off and leave plenty of room for the merges!

Being CCW permit holder, I carry everywhere I can. Djm, you know what it's like here in Florida. We get all the drivers from other states that bring their bad habits with them when they move here or visit. We call the one that move here Floridiots. I've had the pleasure of having one gentleman, from a northern state, decide I was driving too slow (the speed limit) for him on a 2 lane road. After driving in the trunk of my car for a bit, he finally got chance to pass. He passed me and slammed on his brakes, causing me to do the same. After stopping, he got out of he car and started towards us. I had my wife call 911. While she was calling, he started to bang on the hood of the car, continuing to walk towards the driver side door yelling and screaming. I could not backup because another car had stopped behind us.

 

He's now at the driver's side door pulling on the door handle trying to get in the car. The door was locked, thank god, he then hit the window hard enough to crack it. I never thought I would have to ever draw my CW, but I had no choice. I started to draw and I guess the guy realized what I was doing because his eyes got real big and he ran back to his car. He then drove off at high speed. My wife stayed on the phone with the sheriffs department and gave them the car description and what this guy looked like. We started to follow him and just as we pulled away 3 sheriff's cruisers came flying past us. The 911 operator had asked us to stay on the phone with him, just a few minutes later he told us the sheriffs stop him up the road a few miles asked if we would stop to talk with them. We stopped told them what happened so they arrested the guy.

 

The guy plead out, paid for the damage to our car, gave us an apology, paid his fine, did his community service and went back up north.

 

Why bother getting that pissed off? The guy could have just passed us and got to where he was going. Instead, he got to meet the local sheriffs and not make it to where he was headed. Road rage, it's just not worth it.

Edited July 12, 2013 by Sleddog

[djminfll]

Sleddog, you know exactly what I was referring to! What part of FL are you in? Scary story, I'm happy to say that has never happened to me.
As of now, I do not own a gun, but with crime on the rise, I've been thinking about it. We currently own 2 small dogs, but we are getting ready to add a large one to the household. That won't help with road rage, but in the event of a home invasion, a big dog is a pretty good deterrent (I hope!)

Edited July 12, 2013 by djminfll