Road Rage Incident

[Toad_Passenger]

On my way back to work today from lunch the craziest thing happened to me, and it really unnerved me. I'm still shaking a bit. I was driving in a 45 MPH zone, and felt that I was following the guy in front of me at a safe distance. At one point he must have backed off his gas, and I got a little close to him (although I don't recall this happening). I'm a very leisurely driver, so I never tailgate and generally just go with the flow.

All of the sudden he slams on his brakes, and pulls over into the shoulder. I figure he must have missed a turn or something so I pass him, and notice he is practically screaming at me from high up in his huge truck! Instead of turning around, though, he immediately pulls out behind me and starts running up on me, honking his horn. At the next red light he continues to be attached to my bumper, honking his horn, screaming, etc. I was really scared. At the next light he turned left, while I continued straight.

I'm worried now, though, that he'll be looking for my car. He was pretty steamed, and I really don't think I did anything wrong! Blood pressure will be up for a few days now. Why do people have to go and make others feel so bad for something they don't even think they did?!?!

 

[BillSears]

Around her we call those guys Pennsylvaniacs.

 

[manning]

This is where cell phones come in handy....911.

 

[PlutosFriend]

On my way back to work today from lunch the craziest thing happened to me, and it really unnerved me. I'm still shaking a bit. I was driving in a 45 MPH zone, and felt that I was following the guy in front of me at a safe distance. At one point he must have backed off his gas, and I got a little close to him (although I don't recall this happening). I'm a very leisurely driver, so I never tailgate and generally just go with the flow.

All of the sudden he slams on his brakes, and pulls over into the shoulder. I figure he must have missed a turn or something so I pass him, and notice he is practically screaming at me from high up in his huge truck! Instead of turning around, though, he immediately pulls out behind me and starts running up on me, honking his horn. At the next red light he continues to be attached to my bumper, honking his horn, screaming, etc. I was really scared. At the next light he turned left, while I continued straight.

I'm worried now, though, that he'll be looking for my car. He was pretty steamed, and I really don't think I did anything wrong! Blood pressure will be up for a few days now. Why do people have to go and make others feel so bad for something they don't even think they did?!?!

He sounds like a nut job. People tick me off while I am driving all the time, (most are people on cell phones, btw) but to get that crazy over it is just insane! Try to shake it off and don't let this wack-o get the best of you

 

[Jennasis]

Maybe he thought you were somebody else? Ugh...road rage is just insanity! Lucky he didn't hit your car.

 

[happygirl]

On my way back to work today from lunch the craziest thing happened to me, and it really unnerved me. I'm still shaking a bit. I was driving in a 45 MPH zone, and felt that I was following the guy in front of me at a safe distance. At one point he must have backed off his gas, and I got a little close to him (although I don't recall this happening). I'm a very leisurely driver, so I never tailgate and generally just go with the flow.

All of the sudden he slams on his brakes, and pulls over into the shoulder. I figure he must have missed a turn or something so I pass him, and notice he is practically screaming at me from high up in his huge truck! Instead of turning around, though, he immediately pulls out behind me and starts running up on me, honking his horn. At the next red light he continues to be attached to my bumper, honking his horn, screaming, etc. I was really scared. At the next light he turned left, while I continued straight.

I'm worried now, though, that he'll be looking for my car. He was pretty steamed, and I really don't think I did anything wrong! Blood pressure will be up for a few days now. Why do people have to go and make others feel so bad for something they don't even think they did?!?!

If you see this truck again I would call the cops ASAP, How scary

 

[Toad_Passenger]

It was scary. Unfortunately I have pretty bad anxiety attacks, so even if he's over it by now, I'll be scared for the next few days, or so. What if he's on the Dis and reads this?

 

[ols386]

There was a road rage post just this morning on another thread. Not exactly like this one, but pretty similar.

I don't now why some drivers have to get so worked up as they do over something like this. I think there are some people out there that are just always on the edge, and all it takes is a minor little thing to set them off.

Sorry, OP, that his happened to you.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

It was scary. Unfortunately I have pretty bad anxiety attacks, so even if he's over it by now, I'll be scared for the next few days, or so. What if he's on the Dis and reads this?

Then their thread would read "I was driving back to the office after lunch and this person was up my butt! So I pulled over to let them pass and show how it feels to be tailgated! Some people need to learn how to drive!!"

Sorry but I couldn't resist! I'm not saying this person was rational but are you sure you weren't tailgating?

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Then their thread would read "I was driving back to the office after lunch and this person was up my butt! So I pulled over to let them pass and show how it feels to be tailgated! Some people need to learn how to drive!!"

Sorry but I couldn't resist! I'm not saying this person was rational but are you sure you weren't tailgating?

I'm 110% certain I was not tailgating him. I know this because I know exactly where I started to follow him, and it was no more than 1 mile before he started his antics. If I did get "too close" at one point, it couldn't have been for more than a few seconds, since, as I said, I drive very defensively.

ETA: It wasn't like I was in a rush to get back to work!

 

[harleyquinn]

Who cares if the OP was tailgating? That's no reason to behave the way he did.

(Not that I condone tailgating).

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I'm 110% certain I was not tailgating him. I know this because I know exactly where I started to follow him, and it was no more than 1 mile before he started his antics. If I did get "too close" at one point, it couldn't have been for more than a few seconds, since, as I said, I drive very defensively.

ETA: It wasn't like I was in a rush to get back to work!

Okay, then he was definitely a psycho. If you are concerned then I would keep your cell phone handy when you are driving for the next few days.

Who cares if the OP was tailgating? That's no reason to behave the way he did.

(Not that I condone tailgating).

Bad behavior is never justified. However if the OP had been tailgating (which she wasn't) it might help to explain - not justify - why the guy flipped out.

 

[Brit17]

This would have totally unnerved me too ... but try not to think about it anymore ... maybe he was just having a bad day, and unfortunately, took it out on you ... you'll probably never see him again ... but if you do, just call 911 and report him ...

 

[dislaney]

There are a lot of crazy people out there! I try really hard not to upset people when I'm driving. (Not that the op didn't!) Around here you hear about all kinds of road rage incidents and they seem to be happening more frequently.

 

[harleyquinn]

Bad behavior is never justified. However if the OP had been tailgating (which she wasn't) it might help to explain - not justify - why the guy flipped out.

I get that, I do. I don't know why, but it just reminds me of the "well she was wearing a skirt" mentality. SO totally different I know! I don't know why it made me go there! I think I need some sleep!

 

[sbell111]

People like that are the reason I have my concealed carry permit!

Of course, the downside is that they would post exactly the same thing.

 

[Inigo]

People like that are the reason I have my concealed carry permit!

I always have my carry with me too. I carry on the job, so it's natural for me to have it with me.

 

[pixiewings71]

maybe he thought you were much closer then you were. I drive a mini van, sometimes a car will look right it's right up on me when in reality it isn't....maybe that's part of the case here. NOT excusing what he did to you in reaction, there's no way that was justified, just saying he may have thought you were tailgating when you weren't.

 

[akelly]

OP, try not to worry. I let myself get terrified when a road rage incident happened to my husband. A guy actually followed him from a nearby town, across the bridge, and into our development to yell at him for cutting him off. If my husband did cut him off, it certainly wasn't intentional.
My husband wasn't sure if he was being followed at first because that path is a well-traveled one but when the guy turned into our development behind him, my husband got very concerned. Thankfully, my husband had the sense to stop at the entrance to our development instead of continuing on to our house. They guy got out of his car and approached my husband. When he saw my husband holding the phone getting ready to dial 911 he fled.

Well.......my husband NEVER should have told me that story. It terrified me. I was convinced the guy was going to hunt us down. I made sure the garage door was closed so he couldn't drive through the neighborhood looking for my husband's car and, therfore, find our house. Then I thought my daughter's club soccer decal is on my husband's car with her name and number. It could lead to the team's website which by connecting her last name, he could gather that the manager was her mom (Me) and get our phone number which could lead to our address.

I just couldn't shake my anxiety about it. Now, when I type this all out, I am laughing. It all sounds so silly. I just wanted to share how our anxiety can get the best of us. Try to relax and realize that the incident is over. That guy probably realizes he was an idiot to you and is hoping he NEVER sees you again.

Try to get a good night's sleep.

Amy

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

My friend had a road rage inciddent happen to her a few weeks ago. I guess some woman was driving behind her, and the rager (ahead of my friend) was talking on her phone and going very slowly (like -15 of the speed limit).

So, my friend went around the rager. The rager then looks at her and starts *screaming* at her, speeds up, cuts in front of her, and slows down again. My friend simply called 911, and in two blocks the rager was pulled over and given a ticket after the cop observed her reckless driving as well.