UGH! Jerk on the road vent...

[doxdogy]

That is why you have mirrors on your car. To check behind you and to the side of you. I will also slightly turn my head to make sure no one is in my blind spot. If I feel it is needed, I will lay on the darn horn. To many people are in a BIG hurry and do not practice the rules of the road.

Other posters have pointed out to the OP to the point of ad nauseam that the finger was not a good idea and she has fully acknowledged that it was not a good idea.

And that's why it's called an accident, SOMETIMES you don't see the person. Have you ever heard of a blind spot? I certainly wasn't taking sides, just making a suggestion. I see people changing lanes and cutting people off ACCIDENTALLY quite often.

 

[C.Ann]

Lots of reckless, aggressive drivers on the roads these days..

Given your situation I would have used my horn - if necessary to avoid an accident - and left it at that.. Too many horror stories out there about road rage and retaliation..

 

[LoraJ]

And that's why it's called an accident, SOMETIMES you don't see the person. Have you ever heard of a blind spot? I certainly wasn't taking sides, just making a suggestion. I see people changing lanes and cutting people off ACCIDENTALLY quite often.

if someone is not checking their blind spot, all the more reason to honk.

 

[locolala]

Just the other day we had someone cut us off where there's a merge. I had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting them. There was no possible way he didn't see me.. I was in a large suburban hauling a HORSE TRAILER. My poor horses got jolted very, very badly, and I was lucky they weren't hurt. I've known horses who have been seriously injured when things like that happened. I did blast my horn at him.. and a cop was right up ahead. Saw the whole thing, and pulled him over. He deserves the fine he gets. The real kicker was, his tags were dead so his car ended up getting impounded

 

[mikehn]

There are always two sides to a story. I would have liked to hear the other side.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

This is so bad, and I wouldn't recommend it, but when someone gets nasty with me in traffic I will whip out my cellphone and pretend to take a picture of their license plate. They usually haul butt after that.

 

[5 'LIL *TWINKERS*]

In Michigan it is road rage and a felony. Like I said, I've done it a couple of times myself, and I'm always embarrassed and ashamed after I do it. The other thing is, ya have to be careful doing that....because there are some drivers who carry guns, and they might just decide to pull the gun out, and blow your head off (sorry to sound so graphic), but it really can be dangerous, in more ways that one.

Best of luck to you in your future driving endeavors.

Hmmmm, I live in MI and I didn't know that
Just a couple months ago, I was on my way home by myself, driving down long country roads. I came up on an Envoy going 10 miles under the speed limit so I decided to pass. I got ready to and the jerk slams on his breaks and his turn signal to turn left. So I slam on mine. He doesn't turn and continues on, so I pass him. I get right next to him and he flips me off and starts to pull something from the passenger seat that looked like a long barreled gun . I got infront of him and looked in my rearview mirror, all I saw was a long looking pipelike thing waving at me out the window and him angrily yelling and pointing the thing at me like he was going to hurt me. I have never felt so scared. I turned down a couple different roads which he followed me. The 3rd road I turned down was a gravel road and he slowed down and then kept on going. I was quite freaked out to say the least. Thank god my kids weren't with me. I have never experienced road rage that bad before.

Some people are just CRAZY!!

 

[maddmike]

Sometimes accidents just happen when you get cut off by someone who does not see you. I try to give someone a chance before I get mad. When a person is driving like an idiot and cuts me off then I will be all over him or her especially if they are driving a foriegn car.

 

[disney1995disney]

Sometimes accidents just happen when you get cut off by someone who does not see you. I try to give someone a chance before I get mad. When a person is driving like an idiot and cuts me off then I will be all over him or her especially if they are driving a foriegn car.

Why does it matter if they are driving a foreign car??

So if someone from Canada cuts me off, they get the bird, but not if from Jersey?

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

There are always two sides to a story. I would have liked to hear the other side.

You're kidding, right?

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Just the other day we had someone cut us off where there's a merge. I had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting them. There was no possible way he didn't see me.. I was in a large suburban hauling a HORSE TRAILER. My poor horses got jolted very, very badly, and I was lucky they weren't hurt. I've known horses who have been seriously injured when things like that happened. I did blast my horn at him.. and a cop was right up ahead. Saw the whole thing, and pulled him over. He deserves the fine he gets. The real kicker was, his tags were dead so his car ended up getting impounded

What a jerk! I'm so glad your horses were okay and that he got pulled over. It's always nice to see karma in action!

 

[disney1995disney]

At the end of the day, drivers make mistakes. Giving them the finger and slamming on your horn is not always the best way to handle it.

Something to think about. I am 100% sure WE all have made a mistake while driving..

The whole whole glass houses, stones thing sure does apply here..

 

[LoraJ]

Oh snap!!!!

Sundae, I do not think you need anger management. When incidents like that happen, it can really kick in the adrenaline. You know that the finger is not the best reaction. It happens sometimes.

 

[LoraJ]

This is so bad, and I wouldn't recommend it, but when someone gets nasty with me in traffic I will whip out my cellphone and pretend to take a picture of their license plate. They usually haul butt after that.

A couple of months ago a truck did not check his blind spot and started moving into my lane, I honked and honked and he just went faster into the lane and forced me to go into the oncoming traffic lane which thankfully was empty at the time or else I would have either been hit by the truck or an oncoming car. Such a complete jerk. My husband who was in the car with me took photos of the license plate, the side of the truck and the driver smiling and waving. I reported him to his trucking company and they told me they were going to take disciplinary action.

 

[DisneyFed]

I had a guy cut across three lanes of traffic and cut me off getting on an I 95on ramp one time...I gave him a "look" and was about to take "action" when he slammed on brakes, gave me the finger and then turned around and smirked at me before taking off again...

Unfortunately for him, I guess he didn't notice my Highway Patrol Uniform and that the car I was driving was an unmarked Highway Patrol car.....it ended badly for him

I just love pulling my bass boat on I 95..something about a guy pulling a boat just screams "please cut me off" for some reason...

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Unfortunately for him, I guess he didn't notice my Highway Patrol Uniform and that the car I was driving was an unmarked Highway Patrol car.....it ended badly for him

LOL that is awesome!

 

[Disney Doll]

SunudaeAfternoon, there are jerks everywhere, not just on the road. I have had a number of people this week that I would like to flip off. I'll join you in your anger management class.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Bullies, they always feel stronger and tougher behind the wheel of a car......

All the more reason to practice disengaging from the situation. I see a lot of justification for actions because "Well, I was in the RIGHT! And I had every right to (fill in the blank - blow my horn; give them the finger; cut them off; etc)"

My DH hears these excuses all the time for why people engage in battle with other drivers. His favorite (sarcasm intended) are the people who say they were engaged in road rage behavior because they were trying to teach the other driver a lesson. The other driver almost killed them and their children and they needed to "set an example" of how wrong that other driver is.

To which my DH replies, as he's handing that parent another citation, "Your children don't learn from other people's examples - they learn from your example. And if I ever see them driving as recklessly as you were, I'll pull them over and ticket them, too."

Learn how to disengage. If you're in a "cut-off war" with other drivers, realize that your whole intention in being on the road was to get to point B from point A in one piece and relatively happy. Learn how to back off. It's not a freakin' race! Learn that it's not your job to police other drivers no matter how much you think it is.

Learn how to disengage and you won't attact so many idiot drivers to you in the first place.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Unfortunately for him, I guess he didn't notice my Highway Patrol Uniform and that the car I was driving was an unmarked Highway Patrol car.....it ended badly for him

I just love pulling my bass boat on I 95..something about a guy pulling a boat just screams "please cut me off" for some reason...

Holy crap! I love that story.

And just for the record folks, anyone driving a motorhome has a very long stopping distance. DH drives our 31 foot class c with a trailer on the back. It is definitely legal and he has a CDL so he knows how to drive it safely. Please DO NOT cut in front of a motorhome. They take a long time to stop and unfortunately for everyone involved it may end up in your backseat!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Learn how to disengage and you won't attact so many idiot drivers to you in the first place.

Nope, idiot drivers are out there regardless of whether or not you "disengage". I don't chase drivers, or slow down or slam on the brakes. I will pull over to let idiots get by. It doesn't stop the number of idiots out there.

As I tell DD, I can't control other people's actions. I can only control my reaction to them.

And yes, I have occasionally flipped the bird in my younger days. It's a test requirement when you get your license in Jersey.