Road Rage, revisited.

[Jstpssng]

Here's a question for people who live in other states... when entering a controlled access highway, do the signs say to "Yield" or to "Merge"? It's the former here but I suspect that we are in the minority. That could lead to friction when resident's from other places are here or vice versa.

 

[Raul-02]

t wasn’t until I got home that I realized he had hit the side of my truck with both hands or fists, putting two small dents in it.

People are nuts.

Some decades ago in one of the most Road Rage intensive states, I've ever been in (Massachuttes) I was sitting in a K-Mart Mall parking lot. Across from me was a guy who had to squeeze into his car because some person parked a little too close. So he squeezed in and pulled his car out, then stopped and went to his trunk from which he extracted a tire iron with which he beat the offending motor vehicle, denting and gouging almost all the sheet metal on it. Then satisfied, he put his tore iron away and drove off.

I've been menaced by idiots swinging baseball bats, nun chucks, bottles, and even a sword while driving the highways around boston.

And all of that road rage is the result of highway engineers and politicians deliberately Choking the highways going into the city from 4 lanes to 2 and sometimes 1 because they wanted to limit the speed with which the interior roads filled up with traffic.

 

[crashz]

Raul - you're not wrong. As a former MA resident (currently work there), I can honestly say driving here is the worst. NJ and NY are congested, but not as entitled or aggressive. I'll add drivers from southern NH to that group too.

For nearly the last ten years I have had beater/commuter cars. These cars take the brunt of daily driving in the New England area, and take the salt, terrible parking, job sites and ridiculous drivers on the road. The best car was a 2003 Malibu with V6, rust and dents everywhere and faded red paint. I called it Nothing to Lose. I could leave the keys in it in Dorchester with no worries about being stolen. But it had the zip to really get around idiots on the road. Loved that car. Ironically, due to looking like it was owned by a careless teenager, people would stay FAR away from me!

I'm actually a pretty calm driver, but what really gets me absolutely fuming is the speed-checkers. The folks that get in the left lane and match speed with the right lane. Not folks that are simply driving a similar speed, but actually match speed and stay there. If their right lane counterparts exit or move, they blast ahead at ridiculous speed to the next right lane occupant, slow down and block the lane again.

 

[drssg]

People get shot and killed for honking at the wrong person. On rare occasions, I'll give a short honk when someone is zoned out on their cellphone at a green light.

I generally only use the horn as part of avoiding an accident.

I always follow with enough distance that an aggressive driver can cut in front of me, and I don't get worked up when it happens. It beats tailgating and increasing the risk of an accident.

 

[shooterdon]

I pray I never need to defend myself from these idiots. But what we are seeing is the decline of society and it has not reached bottom yet. It will get worse as we devolve.

 

[kenmbz]

I hate driving in NJ, where it seems passing on the right and never merge are the rule.
And they have jug handle turns on most major roads, but not always

MA was 2 different rule sets when I was there.
Eastern part, drive like you stole it and everyone else fend for yourself.
Western part, Sunday drive, 30 in a 45 , 40 in a 55 zone etc.

Zipper merge is so easy when people act normal, and it is much faster.
Those who don't follow the rules actually slow it down for those behind them.

I hope people start to chill out, my wife was threatened a few months ago by a guy going 20 in a 45 and he was doing it on purpose to rile people up.

Guy pushed down an old lady a few months back in a shopping area in town cause he didn't like her parking job...

 

[drssg]

One of my stupid guilty pleasures is watching car crash compilations on YouTube. A common scenario is merging conflicts, where two drivers are hellbent on not letting the other driver get in front, and they eventually run into each other. I find it ironic that they both would have gotten home earlier if one of them had yielded.

 

[Jstpssng]

I find it ironic that they both would have gotten home earlier if one of them had yielded.

That's the viewpoint I try to take. I do need to take it one step further. Every time that I look in my passenger side mirror now, I will be reminded of what happens when you blow your horn at the wrong person. It's not a bad dent, but sure is noticable when viewed through that convex mirror.
Years ago on an other site I mentioned flashing my lights at somebody who had forgotten to dim them; and was told it was a good way to get shot. I didn't understand at the time, but it's becoming more and more obvious what they meant. It's a PITA really, because I sometimes forget myself so a quick flash serves it's purpose. Yet some seem to think that if your lights are too bright that's their justification to give you their hi beams full on... even if it's just because their windshield is dirty.

 

[MossRoad]

You are right on both points. However, not many people, in this state at least, understand the concept of the zipper. That leads to a lot of irritated people. Furthermore, often the speed of traffic will drop 10-15 mph after the merge; some people intentionally drive that way. I will stay in whatever lane everyone else is in, even though I know it's wrong; by doing like everyone else, there's a lot less frustration. I tend to leave a gap in front of me big enough for another vehicle to drop into, any time that I'm driving. Right or wrong, I simply don't have time for an accident. That often causes the driver behind me to ride my bumper, even though I maintain the same speed as the vehicle in front of me.
Construction zones are different. I wish that they would enforce that "Fines double" on people who will speed up to get to the front of the line after everyone else has merged.

This incident has caused me to rethink my driving habits. I've taken some red tape and put an "X" on the horn button of both pickups. People are triggered too easily today. Furthermore, there could have been a reason he'd parked the way that he did... he was most likely already POed about something else. Getting shot isn't on my list of things to do, yet is becoming more and more common as people lose courtesy. As I told the officer last night; "My mother always said that it takes two to make a fight."

Yep. The things I'm talking about are in construction zones. The signs say to use both lanes, yet people purposely pull into the open lane to block people from using both lanes. It's a "I'm gonna show him, take the law into my own hands" kinda mentality.

 

[Jstpssng]

Yep. The things I'm talking about are in construction zones. The signs say to use both lanes, yet people purposely pull into the open lane to block people from using both lanes. It's a "I'm gonna show him, take the law into my own hands" kinda mentality.

I knew what you meant. However, what I see is signs that say
"Construction 1/2 mile"
"merge"
yet some will stay in the open lane until it ends, then force their way into the line.
That's why I say I wish they would enforce the speed limit in those areas.

 

[JasperFrank]

I have to wonder what the rule of zipping really is.

The other day I was in the right lane and checked and then double checked that there were no cars on an upcoming on ramp. So I relaxed when the merge lane started happening.... I had checked and there were no cars on that ramp. To my compete surprise at the end of this merge lane, i look to my right and there is a PU truck, side by side, and it was accelerating. And I know that there is an upcoming bridge, offering no emergency lane for this truck. Quick look to the left and I could see no space to change lanes as those cars were all tailgating. No space to merge over.
So I slam on the brakes, just as the PU driver also realized he had no road in front of him. And he slammed his brakes also. We came to a near standstill till I could tell he was committed to a full stop. Which he had to do as there was no more road. I pass and in the rear view saw him get back on the road. A mile later he passes me and gives me the finger. I thought this was amusing, as I know for a fact that this truck didn't come from the on ramp. He must have attempted to pass me on the right using the merge lane.

 

[jaxs]

I always follow with enough distance that an aggressive driver can cut in front of me, and I don't get worked up when it happens. It beats tailgating and increasing the risk of an accident.

I totally subscribe to leaving enough room between me and car ahead so that another car can pull in. That's also what i do as lanes are merging.

A common scenario is merging conflicts, where two drivers are hellbent on not letting the other driver get in front, and they eventually run into each other. I find it ironic that they both would have gotten home earlier if one of them had yielded.

I agree it normally make's sense to yield and let everyone get to work or home safe and on time. I did waver on it once and started an unexpected sequence with consequences. Just passed a large mall 3 lanes dropped to 2 for 150 yards then to 1 lane. Past construction project that brought 3 lanes to serve new development continued pavement past mall wide enough for 3 lanes in anticipation of soon to come continuation of multiple lanes. In addition to signage as lanes closed,the closed lanes were cross hatch stripped as is common where traffic and parking are forbiden. Day after day the same cars used the cross hatched lanes to pass slow traffic then bully their way back in where cross hatched lanes ended with barricades. Thinking I might get one day the ear of someone at TXDPS or TXDOT I began sitting my discarded cell on the dash to record the risky maneuvers and violent confrontations. As a truck in cross hatches pulled increasingly closer,I maintained my lane. Cars in front excelerated leaving a gap and the truck quickly swerved and excelerated to grab the hole. His rear bumper hooked my front fender and bumper but the driver never pulled over once he could have. I followed a ways and did toot my horn and motion for him to pull over. Realizing the guy could turn violent if I continued following,I pulled over and reported hit and run to police.
Lots of crooks and turns with missed work and trips to court but unless there's interest in details,I'll just leave it by saying ;
A. I still don't pull toward oncoming traffic in attempt to escape cars crowding me.
B. I wound up compensated 20x what I lost in property and time.
C. Last I heard driver was serving time in jail because of previous misbehaviors to which this was the so called last straw.
D. After light was cast on neglect by multiple agencys, police occasional patrolled and issued tickets which all but ended use of "the fast lane by the privileged few."

 

[Jstpssng]

I have to wonder what the rule of zipping really is.

The other day I was in the right lane and checked and then double checked that there were no cars on an upcoming on ramp. So I relaxed when the merge lane started happening.... I had checked and there were no cars on that ramp. To my compete surprise at the end of this merge lane, i look to my right and there is a PU truck, side by side, and it was accelerating. And I know that there is an upcoming bridge, offering no emergency lane for this truck. Quick look to the left and I could see no space to change lanes as those cars were all tailgating. No space to merge over.
So I slam on the brakes, just as the PU driver also realized he had no road in front of him. And he slammed his brakes also. We came to a near standstill till I could tell he was committed to a full stop. Which he had to do as there was no more road. I pass and in the rear view saw him get back on the road. A mile later he passes me and gives me the finger. I thought this was amusing, as I know for a fact that this truck didn't come from the on ramp. He must have attempted to pass me on the right using the merge lane.

I was with a coworker once who did something similar, although it was unintentional. We were on our way back to the motel room, and I was in the passenger seat talking to my mother, as my father had just had knee surgery. We were in the left turn lane which I couldn't understand, with a car on my right. Our lane ended at the intersection. As we approached the turn going way too fast I grabbed the dash and said "Uh, BOB!!!!" I think we were doing about 50. He cut the wheel and turned into the other lane, cutting the other car off who understandably laid on the horn, but also missed us somehow. That's when you wish that you could tell them "oops, sorry."

Meanwhile my mother heard the entire thing, and started bitching me out for talking on the phone while I was driving.
ER, we would have been better off if I was.

 

[notaz3]

Dash cameras are installed in all our vehicles. Horns are used in parking lots to alert pedestrians not in traffic. Easier to be patient and keep car dint free then try and replace it with todays "supply shortage" and incredible mark-ups.

 

[Jstpssng]

I totally subscribe to leaving enough room between me and car ahead so that another car can pull in. That's also what i do as lanes are merging.

Maybe it comes with age, yet this just makes sense. Knowing how some people can get if they can't get past you, I don't want them behind me. Rather, leave a gap so that if they attempt an unsafe pass, at least they have a chance to get back in again. It also gives you more room to compensate for him if the car in front of you stops suddenly.
If I'm in town and there's a lot of traffic, it allows somebody room to pull out of a parking lot or side street into traffic. Yet I have ridden with people who get all POed because somebody pulled out, rather than waiting for a perfectly clear road.

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a question for people who live in other states... when entering a controlled access highway, do the signs say to "Yield" or to "Merge"? It's the former here but I suspect that we are in the minority. That could lead to friction when resident's from other places are here or vice versa.

If the acceleration lane is long enough, here in Indiana, there is no sign. If the acceleration lane is short, there's usually a YEILD sign. However, few people actually yield. Most folks do, however, move over to let you in even if you don't yield.

 

[MossRoad]

...

I'm actually a pretty calm driver, but what really gets me absolutely fuming is the speed-checkers. The folks that get in the left lane and match speed with the right lane. Not folks that are simply driving a similar speed, but actually match speed and stay there. If their right lane counterparts exit or move, they blast ahead at ridiculous speed to the next right lane occupant, slow down and block the lane again.

That's illegal in Indiana, too. You are required to move over to let faster traffic pass, even if you are already speeding yourself. I love it!

 

[Jstpssng]

If the acceleration lane is long enough, here in Indiana, there is no sign. If the acceleration lane is short, there's usually a YEILD sign. However, few people actually yield. Most folks do, however, move over to let you in even if you don't yield.

I've been wondering about that for a while, and thought it might be one of the reasons people from other states drive differently. Last month the State Police announced a campaign to crack down on motorists who don't yield on the on ramp. As they said; "Many people will pull over and let you in, but they aren't required to."
Sometimes you can't, for various reasons.

 

[MossRoad]

People get shot and killed for honking at the wrong person. On rare occasions, I'll give a short honk when someone is zoned out on their cellphone at a green light.

I generally only use the horn as part of avoiding an accident.

I always follow with enough distance that an aggressive driver can cut in front of me, and I don't get worked up when it happens. It beats tailgating and increasing the risk of an accident.

I have the "It's green. It's green. It's still green. It's not getting any greener." rule before I give two short double beeps if I see they're looking down at their crotch. Then they give me the finger and drive away, as usual.

 

[Jstpssng]

Then they give me the finger

Hey, at least they're friendly enough to wave!