Sounds like me!:p

I work in Staten Island, my average commute from home is between 45 min and an hour. When I have to go into Bklyn for work, somedays it takes me well over an hour just to get into Bklyn from the Island.

Move back to Brooklyn?? My old neighborhood is but a mere shell of what it used to be. Its horrible you couldn't pay me to go back there

Re: Anyone else have roadrage issues?
 

I don't drive in the left lane, except to pass, but I always slow down when I have a tailgater behind me. If they can't follow at a safe distance, I make my speed slow enough that their distance becomes safe!

Just relax, cruise in the right lane slower than the rest of the traffic and enjoy the scenery.

When the cop arrives and looks at the crushed vehicle and the blood, tell him "they didn't pull over fast enough".

When driving a full size vehicle agressively around small vehicles and motorcycles, you're shooting at the empty ground in a crowded room. It doesn't matter if you hit anyone or not. 3-4,000 Americans are killed each year as a result of collision with trucks/suvs, and this number could be compaired to the WTC. Vehicle use as a deady weapon.

Sorry for the harsh words but I've no sympathy for people who play chicken with others lives. I've often wondered how my Clubwagon would fair if I slammed on the brakes some time(temptations). Several times I've had trucks laying on the horn while I waited for pedestrians to cross the street(their legal right).

I stay right, give people an "out", etc, etc... but recognize some people are just on autopilot through life, and there's little to change that.
Give 'em a couple flashes, give 'em a chance, and then go around. With so many more cars on the road, drivers traning and the police should be be pushing "stay right" more.

When things go downhill it is treated like the normal course of events - when a neighborhood improves it is called "gentrification" and considered a bad thing. Totally unfair.

Whole areas of the Brooklyn are being refurbished. It took 50 years to bring it down and we may be long gone from this world before it is done getting better..

Traffic will never be fixed. 15 - 30 years from now you will pull up to a highway and turn you car over to a computer - but that will only help a little. Volume is volume.

The only real solution is tele-commuting and traveling off hours.

You guys have to stop keeping me busy! The supply of personal injury sueage has never been heavier.....

Seriously, take it easy on the roads. I know it is annoying when some jerkoff is lounging in the left lane while talking on the cellphone, but they NEVER learn better and tailgating is definitely not the answer. Give those idiots MORE space so when they really screw up, you are not part of it. The potential consequences TO YOU are too great.

They should. And it would make a huge difference. Time and lives saved.. But that would be relying on education and personal responsibility. I am not holding my breath.:(

Actually I drive in the right lane. Many many many times I will pass someone camping in the left while driving the right lane. For whatever reason this upsets them and they speed up to keep me from getting in front of them. Sometimes I have enough momentum to carry by them and get in front anyway, other times I slow down get behind them, pass the car in the right lane, and get back over to the right lane. Then I pass them.

I do not barral down the left lane at these LLL's driving in their bliss, tailgate, then blow around them 90% of the time I am already in the right lane just driving by.

When I first saw this thread I thought I had finally been had.

Sunday morning, I was last in a line of 30 or so cars in the fast lane climbing up thru Sepulveda Pass on the 405. Doing only 70-ish (Sunday drivers), which is slow for there. From out of nowhere, a Dodge 300 with 24 inch wheels comes up on my a$$ (between two and three feet). I am on the GoldWing. After a minute or two (enough time for him to come to his senses) I turn around in the seat and glare at him. He backed off for 30 seconds, then right back at it.

I moved into a space in the #2, and he then pulled up on the guy in front of me in the #1 while flipping me off as he went by. I moved over a lane or two more into an opening, and sped up, putting 8 or 10 cars between us, as I went back into the #1 lane.

Not too long after that, here he is again, on my a$$. The guy in the truck alongside me rolls down his window and asks if I would like him to 'handle' this. I said, "Be a witness.." He agreed, and I pointed to the Burbank offramp. We got to the Denny's there, I bought him lunch, and a CHP bike met us there. We gave him the description (by tattos) and the license number, and filed the ADW report.

They called me this morning with the info. When approached by the CHP at his home, he fired on the officers. They fired back, he is in the hospital, and my 'Assault with a Deadly Weapon' complaint will not be needed, thank you.

Thanks to the guy in the Dodge truck, I cannot put his name here, but I am buying his lunch again someday soon.

When I saw the thread title, I thought it was about me.

Who would have ever thought that the Gowanus Canal would become scenic promenade??

125, I sympathize with you as i too am a road rager. People are so inconsiderate of others. i always try to give room and play nice stay calm and in control. This works for a little while. My solution will not fit everyone but i began taking the bus and train to work. Yes, good ol' Metro here in houston. The park and ride system is pretty darn efficient. 7$ per day to go from I-10 and 6 to the med center. To drive it would cost about $13. I am such a nicer person when I arrive home and I don't need 30 minutes to decompress after the commute. Is this a viable alternative? maybe not but something to consider.
My rage spiral out of control in 98 after purchasing my first new car. Some azzhat at a stoplight pulls right onto my bumper. I rolled forward to create a little space, he creeps closer. Again, I pull forward and again so does he. Only this time he is stomping the brakes to get his car to rock and inching closer. By now I'm watching him in my rearview and holding my palms up asking WTF do you want. He gestures and the light changes. We drive on with him beside me. We are cussing and gesturing and I'm pissed beyond belief. After a couple of blocks I let him go. Next day, same light on my way home from work, the same guy is there. I consider all the people in my lifetime that I have allowed to get off after stupid behavior and decide that not this time. Not today Zerg, I'm gonna have a piece of this Mofo. Roll up beside him and shout, "Hey, remember me" Funny look on his face and then the light goes on and he does remember. We trade FU's while at the light and i challenge him to pull into the McD parking lot. I pull in and he follows. We both get out and walk directly to each other and with nary a word start throwing hands. Fighting is very tiring. Fights in the movies last 10 minutes, not here. Not in the middle of a parking lot in the middle of summer. After a punches were exchanged and some wrestling ensued we got back in our cars and drove away. Stupid stupid stupid, could have easily been killed. My road rage was somewhat tempered after that exchange. Maybe you need to punch somebody.

I'm too old for fisticuffs and juvenile behavior like that...so I carry my high power, my 12 gauge loaded with 00 buck, and my mini-14 with 30 rounds of 5.56 ball. NEVER screw with me after I've been drinking, then decide to drive. :rolleyes:

I was going to try to write something insightful that would help us all to deal with road-rage issues...Bottomline is that it's going to happen and people will deal with it however they wish, so I will tell a funny RR experience instead.

Some fat chick was following me way too close in heavy traffic on Rt. 10. I was in the left lane, she was behind me making jestures and waving her hands and the whole bit. Nobody was going anywhere, but I think she thought that if she could just get everyone for the next 4 miles to get in the right lane, she could proceed as planned. Nobody else was near her because of the constant stop, go, stop, go, routine she was doing every 2 seconds, hovering between 1 and 5 feet from my bumper.

I waited for my moment, then pounced on the brakes when I had enough room in front of me to let off when she was about to hit me. It was awesome. She slammed on the brakes, :eek: lunged forward, all the crap in her car went flying toward the windshield and I scooted away unscathed. I don't even think she knew I did it on purpose. Though immature, I found it to be quite satisfying and funny.:D

singpilot, that's a hell of story - congrats, that's making the system work for you, although I suspect karma had a bit role to play in there. If only everyone were that level-headed when pissed off, and if other people would take the time to act as a witness.

This guy was driving like he was packing a loaded gun (and he was) and your getting back in front of him?? On a bike?? Sing-man, you have got to take it easy out there..

Everyone needs to be able to control their emotions. If you can't - well, you're no better than the idiot driver.

In the past, I have found being in front of the idiot with a death wish was better than being behind him. The debris path from the inevitable wreck with him and everyone else is impossible to avoid if behind him.

That day, there was almost no way this guy was going to make up the 8-10 car length distance before I exited the freeway. What I didn't take into account was how crazy this guy was in passing / tailgaiting his way up thru the pack.

I treat everyone on the freeway as if they are armed and dangerous. When you are on a bike, they are. This guy would have been my fourth person gone to jail on a felony complaint had he not gone postal with the officer at his house.

Sounds like some here could use a course in anger management......

Or, could it be that some forms of road rage on the part of the individual causing it AND the individual reacting be attributed to insecurity and immaturity?

If you think I have insecurity or maturity issues on a 500 pound motorcycle while being tailgated by someone in a 2000 pound car, I would gladly trade places with you someday and you tell me if you feel secure in my spot.

Rather than ratchetting up the situation at that moment, I get out of the way, find a witness, and have the deranged person charged with the crime they just committed.

Frankly, it is the most secure and mature thing to do under the circumstances. No one gets hurt, the weapon is impounded until trial, and the criminal is removed from society. He goes to jail and eventually trial. With any luck, he won't make bail.

Y'all might think about that next time you crowd a bike in California. We all have cellphones with cameras in them.

So what is this law in CA? Does it apply only to motorcycles?

Sing..

Your reaction is one I would consider sane and prudent.

I ride motorcycles too as you can tell by my sig. That's why I'm made at me and him. I try to give bikes plenty of room, but this guy would not get out of the way.

I only live a few miles from work so it's usually a nice quiet drive, but somedays there's a guy that insists on going the same speed in the left lane as those in the right. A few weeks ago I had a guy going 10mph under the speed limit in the left lane. After trying to get around him a couple times in the right lane only to have him speed up and block me, I had enough and passed him in the middle turn lane. I did notice his bumper sticker read "I'm just driving this way to piss you off". At least he was honest about it.

It will be nice when the 930's done. It's interesting to watch them disappear in the rear view mirror like you're on afterburner.

No, I don't think it is only in California, although, here, all of the complaints that are traffic related on the freeways are handled by a State 'traffic officer'. A CHP on a bike. You don't need to explain to him that you felt your life was threatened by an idiot in a car when you were on a motorcycle. That qualifies as ADW. All you need is a witness, license number, description of the driver, and a willingness to testify.

I find the photos or video are icing on the cake. I usually don't have the problem in Nevada, have never had the need there.

Thanks Moneyguy, I felt this was the best thing to do in the circumstance too.

Glad it worked out for you, sing. Kudos. I once tried to call in a road rage guy after he very deliberately tried to run me off the road. I dialed 911 and was told by the trooper to write a letter to the DMV--they had more serious crime to take care of. Great. That's Massachusetts for you. So that's like ducking when someone purposefully swings a Louisville slugger at my head, and I'm supposed to do what, write a letter to Maor League Baseball? Perhaps I should report the next guy as a "suspected drunk driver" in the future.

Or just tell him "suspected speeder you can net the state $200 off of". They'll trip over themselves trying to be the first out there to write a ticket.

Can you tell I've gotten cynical about law enforcement priorities when it comes to traffic/road/highway?

Anyway more power to ya' sing. . . As a fellow rider, here's hoping we all manage to keep the "rubber side down". I'll keep your tactics in mind. Fortunately I've only ever had one major run-in with someone who REALLY incensed me to the point I've had pushed for 'em to be brought up on felony charges, but in case it happens again, you can bet I'll be looking for witnesses and the quickest place to make a 9-1-1 call.

Well, you know what I find irritating as hell...speeding in congested traffic.

People are stupid; For example the 405 is congested as all get out but if the HOV lane isn't - no matter how congested the remainder of the lanes are if those folks can put the long petal to the floor they certainly do but if *I* don't I get tail gated, flashed and what have you because I'm trying to drive at what I feel is a safe speed for the conditions (faster even). Say the freeways locked but the HOV is moving if you're doing 40 you're making a lot of folks angry.

Just the same, while I try to stay clear of the left lane unless I'm passing or going with the flow. Folks that think it is their right to speed are dead wrong. It's not really my job to get out of your way if you're going some insane speed (but if I see you coming I do what I can because I don't want to get hit by an idiot). I don't speed as much as I used to because I'm tired of stupid tickets for going with the flow of traffic, which doesn't get you out of it. The basic speed law is that the posted limit is just that, there is no "going with the flow."

Good subject. I will admit I'm guilty- and the worst of it is 1) It drives my wife crazy, and 2) No matter how many people you 'teach' there will always be others. My pet peeves are the same as everyone elses- folks who won't get out of the left lane, or come streaking up behind you- and those who don't know what turn signals are. I'm lucky- my commute is pretty quick and painless. But we do have a 3-laner which climbs a pretty big hill nearby, and there is ALWAYS at least one monkey who sits all the way over there in the left lane, even though the right two lanes are completely empty. I find it very hard to ignore stuff and let it go- the sobering thing is just how easy ti is to get shot/beaten senseless over a simple traffic infraction. If anyone actually finds a way to let this stuff go, I'd be interested to hear it...

Cheers,

Paul.

Just spent 2 hours getting home...normally takes me 45 min...kicked the dog when I walked in the door...that's about it.

Wayne C

In Oregon, I think you just let it go. I lived there for a year, and found that people were like that. The majority of people are just space cadets. They (everybody) drive the speed limit in the left lane. The tradeoff is that these clueless but generally nice drivers also respect things like using your turn signals (i.e. I use my turn signal, generally people try to allow me in).

Here in Mass., it's much more of a wild west mentality. People speed, and tailgate, and cut you off, or try to go around the line of cars waiting for a crosswalk of schoolkids, etc. If someone hogs the left lane, it's possibly because they're feeling entitled. If they sense you want to get around them, they'll maliciously make it as difficult as possible. They also regularly do things like purposefully speed up to make it hard for you to change lanes if you use your turn signal.

So if I had to pick a poison, I'd opt for the slower, but kinder & gentler driver of the PNW.

There is a 1-800 number in California for reporting cars that are smoking. (I wish someone here would find it.) You phone in a license number and that person gets a 'smog check' requirement notice in the mail.

Anyone that has ever gotten one of those knows what a PITA those are.

Perhaps everyone should phone in the offenders as you see them.

As a fellow Mass driver, I find that the best way to avoid the "Mass crazies" is to find open road -- ie no one in front of me -- so I can avoid hazards, even if it means being in the left lane.

You see, the drivers in this state believe that they're entitled to have the right of way at all times.

In Mass, it's not uncommon for the following:
-- Have all 3 lanes of a 55 mph highway (Rt. 128) to be traveling at 75-80 mph
-- Have drivers cross over 3 lanes to make an exit at the last moment
-- Have drivers feel that they're entitled to force their way in front of you even if there's no room

After reading an earlier thread about how other drivers challenge Porsche drivers, I began to alter my driving style in my daily ride -- 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. I drove in the flow of traffic staying to the right, trying to play nice.

On day 3, I was rear-ended stopped at a red light by a Honda Accord.

Now, I've been driving with a $36 ball receiver from U-Haul with my factory trailer hitch for over a year -- ever since I saw another receiver bent 45% having taken the full force of a Suburban with virtually no damage to the Grand Cherokee.

In my accident, the ball receiver trailer hitch caught the impact. No damage to me and the Honda's grill and radiator were punctured, the hood compressed and that "H" emblem bent completely backward.

I moved back to the left lane.

As a former resident of Massachusetts I can attest to the fact they've got some of the absolute worst drivers in the nation.

The only place I've ever seen that was worse was Florida. Primary difference was in MA, EVERYONE drives like a maniac - it's expected. In Florida, it's absolute chaos. You have all the NYC transplants with aggressive tendencies, all the "near-deads"/"blue-hairs" in their land yachts driving 30 mph under the limit through lights, stop signs, school yards, whatever without ever speeding up or slowing down, meandering and drifting about lanes. You have the yahoo/redneck/*****kicker types (usually the ones with "NATIVE" bumper stickers) that have watched too much NASCAR and think every road is a drag strip. You have young kids with no skills. You have the junker pickup trucks piled high with (probably stolen) landscape equipment usually driven by individuals with questionable immigration status. You have regular old working-class commuters trying to mind their own business and (of course) the ones on the cell phones oblivious to everything around them. You have the minivans crammed full of screaming kids. It's a complete zoo down there. Glad I left. California is somewhat crazy/aggressive but honestly if you get away from the traffic (difficult to do, but if you can) it's pretty tame by comparison.

Was in Miami a couple of weeks ago. Best bumper sticker ever.


"When I get old, I am gonna move up north and drive real slow."

I have a 4 mile commute to work. It's great but I must admit today I'm off my game and was driving like an idiot. I cut two people off and took the right of way when it wasn't mine.

Everyone has an off day - I'll spend the rest of it in the office as punishment.

I rode my bike to work today to make up for my bad behavior yesterday. I didn't block anyone and I didn't have anyone tailgate me. I wonder if there's a correlation?

Good stuff here. Throw a little gas on the fire. . . Why not?

http://www.youdrivelikeanidiot.com/stickers.php