Anyone else have roadrage issues?

[David]

I must admit I'm a roadrager. I can be driving along minding my own business driving fast in the left lane and then someone decides they need their own lane. They drive slow in the left lane so they never have to drive around anyone because they never come up to car going faster than they are. They could get in the right lane with all the other slow cars going the same speed but they don't. That's when I lose it. I've been this way for as long as been driving which is over 20 years. I don't normally tail gate unless it's in the left lane. Then I tail gate the crap out of people. At the same time, if I'm doing 100 and someone comes up behind me, I get out of the way. If someone puts their turn signal on to get infront of me, I let them in.

This morning the person that set me off was a motorcyclist. Normally I give them several car lengths, but this guy was blocking the left lane and set me off. I don't like it when I get like this. I don't know how to stop myself. Therapy maybe? Listen to talk radio instead of rock? Take it to the track? I race and I still do it.

I don't have wrecks and I very rarely get tickets, but I'm the 1% that everyone thinks it the A-hole that doesn't know how to drive because I'm usually driving at such a high rate of speed. When I'm not in a car I know I shouldn't do this, but I get behind the wheel and I forget. I know I'm just rambling at this point but I'm trying to figure out what to do?

[Instrument 41]

Maybe part of your issues are Houston Traffic. I hate driving over to Houston to visit the in laws.

[RallyJon]

At the same time, if I'm doing 100 and someone comes up behind me, I get out of the way. If someone puts their turn signal on to get infront of me, I let them in.

This is what the anti-road rage propaganda establishment doesn't seem to get. It's not about a need to "win" or go faster than everyone else. Road rage is a reaction (reasonable or unreasonable) to truly BAD drivers.

You can't change human nature. Until you address the root of the problem and increase penalties and enforcement for passive-aggressive driving, you'll see more and more aggressive reactions to it.

That said, it's completely unproductive to get angry with no outlet like that. It would be great if there was some action we could take that would make the other driver think, "Oh dear, that was all my fault. I'd better be more alert and actively try not to interfere with other drivers." But that sort of passive-aggressive driver is incapable of learning.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by 125shifter

I don't have wrecks and I very rarely get tickets, but I'm the 1% that everyone thinks it the A-hole that doesn't know how to drive because I'm usually driving at such a high rate of speed.

I'm with RallyJon... I don't think you're the problem, and I don't think you are the inconsiderate driver.

If I was sitting in the left lane, and noticed that you were behind me, I wouldn't think "what an *********", I'd think "Oops, I need to pay more attention"

Driving fast is fine by me, it's the cell phone dazed, lane hogging, mouth-breathers that are the problem.

That being said, I think you'll have to learn to cope without getting angry... especially if your anger is putting yourself or others at risk. It's just not worth it.

Then again, I'm no model for patience and level-headedness. I gave some twit the finger on the way to work this morning. Yakking on her cellphone and almost merged into me. Great time to find out your horn doesn't work.

[jyl]

Sounds like two separate issues.

One is, are you yourself an unsafe, inconsiderate driver? We can be great, skilled, Porsche drivers and all that, but at some point, driving very fast in traffic is still unsafe. To me, 10 mph faster than flow of average traffic on fwy is fine if you can do it without a lot of weaving in and out of lanes, but if traffic is flowing 70 and you want to do 90, you're the problem driver.

Two is, how to deal with other unsafe, considerate drivers? Ideal is probably to be Mr Zen and not let it affect you. Worst is to let anger spur you into dangerous driving. In between might be to vent. There must be creative ways to vent. Squeeze a handgrip exercise thingy or something.

Or, you could always install a PA system on your car and follow the dunderheads around, lecturing them on competent driving. Just hope one of them isn't an off-duty cop . . .

[Christien]

I've heard a suggestion before for a "sorry" light on the back of your car - seriously!

While I definitely understand the frustration of traffic and losers in the left lane, you have to remember that you're piloting a 3000 lb hunk of steel with the capability to hurt a lot of people if you or someone else just make one small mistake.

A lot of people chalk road rage up to the isolation and protection of the vehicle. Maybe we need more turn-out lanes for people to stop, get out and duke it out. Maybe then when you're pissed at some 250-lb wrestler and you flip him off, you'll get a chance to defend your actions.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by jyl

Or, you could always install a PA system on your car and follow the dunderheads around, lecturing them on competent driving. Just hope one of them isn't an off-duty cop . . .

LOL

Has anyone EVER had success lecturing a stranger about their driving? About a year ago, someone cut me off and came so damn close to putting me off the road that I followed them home (they pulled into a driveway about 1/2 mile before my house). I tried to be tactful and calm about it, basically said, "it may have been an accident, but you very nearly put me into the concrete divider... you may want to keep off the cellphone while merging."
It DID NOT go over well. The guy basically went ape$hit. Lucky I made it home without an ass-whuppin.

Lesson learned: Whether you're right or not, the other person may be a nut job who wants to bust ANYONE's legs.

[David]

I've thought about the PA system, but of course everybody's right, so what's the point of explaining their mistake when they don't think they've made one.

I like the "SORRY" light, or something like that. I not trying to piss people off, I just wish they'd think about other people too. I don't flip people off. I used too and I've gotten out of the car a couple times, but with CC laws I don't do that anymore. If I'm really pissed I just look at the other driver with a funny smirk. If they flip me off, I respond with a peace sign.

[Moses]

We have members on this forum who believe that as long as they are travelling at the speed limit, they can camp out in the left lane. No need to yield to faster traffic.

If someone is blocking the left lane because they are inattentive, that's no big deal. But if they are blocking that lane because they think "nobody needs to drive faster than me!" Well, that makes me NUTS!!!!!


LANE HOG

[VINMAN]

My road rage issues are generally with the inconsiderste bast*rds that feel they own the road because they drive some expensive luxury or sport car or SUV. I love the driver of the little BMW or Benz sl that has to pass on the right when im doin 75 in the left lane and then they shoot over 4 inches in front of me without signaling and slow up to try to make a point or something.
Do they not realize that if i slam into them with my 8000# pickup, they might get smeared all over the highway?? I get at least two of those every morning to start my day off.
another is the driver that has to wait until the last second to shoot over from the left lane all the way over to the right to get on the exit ramp. Crossing over the safety zone at the ramp, because the a**hole did not feel like waiting in line for the ramp like the rest of us. Which is basically the cause of the back-up at the ramp to begin with.

Need i contrinue?...

[RallyJon]

There you go--perfect example: you can't do 75 in the left lane in NJ without obstructing traffic.

[Kirk911SC]

I find that my frustrations with other drivers usually depends on what car I'm driving. I get very annoyed at the left lanehogs, cellphone talkers, etc. when I'm driving the 930. I tend to drive faster and have less patience with other cars. When I drive my winter beater ('90 Corolla) which has kick*ss a/c, is a gas miser, and has a whopping 110 hp, which I've been using as a commuter lately, I just amble along and don't find myself getting fired up at people. I find I'm not pressing to get somewhere quicker and just take things as they come.

Maybe it's just me...............

Kirk

[TheMentat]

Originally posted by VINMAN
I love the driver of the little BMW or Benz sl that has to pass on the right when im doin 75 in the left lane and then they shoot over 4 inches in front of me without signaling and slow up to try to make a point or something.

sorry... but german car or not, if people are passing you on the right, YOU ARE DRIVING TOO SLOW IN THE LEFT LANE! I'm not endorsing their reaction to you, but perhaps driving a little more proactively on your part would make tings safer for everybody.

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by RallyJon
There you go--perfect example: you can't do 75 in the left lane in NJ without obstructing traffic.

On a 50 MPH rd??

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by TheMentat
sorry... but german car or not, if people are passing you on the right, YOU ARE DRIVING TOO SLOW IN THE LEFT LANE! I'm not endorsing their reaction to you, but perhaps driving a little more proactively on your part would make tings safer for everybody.

If i'm moving along at the same speed as the rest of the vehicles in my lane, including the 50 cars in front of me. I'm not driving too slow, especially if it is close to 20 mph over the speed limit. Its just a driver being a jerkoff plain and simple.

BTW, I'm not pickin on German cars ( I own one). it just seems that it is a certain genre of autos that are the biggest offenders.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Guilty here. At least occasionally.

I think in my instance it stems from traffic congestion more often than not. Sorry if I value my time, but I fail to see why I need to "dumb down" my lifestyle or driving for the convenience of people stupider or less competent at driving than myself. If traffic is flowing along reasonably, I'm fine. The instant it starts to "load up", I start seeing the dumbass moves - people waiting until the last second to slam on the brakes, lane changes for the sake of lane changes that accomplish nothing other than adding to confusion and potential accidents, etc.

I guess that's one reason I commute on a motorcycle - the peace of mind with not having to deal with traffic and slow down my life and waste my time (which I value) to accommodate the stupidity of ill-conceived roadways designed for the dumbest possible person out there and then populated with millions of them is quite liberating.

Damn near everything about driving around here irritates me. I hate it. Getting a motorcycle was one of the best calls I ever made - it's paid for itself 1000 times over in terms of frustration and delays avoided. However, I know I probably can't do this FOREVER (although I could certainly do it for the foreseeable future). At some point the traffic/congestion issue will drive me out of the city and it'll then be time to look at relocating to Hawaii or the central CA coast or somewhere like that. But until that day comes, I'll stay on two wheels for the majority of my commuting and keep Porsches around for occasional fun. . .

[cstreit]

Left lane hogs suck. I'll eventually pass them on the right. If they are aggregious offenders I'll often merge back to the left and slowly slow down to like 40MPH (assuming there's no one else behind them.) 90% of the time, they move over.

[Christien]

It seems that all this road rage is the inevitable outcome of ridiculously crowded freeways. The major highways around here were built decades ago and were designed to accomodate probably half the volume of the average daily rush hour. There was an article in the paper a few weeks ago which quoted a cop as saying the eastbound road (into Toronto) is among the lowest ticketed highways in the province - not because of a lack of offences, but it's too damn dangerous for the cops to pull people over. When it's moving, the regular rate is 130-140 km/h (about 85mph). But 6-10am and 3-7pm it's at a standstill.

And there's nothing being done about it - no plans to widen or add new roads, and no plans of any magnitude to improve public transit. I think this is the real root of the road rage issue, and really, who can blame people? When you spend 2-3 hrs/day in the car only getting to and from work, it's mind-numbingly frustrating.

[trekkor]

My favorite is watching the goofball drivers trying to "get there faster".

I love it when we're neck and neck at a stop light a few minutes later

I used to let traffic bother me. Now I will take the slow route and leave late.

I used to have in small letters on the back of my car, "tailgating freak".
Only the tailgaters could read it and I enjoyed watching the expressions on their faces as they eased back.

Tailgaters today are nothing to me. Who wants to rear end an F-350 dually sportin' a trailer hitch?

I will not obstruct traffic, but street tuners do not intimidate me.


KT

[Eric 951]

if drivers would follow 2 simple rules, everyones life would be easier:
1. right lane is for driving, left lane is for passing
2. use your turn signals.