I Got "Road Raged" Today!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Tapping and stabbing the pedal are two different things. World of difference.

That's my opinion but there are probably reasons why you should never do it.

exactly, two different things.

[RNajarian]

If you think the brake check gets these people mad try what I call the “Shower Check.”

That’s when you liberally use your windshield washer and headlight washer (if you’ve got that) on a tailgater.

Somehow colored water will enrage these idiots to a new level.

I did that once to a guy acting very similar to Jeff’s idiot. He nearly rammed me, fortunately I was able to accelerate away. He pulled up along side my passenger side in a complete rage while my friend who was riding along with me flashed his LAPD badge and proceeded to call 911.

The driver slowed down and fell back behind me. Not sure if the CHP did anything.

I don’t use the “Shower Check” very much anymore, unless I have a LAPD officer riding with me.

[oldE]

The trouble with even tapping the brake pedal briefly is the idiot who is tailgating you just ramps up their anti social behavior. I don't do it anymore.
Road rage is rare around here, but I recall an incident about 20 years ago while approaching town a small pickup with a wooden body caught up with a big speed differential and matched speed less than a vehicle length behind. I tapped the brake lights to ask him to back off. About 100 yards later, he whipped by on a double solid line and locked his brakes. I saw the rear wheels stop momentarily. By that time we were into the town speed limit so I was able to avoid collision.
My wife copied the plate number and we stopped at the police station but no one was in. We did not persue the matter further.
Be safe out there.
Les

[Cairo94507]

I enjoyed the read but with "people" today, one never knows what is driving the car next to them. Criminals are no longer confined after being arrested for violent crimes since the "underserved" can't be expected to post bail, after all the government doesn't give them bail money, or do they? Regardless, when I see people like that coming up behind me, and it happens a lot more than it once did, I pull to the right to let them fly by and ruin someone else's day.

In CA, it seems the CHP are just absent from traffic enforcement these days. I guess because the "underserved" are so disproportionately impacted by traffic tickets because they never obey the laws. So now people are driving like complete lunatics and nothing happens to them. Of course that impacts everyone on the roads.

Apparently, what escapes police commanders and decision makers these days is the "Broken Windows" model. If you ignore the 1 broken window, the next thing you know there will be a lot more. By police ignoring all of the traffic infractions, the criminals are emboldened and escalate their criminal activity to bigger and more dangerous activities. If police enforce the infractions and do their jobs as defined by the laws on the books, society is better for everyone. In CA that is now a lost model.

[Seahawk]

Tailgating is normal around here and I don't know why...a lot of the roads are two lane with no passing zones for miles: Just take a reasonable interval and enjoy.

I DD a 1996 Land Cruiser that, while modern, means I'm not Craig Breedlove in the 'Spirit of America'.

The only thing I race these days is the gas gauge.

A saving grace is that many of the roads here have very generous shoulders on both sides because the Amish and Mennonites still drive horse drawn carriages. I just turn on my blinker, check for buggies and pull slowly over and then merge back to watch Merle bump draft the car that was five car lengths ahead of me. It is a new me.

Crazy.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

.. watch Merle bump draft the car that was five car lengths ahead of me.

heh heh. I like that. (I also wonder if actual bump-drafting on the highway may end up being a thing in the future, the way things are going)

[Superman]

Jeff is a good writer. Nice explanation of exactly what did and did not happen.

When I was a young man I did stupid stuff at a far greater rate than now. Today, I am glad to have (usually) the presence of mind to just watch the idiots with amusement and pity. I was an idiot, more time than I want to admit. And now, these days, it seems that idiocy is a far greater epidemic than Covid. I used to see somebody doing something stupid every time I drive for an hour. Today, in one hour, I might see fifteen stupid decisions. Driving used to be fun for me. Back in the day.

Be careful out there.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Tailgating is normal around here a....

Don't get me started. Drivers who can follow at one car length at highway speeds do not understand physics and should not operate motor vehicles. I can't do it. I know that in an emergency stop situation, the collision would occur before my foot touches the brake pedal.

[hbueno]

Originally Posted by Paul_Heery

So you "brake checked" the guy behind you and you think it's OK?

My thoughts as well. Whether it's an actual brake check or a tap, it can be enough to trigger an unstable wanker into more dangerous behavior.

Sometimes, karma has a say, like in this video:

[Paul T]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

You should write novels Jeff, like that Clancy guy.

I was just going to say the same…Jeff, I always enjoy your posts, no matter the subject - you have a great writing style and a way with words. Well handled on the “incident” too….I’ve been tempted in the past to react not as calmly as you did in similar situations, but there are way too many nut jobs out there.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Tapping and stabbing the pedal are two different things. World of difference.

That's my opinion but there are probably reasons why you should never do it.

People tailgate for one of 2 reasons. Intentionally, or not.

And everyone is correct that tapping vs jabbing are 2 completely different things.......except to the person behind you. That's where things go awry.

I never tap,jab,check...whatever it's called in whatever manner. Here's why.

Intentional jack-leg tailgater is TGing for their reason and we'll never know why. Tap/jab/Check will set them off asafp...every time. Then, ya hafta clean soy latte or a cup of piss off your rig.

Unintentional TGer might be distracted because < insert life crisis here > and zoned out a for a bit. Bad? Yes, but overly agro? No.

Like Jeff said at the onset "Maintaining heading and altitude" is perfect, IMHO.

I would turn on my hazards for about 2-3 flashes.

Intentional guy will either back off, go around, whatever. They weren't brake checked so they have no reason to escalate. ( I know, assumption there )

Unintentional will back off immediately.

I do this quite often with really good results. Even have folks wave sometimes as they pass...and yes, with all their fingers.

It's not the perfect answer for every occasion, but I see it works 69% of the time every time.

[latunabernie]

Jeff you ride motorcycles.
Would you have done this on your bike?
You were aware of the speed differential of all vehicles around you.
Should have let him go by and be someone else's problem.
You never know how crazy the person in the other vehicle is.

Bernie

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Originally Posted by masraum

to me a "brake check" is where you jab the brakes so the car actually slows down. What I read was that Jeff hit the pedal enough to activate the lights, but with his foot on the gas so he didn't actually slow down at all.
In my world that two different things.

The other driver doesn't think that though. All it does is make the other car try to assert itself more. Taking it the next level @ that moment is your choice, but realize your already dealing with some one more jacked up than you are. If you want that, brake check away and assert back @ him and get ready to join his anger level in an instant.
All because you could.
BTW, that moment of silence was when all those kids with him just realized why Jeff likes his guns so much.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by latunabernie

Jeff you ride motorcycles.
Would you have done this on your bike?
You were aware of the speed differential of all vehicles around you.
Should have let him go by and be someone else's problem.
You never know how crazy the person in the other vehicle is.

Bernie

Yes, I do ride motorcycles. Probably more than I drive cars, to be honest. It's a large part of how I learned to be situationally aware, and how I spotted this guy when he was still a couple hundred yards behind me.

I'm not sure what part of this you think I would not have done on a motorcycle.

I was simply driving along, maintaining a steady speed, pretty much just keeping pace with traffic around me. As I explained, there was no real "speed differential" between myself, nor the vehicles surrounding me. I guess I'm not sure why you believe there was any differential, I certainly never said there was. Maybe the typical few MPH we see in normal traffic. We were all just blithely cruising along together, just a normal morning in traffic on the freeway. So, um, yes - that is exactly what I would have been doing on a motorcycle.

When he tried to pass me on the left and found he had no room, then dove back in far too close behind me, I maintained my speed and stayed in my lane. You'll note there was a car to my right, and another just off my bow to the left. I had nowhere to go either. My response was to flash my brake lights, a pretty universal "hey buddy, back off". As I stated, I did so without changing speed - I did not "brake check" him. Steady speed, no change in position. Trying to be as predictable as possible. Yes, I do that when on a motorcycle as well. Oh, when on a bike, I do often add my left hand, in a downward position, giving the universal "back off" wave. No difference here either then.

When he finally managed to dive in front of me - again, the entire time I was staying in the same lane at the same speed - he brake checked me. So I hit the brakes (I had no choice, I was still boxed in), and hit the high beam. That was really my only "act of aggression", but yes, I would have done that on a bike as well.

At that point, he was in front of me and entirely free to go. And, well, prior to that, I had done nothing to block him, hold him up, or keep him from leaving in any way whatsoever. I never changed lanes, never sped up, never slowed down. You say I "should have let him go" - how was I not just letting him go?

When I finally saw a gap to my left, I took that first opportunity to do my best to "exit, stage left", and get out of the situation. I moved two lanes over, into the HOV lane. Trying to get away from him and defuse the situation by putting distance between us. Exactly what I would have done on a bike. And, again, he was in front of me by then, free to go.

So, I guess I'm confused by your statements. The only thing I can come up with is that you were confused with certain parts of my story. I hope this clears it up for you.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by 3rd_gear_Ted

BTW, that moment of silence was when all those kids with him just realized why Jeff likes his guns so much.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Could you explain?

[Hugh R]

Instead of brake check, turn on the headlights, looks like a brake check.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Instead of brake check, turn on the headlights, looks like a brake check.

Still the same result. You are pushing a person that is already near the edge further towards the edge.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Could you explain?

Ask your self why five times? drill five levels down doing so

A basic root cause analysis methodology.

When I did that about the whole scenario, my tree of answers led to an opinion.

Carry on as you see fit, none of my business. My thought process sometimes has an opinion as does others here in PArFlandia

Peace, love & fish tacos

[Superman]

Would you have acted differently if you knew he had a latte' and was prepared to use it?

[manbridge 74]

Brake checking around here will get you rear ended by dopers/tweakers. Heck, doesn’t even take a brake check in most cases.