Are you an asshat?

[unclebilly]

Are you one of those asshats that speeds up to try to block someone from getting into your lane as soon as they put their signal light on to switch lanes?

I am the other type of asshat, the one that uses my signal lights to indicate what I’m going to do, not ask permission. I have a lifted truck and I’m getting in.

[aschen]

if you signal Im gonna let you in. If you don't I may or I may not.

[911 Rod]

This drives me nuts and I see it all the time.
Like WTF?!
Driving a Porsche they will do anything and everything to F with you.
Ya, when I'm driving my Tundra I pull in anyway mostly just to see them lose their s#it.

[berettafan]

What about the asshats that make it their job to keep anyone from having a reasonable space between them and the car in front of them while traveling at 75mph in a 5,000lb steel box?

[masraum]

I use my signal pretty religiously.

I'm sure I'm some sort of asshat. I do tend to drive faster than a lot of other traffic, and I'm not afraid to go around someone who's going slower.

Another thing that I see is when someone is camping in the left lane and someone else comes up and tries to push that person by tailgating when there is at least one, sometimes multiple lanes available to go around them. It's not worth trying to impose your will on someone else that is likely to be oblivious or resistant to your will. And doing that is very likely to cause tensions to rise on the part of one or both parties, and could escalate to a road rage incident.

[Steve Carlton]

I'll gradually close off the opening the asshat is looking for if they've passed everybody in line to jam in at the last minute. Sometimes you have to fight asshattery with asshatery.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

you never know who is in the other car. I drive with that in mind.

[LWJ]

I met an asshat yesterday as I tried to merge on the freeway in the wife's subaru. They had a personalized plate. J POTT I think it was.

If you are going to be a jerk, you should not stand out.

Also, as UncleBilly points out, having a big truck sort of tips the scales in your favor. My truck? It is ugly and old. People instinctively understand that I don't exactly care about it and act far more courteous when I am driving it.

But no. I am not an asshat. I am respectful and courteous.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I’m actually a pretty courteous driver. I never drive slow in the left lane, always use my turn signal, and will always let a car in when merging in a traffic jam (but only one). But conversely if you’re being a dick I won’t let you in and will 100% pass you on the right if you’re driving slow in the fast lane. Also people that don’t know how to merge and expect you to get out of their way drive me nuts.

[aschen]

One thing Ive paid attention to lately: every time I see some asshat following dangerously close on to another car on the freeway, their car always seems to have at least a few dents and scrapes.

Confirmation bias perhaps but in my mind these people have a 1000 excuses why said dents were somebody elses fault.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

you never know who is in the other car. I drive with that in mind.

Very true.

I just watched a road rage murder trial a couple of weeks ago. The incident started because the defendant accidentally pulled out in front of the deceased. Ultimately, they stop on side of the road and both end up with guns in hand. The deceased actually is overheard telling the defendant that he is sorry for starting this poop.

You'd think Not Guilty all day long...

Jury was hung 9-3, with 9 being NG.

The DA is going to try the case again. Nothing like running head long into a wall over and over again.

[herr_oberst]

I'm pretty darn courteous, for the most part. One thing that just busts my chops, though, is if I'm on the freeway and someone HAS to get in front of me, but then causes me to slow down significantly. Doesn't matter if it's in a traffic jam or if traffic is moving smoothly. If you aren't going to keep up then don't take my space.

[Zeke]

I've seen this thread over and over during the years. It never ends well and a lot of people show their ass in the comments. Best to let this one ride.

OTOH, if I were to make a comment it would be that where you are makes a bit of difference. In greater L.A. doing anything aggressive can get you shot. It has happened many times before and will continue. Just a word of caution to lifted truck drivers that feel entitled coming into this area.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I've seen this thread over and over during the years. It never ends well and a lot of people show their ass in the comments. Best to let this one ride.

OTOH, if I were to make a comment it would be that where you are makes a bit of difference. In greater L.A. doing anything aggressive can get you shot. It has happened many times before and will continue. Just a word of caution to lifted truck drivers that feel entitled coming into this area.

An armed society is a polite society?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

An armed society is a polite society?

As I said, these threads don't go well. I'd love to comment but I won't be the one that sends this to PARF.

[sc_rufctr]

I like to think I'm not an asshat. Life's too short to get upset by some idiot on a public road.

Just chill and lower your expectations.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Very true.

I just watched a road rage murder trial a couple of weeks ago. The incident started because the defendant accidentally pulled out in front of the deceased. Ultimately, they stop on side of the road and both end up with guns in hand. The deceased actually is overheard telling the defendant that he is sorry for starting this poop.

You'd think Not Guilty all day long...

Jury was hung 9-3, with 9 being NG.

The DA is going to try the case again. Nothing like running head long into a wall over and over again.

I lived in Victoria TX where every kid in high school had a pick-up with cement filled pipe bumpers and at least 2 rifles in the rear window. But it turns out you have to worry more about 12 year old girls pulling a knife on you because they don't want to wait in the long line to play Defender, when your turns comes up.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I tend to be curtious towards other drivers, but am quick to pass a slow-poke

I try to do the same.

I speed up and/or move over for drivers going faster.

I do occasionally make an exception. When I'm on the highway, I usually run cruise (keeps me out of trouble). If I have the same person pass me several times because they can't/don't maintain a steady speed while I'm in cruise, I will eventually not move over for them (if they come up behind me). Most folks are happy to get stuck behind another driver. Invariably, those folks pass me, and then slow down as they pull up beside a semi and then I'm stuck behind them for miles.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by masraum

I try to do the same.

I speed up and/or move over for drivers going faster.

I do occasionally make an exception. When I'm on the highway, I usually run cruise (keeps me out of trouble). If I have the same person pass me several times because they can't/don't maintain a steady speed while I'm in cruise, I will eventually not move over for them (if they come up behind me). Most folks are happy to get stuck behind another driver. Invariably, those folks pass me, and then slow down as they pull up beside a semi and then I'm stuck behind them for miles.

Makes traveling on the Interstate frustrating.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Zeke

As I said, these threads don't go well. I'd love to comment but I won't be the one that sends this to PARF.

I always just assume everybody is armed, which is probably fairly accurate in the Midwest.

Originally Posted by Zeke

Makes traveling on the Interstate frustrating.

I wish left lane misbehavior was better policed. It’s far more disruptive to normal traffic flow than speeding and probably equally dangerous.