Do you ever feel a case of road rage coming on?

[eytonxav]

Lately, maybe its due to all the freeway construction, on my commute to and from work, I find some of these clowns are starting to get to me. The ones that ride your rear end about 18" from your rear bumper like it was a NASCAR event, and the ones that cut in front of you on the freeway in heavy traffic when there is probably only room for a smart car to fit. I try and keep myself under control behind the wheel, but I'm starting to feel more of an urge to start flipping people the bird.

 

[ls99]

Uh, I remember those days. My escape was to adjust rear view mirror for night setting and tilt it so only the roof of car following showed, side views tilted down a good bit, then drove a little slower than traffic.

Kind of like a little old lady. Pisses off the tailgaters, leaves lots of room in front, made drive enjoyable. Those that wanted to cut in were cheerfully allowed as my Tango CD played fairly loudly. Besides those that cut in were in the hurry to cut back out. All of this only added 5 minutes to the typical 35 minute trip. YMMV You may get a few finger pointers showing their IQ, but it is easily dealt with by flashing a smile.

Then I retired, moved to a town where 4 cars are a traffic jam.

 

[samclem]

Yesterday on the freeway I needed to merge left, put on my signal and the helpful chap in the next lane accelerated to close up the gap. Thankfully, this type of behavior is rare where I live now (Ohio), maybe that's why I found it grating and memorable.

This is why many people delay signalling until they've begun their move. That's how I drive when I'm in Miami. Just as one good turn deserves another, one inconsiderate act can lead to a spiral of rudeness I guess.

 

[Blackwoodt]

Uh, I remember those days. My escape was to adjust rear view mirror for night setting and tilt it so only the roof of car following showed, side views tilted down a good bit, then drove a little slower than traffic..

Too funny, I thought I was the only one that adjusted my mirror so I could only see the roof of the car behind me! I drive 100 miles round trip every day, and just when I think I've seen every jerk out there, another comes along to prove me wrong....and it's not like I'm a slow driver, I've gotten my fair share of tickets to prove otherwise.

 

[Redbugdave]

Uh, I remember those days. My escape was to adjust rear view mirror for night setting and tilt it so only the roof of car following showed, side views tilted down a good bit, then drove a little slower than traffic.

Hey! That's me, too! I am continually amazed at the rudeness out there and don't know why there are not more accidents than there are. We plan to move to a small town after I retire...

 

[73ss454]

In 45 years of driving I've had 4 accidents. All 4 caused by women. Now that I'm retired my rage is a lot less but I'm always complaining to DW about women drivers.

OK ladies, don't torture me.

 

[Texas Proud]

Yes....

The other day when I was driving home we are passing the park in our neighborhood and there are cars parked on both sides of the street... this guy is going a whole 5 mph... and the STOPS to talk to some lady in a car... I wait about 15 seconds and beep my horn... nothing... beep again.. nothing.. so I go around the guy and give him the finger...

The guy then chases after me and shows me a badge.... like that means anything... tried to tell me he could not believe that I went around him blah blah blah... and I bet he still thinks he did nothing wrong....


But most of the time things do not bother me now... when I was a kid... all the time... you do mellow with age

 

[W2R]

For me, the complete and total cure for road rage was retirement. I don't care any more. For example, if someone "ditches" me at a light (so that they go through, and I have to wait), so what? I have all the time in the world. If they are rude, I just think, "Poor guy, probably late for work."

 

[veremchuka]

One of the reasons I decided to FIRE, the commute sucked. Things are much nicer now.

 

[calmloki]

....You may get a few finger pointers showing their IQ, but it is easily dealt with by flashing a smile.
.....

Somebody flips me off I blow them a kiss. Weirds them right out.

 

[ItDontMeanAThing]

Yesterday on the freeway I needed to merge left, put on my signal and the helpful chap in the next lane accelerated to close up the gap. Thankfully, this type of behavior is rare where I live now (Ohio), maybe that's why I found it grating and memorable.

Picked up a technique from an LA based stand-up comic in the early '90s. Don't know if he was serious or not, but the technique worked in LA: Signal the opposite direction you want to go when changing lanes. I had a convex rear view mirror so I could see both sides of my car at a glance which made it easy to pick a spot where there was an opening in both adjacent lanes.

 

[devans0]

My area of commute has added a number of traffic cameras. They have worked, I now drive very near the speed limit, making sure that I don't get a ticket in the mail. Someone needs to hurry? Be my guest, I leave early to make my appointments.

I always tell my Hawg riding friends that the upright digit is "Harleys are number one."

 

[Nords]

Nowadays when I encounter one of those I think "Poor guy, he probably has to hustle to get to work"...

 

[Walt34]

That is the reason we moved to West Virginia.

Although one of the fun aspects of being a street cop was when I saw something particularly egregious I could actually do something about it. "Press firmly when signing, you're making five copies."

 

[rescueme]

For me, the complete and total cure for road rage was retirement. I don't care any more. For example, if someone "ditches" me at a light (so that they go through, and I have to wait), so what? I have all the time in the world. If they are rude, I just think, "Poor guy, probably late for work."

+1...

I also now wait at 4-way stop signs if I see somebody approaching but not slowing down. Avoided a woman (sorry) a couple of months ago, on a cell phone blast through the intersection that would have T-boned me if I did not wait. In the past, I would just go through the intersection after I came to a full stop (hey, it’s my turn, isn’t it?)

In retirement, I don't need to get anywhere fast. If you do, feel free to pass me. Besides, at my age, my testosterone level is way down and I don't feel the need to "get back" at anybody for poor driving behavior ...

 

[FinanceDude]

OK ladies, don't torture me.

Yet another proof of my theory that: "women don't get into accidents, they CAUSE them"...........

 

[Alan]

In 45 years of driving I've had 4 accidents. All 4 caused by women. Now that I'm retired my rage is a lot less but I'm always complaining to DW about women drivers.

OK ladies, don't torture me.

Yet another proof of my theory that: "women don't get into accidents, they CAUSE them"...........

Come on guys, let's not start thread rage here.

 

[MichaelB]

In 45 years of driving I've had 4 accidents. All 4 caused by women. Now that I'm retired my rage is a lot less but I'm always complaining to DW about women drivers.

OK ladies, don't torture me.

Well, given that the only hard data we have is 5 drivers, 4 each with one accident and one with 4, it might seem that the ladies are not the origin but instead the victims.

Not accusing, just musing

 

[FinanceDude]

Come on guys, let's not start thread rage here.

There I go again.......