Road rage... what would YOU do?

[Scuba Pete]

I took my son to school this am: we were running late.

I turned left into the parking lot, and "took the corner" of the left hand turn lane there. A car was pulling up, but was not in danger of being hit. He stated beeping his horn at me. I thought it must be a friend and so I back up: only to have this cretin starting to yell at me for crossing the line. I gave him a "whatever" and continued on to take my son into the school (we were in danger of creating an accident). I heard him yell "Come back here you coward", where he did a three point turn and waited for me. It turned right, he turned right and was on my bumper. I timed the light just right to get the last bit of yellow as I turned left, he runs the red light to follow. I turn right and then a U-turn, he follows. I don't have my phone with me (charging) so I can't really call police. So I am pulling up (eight lane road) to a light with three cars in the right hand turn lane (50 ft before the light), and I sneak in just before them and give him NO ROOM to get in behind me. He slams on brakes and gets behind the three cars. As I turn right I negotiate all the way to the left hand land (three lanes of traffic), and make a left hand turn OUT of this bozo's life.

I was looking for a squad car so I could report this freak. I was looking for a neighborhood police station to do the same. No luck on either count. I just got off the phone with the school about this. They seem to care less. ARRRRGGGHHHH!

 

[Green Gaia]

That's very scary. I usually have my phone with me, so I would have been calling the police fast!

 

[DreamQuickBook]

You should have had your son go teach him a lesson. The guy sounds like a real idiot.

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

ND, so sorry to hear about this. It's sux that you didn't have your phone on you. I recently had a guy get out of his truck at a stop sign and come after my car with a baseball bat. I called the cops and they showed up pretty quick. I kept on the phone with the dispatcher and I could hear when the cops where headed for the neighborhood and in which direction, so I drove around and led the guy right to them.

He was behind you so you didn't get a tag number on him, huh? I think you did the best you could under the circumstances. I took my kids to school today, and there were a lot of horns honking. People who don't have kids, didn't take into account that traffic was going to be bad today. Our city has cops posted at every school for the first week (longer at heavy traffic areas).

You started your day with quite an adrenaline rush. Are you OK. You didn't bust a blood vessel did ya? Is your son OK? If you saw this guy at the school, does this mean you will most likely see him again? I would say, try to be nice. If he says something to you, just wave and smile and tell him to have a nice day, and drive on through the line. But I am a kill them with kindness kind of person. You can also get the tag number when you see them again if you feel the need to report the incident (which is not a bad idea either). I would also have the police show up at the school, that way the school will not be able to ignore the issue.

 

[CaptainXeroid]

Yikes that must have been scary. There sure are some idiots out there.

We hear all the time 'Call the police.', but the sad truth is they really don't have an interest in getting involved until there is an accident or unless one driver or the other has been injured or killed.

Last fall, some idiot in a Toyota LandCruiser started honking because I wouldn't run a red light. When it turned green, he gave me the bird, so I waved him to go around me, but he started following my wife & I. At the next red light, he was still cussing at us and opened his door, so I ran that light and got our 1.8 Turbo NewBeetle to a speed he couldn't keep up. Normally, I don't advocate breaking the law, but when your life may be at stake, you do what you have to do.

If you are going to involve the police, get the license plate, and tell them the driver pointed a gun at you or that he was weaving and you suspect him to be drunk. If you just tell them someone was driving like a jerk, they will blow you off. I wish it weren't true, but based on my experience, it is. Drive Safely everyone.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Thanks all... I just had to share. As ES pointed out, he was ALWAYS behind me, so I could not get a license number. ARRRRGHHHH!

 

[Valjean]

Yikes! That must have been scary. I was pursued once by a car full of hooligans many years ago. I concluded the incident by pulling into the local police station. The Chavs immediately blocked me in but then one of the brighter among them must have realized where they were and they took off.

In your case it sounds like he knows where he can find you on schooldays and knows your car and license plate number. Worrisome....

 

[Scuba Pete]

I will not be without my phone again. If he is present, I will bring out the School authorities.

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

I will not be without my phone again. If he is present, I will bring out the School authorities.

Good plan. And look at all your frubals, you go ND.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I will not be without my phone again. If he is present, I will bring out the School authorities.

I would also seriously consider knowing the location of the nearest police station and driving there should he start following you again.

 

[Valjean]

Somehow I doubt NetDoc's nemesis will be impressed by his frubals

 

[Scuba Pete]

Deut,

the ONLY police station that is manned is way across town and through lots of traffic.

 

[Unedited]

So sorry you had to experience that NetDoc. I've pissed off a lot of people (I'm a horrible driver), but I've never had more than a '**** you!' I do hope you don't run into him again.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

If you can remember what his car looked like, and what kind it was, you can start there. Or, if you don't mind a messed up bumper for awhile, next time someone is right behind you, tap on your brack just abit. If he rear ends you, its his fault for following to close. You can make up plenty of exuses for slowing down, such as you noticed you was slightly above speed limit, but he can not make one excuse to save himself on following to close.

I was being followed once. Out on the back roads, that were covered with snow, with more falling down, and it was extremely foggy out. We were going at the fasted 20/MPH, but usually around 10. I was starting to think I might end up being robbed if he had a gun, or putting up a fight if he didn't. After about 30 minutes, he finally gave up. I started carrying a finely sharpened dagger in my car after that. Even the cops can't drive real fast on snowy roads that you can barely see.

 

[michel]

This is awful - and I would have been extra worried with a kid in the car as well - I am so sorry, NetDoc, this is awful!

 

[Scuba Pete]

I did that at the first light, and he was CLOSE... he learned quickly. It was a white late model Stang (I think).

 

[michel]

The other trick - it sometimes work is to switch your sidelights on, when he is right up close to you - and hope he thinks you are breaking!

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I have noticed a number if posts mentioning the beeping of horns in the USA.
We are only permitted to beep in an emergency. and not at all at night except in exceptional circumstances. You will rarely hear a horn in the Uk, and when you do it is usually a foreigner or road rage.
Nothing makes someone more cross than to beep them.

Terry
___________________________________
Blessed are those who bring peace, they shall be children of God

 

[michel]

I have noticed a number if posts mentioning the beeping of horns in the USA.
We are only permitted to beep in an emergency. and not at all at night except in exceptional circumstances. You will rarely hear a horn in the Uk, and when you do it is usually a foreigner or road rage.
Nothing makes someone more cross than to beep them.

Terry
___________________________________
Blessed are those who bring peace, they shall be children of God

I agree; the problem though is that some drivers are begining to believe in the use of the horn (Hooter - much more English ) - can be for hailing friends just down the road............:help:

 

[Scuba Pete]

Well,

I am about to go pick my son up. Wish me luck!