So a little cautionary tale about getting people to back off you by tapping on the brakes. I think ill stop doing that after this little experience-

I was on the highway tooling along in my 50 hp diesel jetta, some cars were getting off an exit, so I checked in my mirrors and over my shoulder, and got into the fast lane (always an exciting experience in that car) and started passing them.

Unbeknownst to me, some guy was coming up at what must have been over 90 in an alero, and parked himself RIGHT on my bumper waving all kinds of hand signals. I tapped on the brakes to get him off, but he was so close he slammed on his brakes and almost hit the center barrier. After that, I guess he decided the gloves come off.

When I moved over to let him by, he came within about 2 inches of sideswiping me, and then when he got in front, he STOPPED on the highway, so of course I rear ended him.

Then we pulled over, and he jumped out and claimed that he was getting off at the exit and why did I hit him.

He was all bluster and screaming until I got out and he discovered I had about 100lbs on him and was literally quivering with rage, at which point he stopped threatening me and demanding cash, saying we should exchange insurance information.

I decided that I was going to call the cops for a third party accident report of the actual damage. (none to my Jetta, a scuff to his alero). The guy started yelling about how I was at fault and that the cop would say so too, which given the circumstances with no other witnesses would be hard to prove.

Cop showed up, was pissed to be called out for the stupid little accident, and told us both we were A-holes, and were wasting his time. (true)

I told him I was willing to let it go, but if we exchanged insurance information, I wanted an actual police report detailing what happened, as this guy was now saying his neck hurt, and telling the cop he was afraid for his life.

Where the guy started to falter was in his lie about getting off the exit. He told the cop he was trying to get to work, and also that he was trying to get off at the exit, and subsequent questioning showed that work for him was about 5 exits further, so he was caught in an obvious lie. Also, when I started taking pictures of his car and him, he started freaking out, and at that point wanted to let it go. Cop told us he didn't believe either of us, and to get the F out of there before he charged us both with wasting his time.

Lesson learned for me is to let these A-holes pass without getting into tapping the brakes, if the guy was a slightly better liar, the cop would have forced us to exchange insurance information, at which point this guy would be claiming I smashed his car and broke his neck.

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