For the first time in a while- I had a run-in with someone with road rage. I was going down a street in town- down by the Cadillac-Chevrolet dealership and I was behind a Ford Aspire- going very slow. About 20 mph in a 25 mph zone- which is already too slow. He/She then made a left turn onto a 4-lane boulevard- which was the way I was going. The speedlimit on that street is 35mph. They started out very slow- so I got in the left lane and passed. Just as I was going around- they sped up even faster. I then accelerated even more, then gave a signal, then got into the right lane (did not cut them short)- as I needed to be in that lane to go straight. Just as I got over- this idiot started flashing his bright lights about 10 times- then left them on "Bright" and turned on the left signal, but kept going straight. I went on into the plaza and this idiot kept following me in the parking lot, but after following me once around the lot and riding my bumper- they turned down into a row. Afterwards- it made me even madder, but I know just to ignore people like this. What is wrong with people? They got mad, just because I went around them. What an idiot.

Try living in a country where any idiot above the age of 14 (I believe) can get a permit to carry a concealed firearm. And I mean carry it anywhere even into bars.

A few months ago I was behind a minivan (yes a minivan , mind you) that was driving 40 km per hour in the left hand lane of a two lane road and right next to him was another car driving 40 km per hour also. Basically, both cars where hold up traffic. The speed limit on this road is 80 km I believe but I usually drive it at 100 km per hour since police here have no radar guns to determine if one is speeding or not.

Anyway, after following the minivan for about 5 minutes at this extremely slow speed, I flashed my lights (it was daytime) and the driver proceeded to roll down his window and hang his gun out the window pointed back towards me.

Needless to say, I just pulled over to the side of the road and waited for about 10 minutes before preceeding.

__________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

2006 - Suzuki Gran Vitara (2.0 L fully equipped) Like this car so far except for trying to put on the seatbelt.
1988 - 190e - 2.3L - 172K miles (It now belongs to the exwife)
1999 - Chevy Blazer LS Fully Equiped - killed it June 2006
2001 - Honda Civic EX - 68K miles (sold June 2004)
1963 - 220S - Dual Carb 6 cyl. (sold)
1994 - Yamaha WaveRaider (fun to ride)

oof, that sounds worrying.
My wife keeps reminding me not to get too annoyed with people as she reminds me 'they have guns in this country'.
Back in the UK, where I'm from, road rage is quite a big problem but most times usually ends up with just some swearing and at worst, a fist-fight.
In this area, I get annoyed with people not paying attention and being lazy about drifting in/out of lanes and not using their indicators. People also seem to jam on their brakes for every little thing and are very impatient.
I've learnt to be more patient and 'let things go', although strangely other drivers seem to be more respectful (i.e. not riding my ass) now I'm driving a Mercedes...

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Umm, this is America.

Some of us have firearms, and about 99.98% of us have training or knowledge of proper handling. Those who carry them (the good guys, which is about 95% if you dont go "looking" for trouble) will have the proper mindset while carrying, which is conflict avoidance.

You dont really have to worry about a shoot out in this country, wether that be in a parking lot or the highway. Like I said, just dont go places that you would expect trouble (like the places the cops avoid) and you wont have a problem.

Remember, 80,000,000 American guns killed no one yesterday.

__________________
http://comp.uark.edu/~dmgill/signature.jpg

About 3 mos ago I had this one guy hammering his horn at me as I was pulling into my drive way!. He then proceeded to flip me off!
Unbelievable huh?

__________________
dtf
1994 E320 Wagon (Died @ 308,669 miles)
1995 E300 Diesel (228,000)
1999 E300 Turbodiesel ( died @ 255,000)
2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 AC 4X4 (115,000 miles) rusted frame - sold to chop shop
2011 Audi A4 Avant (165,000 miles) Seized engine - donated to Salvation Army
BMW 330 xi 6 speed manual (175,034 miles)
2014 E350 4Matic Wagon 128,000 miles
2018 Dodge Ram 21,000 miles

Even if you are gritting your teeth, it is often best to just smile and wave.

My wife narrowly escaped physical attack in a road rage incident.

"Why didn't you just smile and wave", I said.

"He was in the wrong, and it just made me mad", said she...

"Have you ever heard of being dead right", I said...

__________________
1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

moparmike:

sorry if I came off like I was complaining about people being allowed firearms, (though I don't support the idea).
It's my wife (who's American) who is more concerned about me getting shot- I'm liable to get out of the car and confront someone, and knowing my luck that would be one of the few unbalanced individuals (although this is Philly, so there's probably more than a few!) who may pull out a gun.
I guess it's hard for me to comprehend that people can just carry a weapon in their car etc, and it's considered the norm.
Saying all that, people do seem not to be frightened of it here, they'll use plenty colourful language and expressions in road rage incidents.
More worrying is the so-called 'war on terror'... but that's a whole other story.
Hmmm, maybe I should stop driving on the left- will people stop shouting at me then?

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Only once.

It was two summers ago in a half-circle shaped apartment parking lot.

I was backing out of a spot and some hot-head came flying through the lot in an Expedition. (Using it to turn around, not for parking). He must have been doing 20 mph in this little parking area.

If I would have backed out a second later -- whamm!

I backed up right in front of him and he had to slam on the brakes. I proceeded very slowly while he tailgated. Finally I came to a stop so he'd back up *or* off. Well, he got out of his truck shouting obscenities, so I got out. The guy saw that I was a pretty big dude, muttered something and got back in his rig. I never said a word and merely smiled, but was ready to defend myself.

Traffic can be continuously heavy in the Detroit area. The only way to switch lanes on the freeway is to sometimes cut in between spaces that are tight, i.e., "cut somebody off". It's unavoidable and considered customary by some as sometimes you merge into a freeway from the left and need to exit at the right a few miles down.

Anyhow, one guy took exception to my merging in front of him. He started flashing his lights and circling his ear like I was crazy! He then gunned it, passed on my right, and cut in front of me and again circle his ear. A few miles down he proceeded to do the same thing to another motorist!

I'll never forget him. He drove some kind of nerdmobile with a license plate that read, "MR BEAN".

__________________
95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K

A couple of years ago I was driving to work on a two-lane road. The speed limit was 45. I was behind a Honda Accord. The driver was drinking coffee, talking on the phone and driving 35.

When we got to a safe place, I pulled into the left lane to pass. The guy in the Honda floored it and accelerated in some idiotic effort to keep me from passing. Well, that aggravated me so I instantly thought, "No way I'm not getting around you."

I don't understand the mentality of these people who speed up when someone tries to pass them.

Anyway, I made it around the moron. I was quite annoyed by his actions...what, he wanted me to hit someone head-on? So when I pulled back in front of him I slammed on my brakes. I don't mean a little bit. I mean hard.

He ALMOST hit me. It was very satisfying to see his coffee splash all over the inside of his windshield.

I was on the freeway and decided to run my windsheild washer. A moment later the car behind me cuts off the car next to him, passes me, cuts me off, and runs his windsheild washer to get even. I've noticed on my motorcycle some of the washer fluid goes up and over a car and it can be irrating but I never considered it was much of an issue in a car. I think he needed to get a life.

I wonder if one of this sites moderators will eventually move this to where it belongs - the general forum.

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

Had I been driving your car, I would have pulled over and kicked the **** out of the *******!

__________________
Porsche's for Breakfast & Ferrari's for Lunch

I like the advice of smiling and waving. It doesn't happen often but I think it's funny when someone is flipping me off and I just smile and wave back. It's like the frustration intensifies for the person.

Last summer this guy in a new Yukon knowingly cut me off so that I had to slam on the brakes to avoid contact. I got in the left hand lane and my passenger gave him a look of "what gives." He then proceeded to do the same thing again. This time I let him hit me (I was in my Sable). Nice dent in the Yukon and fortunately only a minor scrape in my beater. He drove off laughing. I called the police but since there was really no noticeable damage it wasn't worth a police report.

Truly the best but most difficult thing to do is keep your hands on the wheel and avoid eye contact. I have two kids now and altercations just aren't worth it. Nothing positive ever comes out of them.

Again, you should have pulled hime over and kicked his ass! That way you would feel better & he would feel worse for doing it!

__________________
Porsche's for Breakfast & Ferrari's for Lunch