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Yeesh, some people take lane changes so seriously...

2651 Views 59 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Dan, Aug 21, 2002

Nick325xiT 5spd

Discussion Starter · Aug 17, 2002

So I'm running an errand today... Just driving along minding my own business... I come to a stop light with a fair amount of traffic and wait for it to change. The light turns green and I go along with my lane. The idiot to the right of me doesn't notice the light has changed for quite a while. Probably about ten seconds. Long enough for the people behind him to start honking. So he wakes up and floors it.

Now, at this point we're coming to a bottleneck where two lanes merge into one. I generally take a dim view of letting people in when they have shown that they have no grasp of what's going on around them. He tries to cut me off, but as he's in the yield lane, I don't let him in.

Get this... He follows me three miles to the CVS I was running to to pick up some tape and comes in to lecture me. I blow him off and tell him he's being utterly childish while I purchase my tape and he follows me into the parking lot. When I get into my car, he BLOCKS my door open and proceeds to attempt to tell me what a piece of shit my car is and how much better this unmentioned car he has in his driveway is. (I'd asked him if he was having jealousy issues when he wouldn't shut up inside the CVS... He was driving a Mitsubishi Trooper, an OLD one, probably ten years old or so.) So I asked him nicely, then progressively less nicely to get the **** off of my door. He wouldn't budge, even after I attempted to pull it shut and force him out of the way. Finally, I had to just start the car and put it in reverse AND START DRIVING TO GET HIM OFF OF MY CAR!!!

What is it with people? So ****ing immature. I wonder how he manages to survive if he takes it personally every time someone won't let him in. (Especially when he's attempting the let me come as close to ramming the car as possible and see if that'll get him to budge approach to merging.)

Yeesh.

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41 - 60 of 60 Posts

SteveT

· #41 · Aug 18, 2002

geomax said:
They weren't racing you - they were just trying to get pics of your M3!

Actually, I didn't have the M3 then. I was driving a 2000 328Ci. Their attitude was quite directed at baiting me. I guess.

geomax

· #42 · Aug 18, 2002

SteveT said:
Actually, I didn't have the M3 then. I was driving a 2000 328Ci. Their attitude was quite directed at baiting me. I guess.

Hmmm...those people were real fruitloops then...they're out there....

I recall one situation years ago, when I was in College. I had a black VW Golf GT then. I was driving along route 111, and came up behind some kind of tiny compact car, like a Ford Fiesta or something. It was completely packed with people - mostly kids. I didn't come up behind them very fast (maybe about 10mph over the posted limit), and never got closer than 4 car lengths. But for some reason, they took exception to my presence. The driver jammed on the brakes repeatedly, and to my astonishment, all the kids in the back of the car started to flip me off!! I could also see the parents going psycho, so much so, the car was wobbling from their gestures. I backed off a little and bided my time. I long legal passing zone appeared, and I put on my blinker, and went to pass. They immediately swerved into my lane to cut me off, braking hard. I attempted to pass again in the next zone - same thing. At no time did the kids cease to stop giving me the bird.

Well, my patience ran out, so at the next passing zone, I fainted left, then right, then left again and blew past them. As I did so, the driver screamed at me, honking and highbeamed me until they were out of sight behind me. I continued up the road at a good clip, just to put some distance on them. I then slowed down, and continued on my way.

Everything was fine for awhile until...in my rear mirror, I see the Ford coming up behind me at it's max speed - lights flashing, everyone fingering me, honking wildly, until they were right on my bumper. Then an exit came up, and they moved to the right to exit. Ahh..I would finally be rid of them. By this time, I was getting really angry, so I gave into my anger, and flipped them off to send them on their merry way. The driver saw it, and actually tried to swerve back onto the highway, but too late - he was commited to the ramp. See ya..bye-bye...

I relaxed, and laughed that they were indeed freaks...freaks that were Satans children because there they were on the next on ramp!!

WTF?? This time I could see that the driver, his wife and all the kids were literally insane with rage!

By this time, the road split into a wider highway, and this meant they could get beside me in traffic and cause real trouble. The road ahead opened up, and I knew I could ditch them easily just on speed alone. I put the pedal to the floor, and got the little VW up to it's max speed of 115mph - and kept it there, cops or no cops until they were totally out of sight. I then got of the highway, and got home via backroads, changing my route constantly.

I just don't know what got them going. Some people are just twisted.

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AF

· #43 · Aug 18, 2002

Geomax - That is really Messed up . . . what in the world could be worth putting their kids in danger like that . . .

Some people are so screwed up . . . what was the guy gonna do if he caught up to you . . . yell ? ?

Forunately you got a way from them . . .

I remember once when I was 18 yrs old, I went to pull into a parking spot at my College Campus and there was an older man in an Oldsmobile wanting to pull into the same spot from the other side. I sincerely didn't realize it until I was out of my car walking to class, I kinda noticed he was looking at me strangely . . . anyway I went to my class and when I came out, I see my taillight was kicked in and it was obvious the kick was done with a shoe with a heel on it. You could tell from the damage.

It was also obvious it was this guy who did it . . . who else wears healed shoes at college ?!?!

Anyway, I started going to the same parking area on the same day of the week and at the same time it happened and I spotted the Guy. I then followed him to his class to make sure he actually was in a class.

Many months went by and I waited until the last week of college . . . then one night (did I mention it was an evening class) I followed him to his class, made sure class started and he was busy, I then went to his car with a hammer and smashed the Sh*t out of both his taillights . . . heh heh heh
I still laugh when I think how he had to drive home that night with no taillights . . .

Would I do that now . . . NEVER . . . but I was 18 yrs old and when your young you do these crazy things . . . Also, at that age your too busy thinking about yourself and you aren't aware of other people like I am now.

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Dan

· #44 · Aug 18, 2002

SteveT said:
I had an interesting experience one morning while going to work. There is a spot beyond a light that narrows from four lanes to two, much as Geo has experienced. I was in the yield lane (right), but I accelerated to move ahead of the car on the left. The Toyota CRV (with a flag and multiple stickers attached) was not about to give up the space without a race. I was slightly ahead, but not going to chop them of. While somewhat annoyed by the process, I looked at the woman riding in the passenger's seat and she produced a camera pointed directly at me. It was a strange feeling. She was aggitated, but nothing really happened except a short drag race. It seemed like a setup. They wanted me to try for the spot in front of them and they were going to be beligerent about it and somehow photograph me. We came to a light later, where I was going to turn right and as I went by I gave them another look and she produced the camera again. I guess she expected a familiar gesture (and it crossed my mind), but I just looked. Don't know what these people thought they were up to. I've seen the car since in the same place, but without the passenger.

Here's a thought: in many states, there is a traffic offense entitled "aggressive driving" - it usually involves the types of moronic activities that have been written about on this thread. It is a very serious offense, one in which you can go to jail and lose your license. The prosecutors in my state have to prove intent to drive aggressively, which is difficult to do unless the accused driver gives a verbal or non-verbal gesture (such as shooting a bird). Perhaps the photographer was hoping to catch you giving them the finger, with the idea of giving that photo to the police for your prosecution.

Like I said, it's a crazy world out there - drive carefully.

SteveT

· #45 · Aug 19, 2002

Dan said:
Here's a thought: in many states, there is a traffic offense entitled "aggressive driving" - it usually involves the types of moronic activities that have been written about on this thread. It is a very serious offense, one in which you can go to jail and lose your license. The prosecutors in my state have to prove intent to drive aggressively, which is difficult to do unless the accused driver gives a verbal or non-verbal gesture (such as shooting a bird). Perhaps the photographer was hoping to catch you giving them the finger, with the idea of giving that photo to the police for your prosecution.

Like I said, it's a crazy world out there - drive carefully.

Dan, you are right. There are some agressive driving laws that carry heavy penalties. I understand agressive situations, like following someone in a store and detaining them in a parking lot. As someone said earlier, it's a very dangerous situation. Belligerence in traffic, baiting, and then photographing the accused (so to speak) is disturbing. I considered calling the police to report the photographic incident myself. I decided that if I saw them doing it again, I would call. I certainly support penalties for reckless drivers. I understand what reckless driving is all about. What concerns me is the inept drivers that we see more and more of. People who line up in the left lane and force faster traffic to go by on the right. I know Virginia has established strong agressive driving laws that include slow drivers holding up traffic. But, how often do you see the slow driver backing up the left lane stopped by police?

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munk330ci

· #46 · Aug 19, 2002

This all seems a bit odd to me. I can't relate to those that feel the insatiable desire to teach a lesson or get revenge for an insignificant event. I think most of these traffic issues are irritating, no question. But certainly insignificant and not worth any after-thought. :tsk:

geomax

· #47 · Aug 19, 2002

munk330ci said:
This all seems a bit odd to me. I can't relate to those that feel the insatiable desire to teach a lesson or get revenge for an insignificant event. I think most of these traffic issues are irritating, no question. But certainly insignificant and not worth any after-thought. :tsk:

Then move to Boston. Traffic here would tax even Ghandi's serenity.

munk330ci

· #48 · Aug 19, 2002

geomax said:
Then move to Boston. Traffic here would tax even Ghandi's serenity.

Not Ghandi, Yoda - Virtue not is road-rage for Jedi.

Mystikal

· #49 · Aug 19, 2002

munk330ci said:
Not Ghandi, Yoda - Virtue not is road-rage for Jedi.

:lmao: :thumbup:

geomax

· #50 · Aug 19, 2002

munk330ci said:
Not Ghandi, Yoda - Virtue not is road-rage for Jedi.

Depends which side of "The Force" you're on.

YoYoPedro

· #51 · Aug 20, 2002

On teaching a lesson...or "Drivers' Ed."

munk330ci said:
This all seems a bit odd to me. I can't relate to those that feel the insatiable desire to teach a lesson or get revenge for an insignificant event. I think most of these traffic issues are irritating, no question. But certainly insignificant and not worth any after-thought. :tsk:

Sorry, but I'm driven by a pet peeve to "educate" drivers here in Chicago on a regular basis. In most intersections, there is a separate left-turn lane, wherein turning vehicles pull forward into the intersection and wait for a break in the oncoming traffic to make their left turn . During busy times of the day (which is most of the time here), oncoming traffic is virtually non-stop, with at least 2-4

cars continuing to enter the intersection AFTER the light has already turned red, many even speed up after the light turns red! If I am at the front of the left-turn lane, I get an intense pleasure from feinting a left turn in front of the oncoming red-light-runner. The look of total terror and disbelief in their faces as they contemplate a head-on because of running a red light cannot be described. It really only takes about a foot of forward motion (then stop) on my part to put the scare of God into them. They make a little swerve through the intersection and occasionally honk, but usually just look scared. I consider it part of my job to curb them of their bad habits. The ones who are escorted by their spouses or boy- or girl-friends are the ones for whom this tactic is most effective, 'cause you can see the mate turning and yelling at them as they get through the intersection. Perhaps they will take the next intersection a little more thoughtfully.

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Mystikal

· #52 · Aug 20, 2002

Re: On teaching a lesson...or "Drivers' Ed."

YoYoPedro said:
The look of total terror and disbelief in their faces as they contemplate a head-on because of running a red light cannot be described. It really only takes about a foot of forward motion (then stop) on my part to put the scare of God into them.

I like this one. :thumbup:

AF

· #53 · Aug 20, 2002

Re: Re: On teaching a lesson...or "Drivers' Ed."

Mystikal said:
I like this one. :thumbup:

What is there to like about this ?

It goes under the whole premise where this discussion began which is teaching the other guy a lesson. . . One day he's going to do that to an uncapable driver who is going to panic and have an accident and god willing the person hopefully won't get killed . . .

Mystikal

· #54 · Aug 20, 2002

Re: Re: Re: On teaching a lesson...or "Drivers' Ed."

Alan F said:
What is there to like about this ?

It goes under the whole premise where this discussion began which is teaching the other guy a lesson. . . One day he's going to do that to an uncapable driver who is going to panic and have an accident and god willing the person hopefully won't get killed . . .

I like it from an entertainment standpoint. I wouldn't actually try it, as I might let out the clutch too much, slip off the pedal, etc etc. Just saying it's funny.

YoYoPedro

· #55 · Aug 20, 2002

Re: Re: Re: On teaching a lesson...or "Drivers' Ed."

Alan F said:
What is there to like about this ?

It goes under the whole premise where this discussion began which is teaching the other guy a lesson. . . One day he's going to do that to an uncapable driver who is going to panic and have an accident and god willing the person hopefully won't get killed . . .

Eventually, if that person continues to run red lights, they WILL cause an accident, where hopefully nobody ELSE gets hurt. The damage that they might do to themselves I consider thinning of the herd...

I'm just trying to get them to consider the errors of their ways in a slightly more controlled situation. At least I hit the brakes and allow them to pass through the intersection (albeit with a nice shot of adrenaline). The guy with the green light in cross traffic may not be so forgiving.:banghead:

Dan

· #56 · Aug 21, 2002

As tempting as it may be in certain circumstances, it is simply and clearly NOT your responsibility, right, duty or job to "teach" any other driver a lesson, no matter how big an as*hole they are. The law is not on your side here.

YoYoPedro

· #57 · Aug 21, 2002

Dan said:
As tempting as it may be in certain circumstances, it is simply and clearly NOT your responsibility, right, duty or job to "teach" any other driver a lesson, no matter how big an as*hole they are. The law is not on your side here.

1) How about my priviledge?

2) Or my pleasure?

3) Which law would that be?

Dan

· #58 · Aug 21, 2002

YoYoPedro said:
1) How about my priviledge?

2) Or my pleasure?

3) Which law would that be?

1) Nope, in every state, driving is a privelege, not a right. There is no privelege allowed for teaching someone else a lesson.

2) It won't be pleasurable if your actions cause an accident, a violent confrontation, or your arrest.

3) Most states have aggressive driving laws that prohibit seeking retribution on the road. Teaching another driver a lesson is illegal, and could land you in jail, with a huge fine and the loss of your driving priveleges.

YoYoPedro

· #59 · Aug 21, 2002

Dan said:
1) Nope, in every state, driving is a privelege, not a right. There is no privelege allowed for teaching someone else a lesson.

2) It won't be pleasurable if your actions cause an accident, a violent confrontation, or your arrest.

3) Most states have aggressive driving laws that prohibit seeking retribution on the road. Teaching another driver a lesson is illegal, and could land you in jail, with a huge fine and the loss of your driving priveleges.

I'd rather not get pulled into an argument about semantics :bigpimp: , so I apologize if I was unclear.

1) My reference was not to DRIVING as my privilege, just as you were not calling driving my responsibility, right, duty or job. The privilege to which I referred was that of teaching someone a lesson. Privilege was too strong a word for you, I guess, so let's replace privilege with CHOICE, to make it easier to comprehend. It is my choice to teach someone. And stop thinking of "teaching a lesson" as a negative or involving anger. With me, it certainly does not, anymore than teaching my dog not to bolt out the door ahead of me or not too jump on the counter does not involve anger.

2) Of those three scenarios, the only one I can seriously envision happening is the accident, but I believe I adequately addressed that concern in a previous post. It might not be pleasurable for you, my pleasure level remains.

3) I fail to see how completing a legal turn with my turn signal indicator "on" would constitute "aggressive driving" (or land me in jail) in any state, and certainly not in Chicago. I also fail to see how that same turn could be construed as seeking retribution. I also believe it is YOUR interpretation, not any courts', that "teaching a lesson" is illegal. Be wary of taking your own interpretations too far. As a rule, aggressive driving laws prohibit aggressive driving. If you know of one that prohibits seeking retribution or the teaching of lessons, please cite it, word for word. More importantly, cite one that prohibits completing a legal left turn.

4) If someone was going to end up arrested from this scenario, I would imagine it would be the driver who entered the intersection well after their light had turned red. If there was an accident (not the goal here, by any means), I am confident that the driver running a red light would be held liable.

5) You say you're a slacker but you really should consider being an attorney...

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Dan

· #60 · Aug 21, 2002

YoYoPedro said:
5) You say you're a slacker but you really should consider being an attorney...

I am a lawyer, and I've only been relating some of the potential legal ramifications in an attempt to prevent you from getting into trouble someday. Personally, I used to enjoy teaching other as*hole drivers a lesson in my younger days, but as you get older, you also get wiser. Peace, and be careful out there - the life you save may be your own: there are a lot of nut cases driving around with loaded weapons in their vehicles.

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