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LMLarsen
Senior MemberPosts: 8,337 Senior Member
NRA Endowment Member
Potential road rage incident
LMLarsen
Senior MemberPosts: 8,337 Senior Member
OK, I've been debating whether to post this. Yesterday while running some errands, the Wife and I encountered what could have become a serious incident. We approached an intersection and had a green arrow to turn right, while the cross street had an arrow to turn left on the overlap. As we were turning right with our right-of-way, a guy in an Escalade barreled thru the overlap left in a U-turn, almost hitting us, then proceeded to run us into the curb lane as he mindlessly changed lanes from left to middle.
Wife, bring Irish, floored it and laid on the horn, passed him, and got back into the left lane, since we needed to turn into the shopping center coming up.
He lagged behind for a bit, then came up alongside us in the dual left lane, and stopped. He and I traded the hairy eyeball for a few minutes until the light changed, but all I could think of was that I had decided not to carry, since we were only running a few errands. If he had gotten out of his truck, I'm not sure what I would have done: get out and dance, or urge the Wife to change lanes and boogie.
There were several things we did wrong that I know of, first and foremost neither of us had anything and we both have permits. If he had turned out to be a Trucha with amigos at the next light, we would have been hosed.
Let the hotwash begin.
Wife, bring Irish, floored it and laid on the horn, passed him, and got back into the left lane, since we needed to turn into the shopping center coming up.
He lagged behind for a bit, then came up alongside us in the dual left lane, and stopped. He and I traded the hairy eyeball for a few minutes until the light changed, but all I could think of was that I had decided not to carry, since we were only running a few errands. If he had gotten out of his truck, I'm not sure what I would have done: get out and dance, or urge the Wife to change lanes and boogie.
There were several things we did wrong that I know of, first and foremost neither of us had anything and we both have permits. If he had turned out to be a Trucha with amigos at the next light, we would have been hosed.
Let the hotwash begin.
“A gun is a tool, no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.”
NRA Endowment Member
Replies
NRA Endowment Member
In the situation you describe...driving away is about the only option you have left...(I would probably exercise that option rather than let it devolve into a confrontation)
Sako
It's soooo hard to not get miffed and try to "get back" at the other motorist. I've done it myself even though I know it's not the best idea to escalate. Best not to, and just quietly mumble rude insults under the breath and avoid any overt reaction or one-finger salutes.
Good description of the situation, too. Something similar has happened to most of us.
I just smile at them. Then they look dumb founded at the unexpected response.
I completely agree here. Although, I think if you and your wife were carrying, neither of you would have reacted that way. I find that when I carry, I become even more mellow in my reaction to stupid drivers. I simply think to myself if I get into a back and forth, and the situation escalates, I'd more likely get into legal trouble that not worth going bankrupt or go to jail for.
Al
NRA Endowment Member
I personally feel that staring in such an incident creates further tension and could have lead to escalation of the situation. It didn't, but it could have. The flip side could be that your staring caused him to back down. Maybe wrong is a strong word, simply "would not have done it".
Al