Road Rage

[smlobx]

I stole this satire from another forum I’m on.
Enjoy...

Day in the Diary of a BMW Driver
"The other day I was cruising along as usual coming onto one of my motorways, which was very busy with inferior cars.

First off, I couldn't believe that the volume of traffic DIDN'T slow down for me AT ALL as I came off the slip road! I had to squeeze into a barely big enough gap between two cars in order to get onto my motorway!

The driver of the car behind me did realise his mistake though and honked an apology to me with a long blast of his horn. Unbelievably, I had to do the same again before I could get to the BMW lane.

Anyway, once I was in the BMW lane and posing along at 110 mph enjoying the adulation that the inferior car drivers were giving me, I noticed an inferior car ahead of me which was not only in the BMW lane of my motorway, but was driving at a ridiculous 70 mph! Naturally, I got within a foot or so of his rear bumper and flashed my headlights to remind him he shouldn't be in the BMW lane of my motorway and to get out of my way.

Of course, once he realised it was a BMW behind him, he did just that, but I could hardly believe it when he pulled straight back out behind me! He also tried to keep up with me and when he realised I would out-run him, he put on some blue lights in his front grill and urged me to get onto the hard shoulder so that he could congratulate me on my excellent car.

Needless to say, I was eager to oblige and when we had stopped, the man gave me a piece of paper confirming what I already knew - that my car goes fast!

Apparently he wants everyone to know what a superior car I have, so I had to take my driver’s licence to a police station to be sent away to have some points put on! (They're not free points either - they're £20 each and I was only allowed 3.)

But the man at the police station said that because I drive a BMW, it won't be much longer before I earn the full 12 points, and then I won't even NEED a driving licence, so they will take it off me! See, now THAT'S the sort of respect you get when you own and drive a BMW! "

 

[Dave]

We have stereotypes for a reason. And my experience with BMW’s on the road has taught my that they’re nice cars, usually driven by self absorbed assholes.

I see it with Audi and Mercedes as well.

 

[Robert]

Reminds me of the old joke "what's the difference between a porcupine and a BMW?"

There's a guy up the street from me who drives a BMW convertible (3 series or maybe 4, I don't keep up with them). He's probably late forties, and usually has the top down, a polo shirt with the collar popped and Ray-Bans, feathered hair like we wore in the eighties and some sort of pop music playing (not loud). I laugh every time I see him. He may be the nicest guy in town but the cheese is soooo thick.

 

[ArkansasDon]

Road rage is getting worst. My wife Sally experienced coming home from Batesville to our farm which is 50 minutes on a 4 lane hwy (2 lanes one direction) a large chicken truck in the left lane, & several vehicles in front of her all doing the speed limit. A large Black 2015 Chev 4x4 Truck was behind her switching lanes from right to left & back to right trying to pass but couldn't. This truck would run up on her, blown his horn & emulating like he had a gun & was pointing it at her. This went for several miles until the large chicken truck pulled off on a dirt road to possibly get a load of chickens. He blew by her flipping her off & yelling then by the rest of the cars too. My wife called me on the cell phone telling me all this I told her just to get home. She pass threw another small mountain community on the 4 lane with only 10 miles left before she pulls into the drive of our farm which is off the 4 lane, she notice the big black chev 4x4 that was taunting her pulled out after my wife pass from a dirt turn a round on the side of the hwy & sped up right behind her & was like drafting her. The wife said he was so close my wife called & with fear explaining he was right behind her again run up beside her pointing his finger like a gun cussing her & swerving @ her making her vear hard right on the shoulder. My wife drives a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 IMO no match for a 2015 or 2016 Chev 2500 jacked up 4x4. I'm in the shop welding on piece of farm equipment when she pulls in & the black truck does too right on her tail. I pop out of the shop building shouldering a short barrel side by side loaded with #2 lead (blue arrow pointing I keep this shotgun in the shop for pesky vermin), he slams on the brakes & reverses out of the drive way kicking up gravel almost T bones a vehicle & speeds off north bound.
The funny thing is the wife & I were @ Walmart 10 miles north of us shopping some time after & guess who we run into in the dog cat food aisle? the same stupid fool tormenting my wife, he see's me & her & backs out of the aisle quickly. Here's the real funny thing, my son Andrew is a cop for the county my wife works in. We were camping & Sally was telling Andrew what happen, I gave my son a description of truck & the individual. My son calls me one evening & mentions he pulls that truck & the individual over for a traffic stop, tickets him & mentions the next time you decide to have this sick twisted notion to torment a citizen by your road rage, like the lady you did in the blue Nissan Patherfinder which is my mother I will make sure your sorry ass is thrown in jail & your truck is impounded. Our society has changed a lot & the anger issues that some hold for what ever reason politicially or culturally is getting way out of hand. Our society has turned into a micro wave society every thing has to be quick, & right now with little to no regards. We are seeing this problem grow in our small mountain satellite communities here. GOD help us.

 

[ArkansasDon]

Move to California.

We're required BY LAW to maintain a 3ft clearance from all cyclists! Next we're going require production of all vehicles with a yard stick attached to our side view mirrors so we know we're in compliance! Same goes for ticketing loud vehicles and motorcycles..we'll have decibel meter displays out the back window so LEO's can pull us over with appropriate proof!

that sucks big time. I'm in the process of a possible purchasing a street rod 1966 Dodge Dart w\408 small block just finished resto-mod for cruz nights & local car shows. The guy sent me video of the car idling & running up & down the road, pretty load. I guess if I still resided in Cali it would be a prime target for sure.

 

[Robert]

I keep saying I'm going to get a dash camera but there are so many choices. I'd venture part of the problem is the internet and folks feeling anonymous, ironic since we are tracked now more than ever. I think there are a lot more unhinged people out there as well, lots of reasons for that.

 

[Greg]

Road rage is getting worst. My wife Sally experienced coming home from Batesville to our farm which is 50 minutes on a 4 lane hwy (2 lanes one direction) a large chicken truck in the left lane, & several vehicles in front of her all doing the speed limit. A large Black 2015 Chev 4x4 Truck was behind her switching lanes from right to left & back to right trying to pass but couldn't. This truck would run up on her, blown his horn & emulating like he had a gun & was pointing it at her. This went for several miles until the large chicken truck pulled off on a dirt road to possibly get a load of chickens. He blew by her flipping her off & yelling then by the rest of the cars too. My wife called me on the cell phone telling me all this I told her just to get home. She pass threw another small mountain community on the 4 lane with only 10 miles left before she pulls into the drive of our farm which is off the 4 lane, she notice the big black chev 4x4 that was taunting her pulled out after my wife pass from a dirt turn a round on the side of the hwy & sped up right behind her & was like drafting her. The wife said he was so close my wife called & with fear explaining he was right behind her again run up beside her pointing his finger like a gun cussing her & swerving @ her making her vear hard right on the shoulder. My wife drives a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 IMO no match for a 2015 or 2016 Chev 2500 jacked up 4x4. I'm in the shop welding on piece of farm equipment when she pulls in & the black truck does too right on her tail. I pop out of the shop building shouldering a short barrel side by side loaded with #2 lead (blue arrow pointing I keep this shotgun in the shop for pesky vermin), he slams on the brakes & reverses out of the drive way kicking up gravel almost T bones a vehicle & speeds off north bound.
The funny thing is the wife & I were @ Walmart 10 miles north of us shopping some time after & guess who we run into in the dog cat food aisle? the same stupid fool tormenting my wife, he see's me & her & backs out of the aisle quickly. Here's the real funny thing, my son Andrew is a cop for the county my wife works in. We were camping & Sally was telling Andrew what happen, I gave my son a description of truck & the individual. My son calls me one evening & mentions he pulls that truck & the individual over for a traffic stop, tickets him & mentions the next time you decide to have this sick twisted notion to torment a citizen by your road rage, like the lady you did in the blue Nissan Patherfinder which is my mother I will make sure your sorry ass is thrown in jail & your truck is impounded. Our society has changed a lot & the anger issues that some hold for what ever reason politicially or culturally is getting way out of hand. Our society has turned into a micro wave society every thing has to be quick, & right now with little to no regards. We are seeing this problem grow in our small mountain satellite communities here. GOD help us.
View attachment 46300

This is why I just stay over in the right lane. The idiot density is far less.

 

[Gallowbraid]

My road rage story:

I was middle school aged and my father, a LEO at the time, was taking me to school in the family's Ford Ranger. About 6 miles outside of town a lifted square body Chevy truck began tailgating us aggressively. Dad maintained the speed limit while staring the guy down in the rear view mirror. Rather than create an incident my dad put his blinker on and intended to turn onto a dirt road to the right to allow this ass to go about his day. Once my dad put the blinker on the guy sped up and actually made contact with our vehicle. Dad put the brakes to the floor and both vehicles came to a stop amid smoking, squealing tires.

Dad stepped out of our truck in full police officer mode, although he admitted later that he thought to himself "Well shit, I'm not in uniform, how's this going to work?". He approached the truck which was resting on our rear bumper and walked passed the drivers door toward the rear of the vehicle to take the tag number. The guy had worked up the nerve at that point to roll down the window and start yelling, "Go ahead and take my tag! What are you going to do!?" He backed up and roared around us toward town.

At that time there was a deputy that directed traffic outside the local elementary school who was well known. He would dance as he directed traffic and was a bit of a local celebrity. As we approached the elementary school he was finishing up and starting to get in his patrol car. Dad pulled over, briefly described what had happened, the vehicle and description of the driver and the general direction the guy had gone in (toward the local tech school). This officer jumped in his patrol car and took off.

Dad dropped me off at school and then proceeded to the sheriff's office to see if the officer had found the driver. When he arrived and explained who he was the dispatcher smiled and said, "Yes sir, the truck was very easy to find at the tech school parking lot and the deputy has the driver detained. Would you like to press charges?" Dad said that there were too many people in the world that would press charges or sue, instead could the officer simply teach the guy a lesson? The dispatcher said that the deputy who had the driver detained was the "perfect person" for that job. From what I know they cited the guy for a number of things on his vehicle (illegal tint, headlights higher than legal limit, etc) and gave the guy a day he wouldn't forget. I vaguely remember someone mentioning that the vehicle got impounded, but I'm not sure if that happened or not.

Most memorable part of this story was when this deputy made headlines years later. His name was Richard Jewell. Yep, that Richard Jewell.

 

[Kevin LaCroix]

Once, when I was still in High School, I picked up my father from the airport. On our drive home, some person, in a lifted Jeep, decided I was ging too slow. I was going limit to +5, in a 35 - 45 area. First the brights came on, then tail gating, horn honking, then the various assortment of off-road lights. We could feel the heat from the lights. My father told to just drive safely, I was 17 and driving his car. Eventually the jerk turned onto a different street.

 

[buckwilk]

You must always stick exactly to the speed limit, always use your turn signal, and never do the California roll. The only safe driver in CA. I'm proud.

A rather arrogant statement considering you have no idea how he drives. If your stance is that bicycle riders generally obey the rules of the road I think you would find most don't agree with you.

 

[Trump]

You must always stick exactly to the speed limit, always use your turn signal, and never do the California roll. The only safe driver in CA. I'm proud.

A rather arrogant statement considering you have no idea how he drives. If your stance is that bicycle riders generally obey the rules of the road I think you would find most don't agree with you.

Yeah? So how many people would you say stick to the speed limit in CA? If you find one, they must never have driven on the highway.

The point is, people break traffic laws whether on a bicycle or in a car, nobody has the moral high ground here. What I encounter nearly everyday, is that people use an example of someone breaking a traffic law on a bike as justification for treating every cyclist as less than human. Not giving adequate space, purposely intimidating, road rage (The topic of this thread)... every. single. ride. So, I will remain completely unapologetic and fire back when I hear the continued justification for the hostility on the hypocritical ground that they saw someone break a traffic law. It's an absurd argument.

 

[buckwilk]

Yeah? So how many people would you say stick to the speed limit in CA? If you find one, they must never have driven on the highway.

The point is, people break traffic laws whether on a bicycle or in a car, nobody has the moral high ground here. What I encounter nearly everyday, is that people use an example of someone breaking a traffic law on a bike as justification for treating every cyclist as less than human. Not giving adequate space, purposely intimidating, road rage (The topic of this thread)... every. single. ride. So, I will remain completely unapologetic and fire back when I hear the continued justification for the hostility on the hypocritical ground that they saw someone break a traffic law. It's an absurd argument.

I agree, you said his argument was invalid based on his driving record which you have no knowledge of. That laws are broken by both sides does not invalidate the point in discussion. Bicycles have no place on highways designed for "motor" vehicle traffic. The environmental nonsense that put them on motor vehicle highways with the same "rights" as motor vehicles is ridiculous. I get that you ride, I get that you experience road rage every. single. ride. Why do think that is ? I drive every day, I have never been involved in a road rage incident, thank god. You are involved every. single. ride.

 

[Trump]

I agree, you said his argument was invalid based on his driving record which you have no knowledge of. That laws are broken by both sides does not invalidate the point in discussion. Bicycles have no place on highways designed for "motor" vehicle traffic. The environmental nonsense that put them on motor vehicle highways with the same "rights" as motor vehicles is ridiculous. I get that you ride, I get that you experience road rage every. single. ride. Why do think that is ? I drive every day, I have never been involved in a road rage incident, thank god. You are involved every. single. ride.

...and there we have it.

The hate. You don't like cyclists and think there is only one way to enjoy the roads. You and those with that mentality are ignorant. Environmental issues didn't put bicycles on roads. Also, I don't ride for the sake of saving the environment... I do happen to own three 4x4's afterall. I'm just not angry about having to treat others legally using the roadway with respect and as human beings with families. Those that don't get that, shouldn't be driving.

 

[buckwilk]

...and there we have it.

The hate. You don't like cyclists and think there is only one way to enjoy the roads. You and those with that mentality are ignorant. Environmental issues didn't put bicycles on roads. Also, I don't ride for the sake of saving the environment... I do happen to own three 4x4's afterall. I'm just not angry about having to treat others legally using the roadway with respect and as human beings with families. Those that don't get that, shouldn't be driving.

The hate ? Where ? That I disagree with you does not indicate hate in any manner. Your point of view has no more credibility than mine, in fact that you resort to fabrication of facts belittle your argument. Why are you so angry? Is it that someone would dare disagree with you? When you care to discuss the matter of bikes sharing the road with automobiles in an adult respectful manner I would be happy to engage you. By the way owning 3 4x4's does not show that you don't respect the environment.

 

[Trump]

The hate ? Where ? That I disagree with you does not indicate hate in any manner. Your point of view has no more credibility than mine, in fact that you resort to fabrication of facts belittle your argument. Why are you so angry? Is it that someone would dare disagree with you? When you care to discuss the matter of bikes sharing the road with automobiles in an adult respectful manner I would be happy to engage you. By the way owning 3 4x4's does not show that you don't respect the environment.

Fair. Hate is a bit strong, so we'll leave it as disagreeing. The difference in my point of view is that it is actually backed by the law, so I see it as having a bit more credibility. Many don't understand the law and feel justified in endangering people's lives when they see someone riding. That's wrong and should not be accepted because someone doesn't feel they belong. This topic is no different to me than someone who would like to shut down trail access to 4x4's because they don't like vehicles on "their" trails. No one party or interest group own the roads and trail system. And, I agree, three 4x4's doesn't mean I don't care for the environment, quite the contrary, but I know many would see it differently.

 

[buckwilk]

Fair. Hate is a bit strong, so we'll leave it as disagreeing. The difference in my point of view is that it is actually backed by the law, so I see it as having a bit more credibility. Many don't understand the law and feel justified in endangering people's lives when they see someone riding. That's wrong and should not be accepted because someone doesn't feel they belong. This topic is no different to me than someone who would like to shut down trail access to 4x4's because they don't like vehicles on "their" trails. No one party or interest group own the roads and trail system. And, I agree, three 4x4's doesn't mean I don't care for the environment, quite the contrary, but I know many would see it differently.

There is nothing wrong with passion regardless of the subject. I think this is a perfect example of opposing viewpoints clashing when the people holding those viewpoints actually agree. There is something going on on our roadways that is not ending well. I don't have an answer but I know it won't appear if we don't talk about it in a reasonable manner. Neither side holds the high ground here. I don't have an answer. I don't want anyone harmed. I want everyone to come to some situation that works for both sides. That the status quo is ok is ignoring the problem. Trump, perhaps your brain and mine can see a way forward. This sort of back and forth is the way forward. I hope you agree.

 

[Trump]

There is nothing wrong with passion regardless of the subject. I think this is a perfect example of opposing viewpoints clashing when the people holding those viewpoints actually agree. There is something going on on our roadways that is not ending well. I don't have an answer but I know it won't appear if we don't talk about it in a reasonable manner. Neither side holds the high ground here. I don't have an answer. I don't want anyone harmed. I want everyone to come to some situation that works for both sides. That the status quo is ok is ignoring the problem. Trump, perhaps your brain and mine can see a way forward. This sort of back and forth is the way forward. I hope you agree.

Absolutely. Sadly, we'll never stop people from being disrespectful... I think that ship sailed for the U.S. generations ago. I don't like it, but can deal with most of the road rage much easier than I can with purely negligent driving. The bigger danger for those on bikes and in vehicles are people on their damn phones instead of driving. I'll take someone yelling at me or buzzing me anyday over getting hit by someone that can't wait to send a text or check their FB. That's probably a whole different discussion, and one I bet most here would love to solve.

 

[Mike]

I agree with you @Trump. I used to ride motorcycles in my younger years. Have had 15 of them and many thousands of miles ridden. Would I love to have another one, sure. Would I do it living in CA with the advent of smartphones. Hell no! It's bad enough driving in a vehicle where I have some margin of safety but exposed on a cycle.... it never seems to end well for them. It tends to be a all too common incident anymore, at least in SoCal.

 

[Greg]

Absolutely. Sadly, we'll never stop people from being disrespectful... I think that ship sailed for the U.S. generations ago. I don't like it, but can deal with most of the road rage much easier than I can with purely negligent driving. The bigger danger for those on bikes and in vehicles are people on their damn phones instead of driving. I'll take someone yelling at me or buzzing me anyday over getting hit by someone that can't wait to send a text or check their FB. That's probably a whole different discussion, and one I bet most here would love to solve.

I would have to say people were idiots long before the invention of the mobile phone.

Perhaps the beltway around D.C. is a poor example. Or maybe it's the perfect example. When I was driving a truck as a landscaper in the late 90's the most notable offenders were people driving while reading the newspaper spread out over the steering wheel. People reading paperbacks. Their thumbs hooked around the wheel to hold the pages in place. Eating bowls of cereal (saw this one again not to long ago). Some adding more milk and cereal to the bowl for seconds.

 

[Greg]

I classify drivers into 4 groups. 3 of them bad and are catalysts for road rage. I wonder if you guys agree with the classifications and if any should be added.

• Courteous - By all definitions this is a good driver. Not necessarily obeys all traffic laws but they are observant of others and yields when they are suppose to. Zipper merges. Moves out of the way for faster traffic. etc.
• Oblivious - Blinders on! My attention is definitely not focused on driving. I'm on the phone, eating a bowl of cereal, or my eyes are glazed over and I'm ready to drive! Mirrors? Traffic behind me? Motorcycle in the lane that I'm going to change lanes into? If I don't see it it doesn't exist and I see nothing!
• Passive Aggressive - I'm not going to break any laws. And neither are you! The speed limit is 55mph and that's what everyone will be doing today while I'm on the road.
• Aggressive - Move. Move! MOVE!!! Get the @&%*! out of my way!!!!!!