Road rage incedent (Am I in the wrong?)

[Rowan]

So basically I was driving home from work, going the same way I usually do. I notice a car in my rear view mirror driving erraticaly. The car was swerving in and our of the left and right lane, seems like a jerk. Anyway, it ends up behind my car and the car in front of me as suddenly brakes, so I do the same. I notice in my rear view mirror that the jerk started waving his hands about and cussing at me (the braking was not even that sharp/sudden). I then gave him the middle finger, as would any driver or person who has the right to communicate.

This is when things get shit.

He then proceeds to speed up and tailgate me (behaviour not that different from minutes before he ended up behind me in my lane) he then tries speeding up in the left lane to get level with me before deciding to go back to tailgating me from the right. I notice his psychotic face as he got closer to my vehicle. Looks like john cena on meth and this is the guy who id just pissed off. So i turn into my estate and I realize that this guy is actually now following me. I notice in my rear view mirror that he can see me staring at him, he signals for me to pull my car over and looks like hes about to blow a fuse. I was considering pulling the car over but then I thought that absolutely no good may come of that. A man who was driving like he was busting for a piss, is now suddently following me at every turn and telling me to pull over. So I continue driving, making damn sure not to give him any idea where I might be living, and lead him to a roundabout near the main road. This is where I began circling while I dialed my phone for the cops. It took about 10 minutes of following, 5 times around the same roundabout and perhaps even him seeing me on the phone before he decided to stop following me.


Now what I am wondering here;

Should I have pulled over?
What could have happened if I pulled over?
Was his reaction warranted from my giving him the finger in response to his unwarranted agressiveness towards everyone including me?
Is it possible he would want to find me again on the road?

I am asking these questions because I have never been in that situation before. If he didnt look like a psychopath I probably would have pulled over, but I am positive this guy was on something.

[Pete]

You did the right thing. Once you knew he was following you, your best option was to call the cops. You never know if someone is just deranged and wants to fight, or if they're carrying a weapon. Nothing good could have come from confrontation.

You never pull over for something like that, unless it's a police vehicle with lights and sirens. Obviously running from the police will always make things worse when you're in a car.

The dude could have just been nuts or an asshole. I see drivers like this all the time, trying to bully their way along the roads, swerving and honking because they don't think you're driving fast enough for them. The middle finger might not have helped but whatever, it was justified.

I doubt he'll try to find you, but be vigilant. Chances are he's just an asshole and you're not the first person to experience this. But if it happens again, I'd call the cops and report him.

I'm also a fan of brake checking tailgaters because they'll usually back off.

[Spooniest]

Absolutely, never pull over for anyone but the authorities.

What a crackpot, geez.

[Meier Link]

Now imagine this situation but you are on a motorcycle. That's the stuff I have to deal with daily on the roads. That's why I keep a pocket full of change that's easily accessible and both my bar ends weigh about a pound a piece and are also easily removable. Also a primary reason I like having an 180 mph bike. We won't speak about what else I keep in my vest but the hint is 2 numbers followed by 2 repetitive letters.

You did the right thing for the most part. You poked the angry bear with the finger though. Not saying what that person did was justified by any means but it didn't help your situation at the time.


I agree with Pete completely. Do not ever stop unless it's a police officer. Here we have what we call safe places that you can go to also. Generally cops are with in just minutes away from these designated safe places, such as a convenient store, that are equipped with quick notification systems for law enforcement.

[loaf]

People in Vegas get shot for that type of road rage so can't be too careful. Gotta be safe.

[Clint]

Man, **** John Cena. You handled that situation better than I would have, and you were by no means wrong to flip him off. He was an asshole.

I would have handled it a bit differently, though. I keep a knife in my car, so I would have pulled over, waited for him to approach, and then I would have stabbed him through my window. He absolutely won't continue stalking you after being stabbed.

[Crescent]

Yeah u handled it well. Had I been in that situation, I would've called the cops while driving n luring him to the local police station. Then he can act like a tough guy there.

[Rowan]

Thanks for the responses. I was actually extremely close to the cop station but I wouldn't risk waiting at the red light because that would mean having to stop my car, being boxed in and then the possibility he might have got out of his car with a weapon or something. I really dont regret flipping him off, but I was not about to get into a fight or risk having my car damaged by pulling over. The thing is, once upon a time I really didnt care about this kind of thing, but now I work in a school, I have a fiance', I am in the midst of finalising owning my own home so I have a mortgage and these kind of responsibilities are jeopardised as soon as I take a swing at someone or worse.

The last thing I want is everything to go to shit because of an insignificant incident like this. Gotta admit, not pulling over does hurt my ego though.

[Pete]

One time I had a guy throw his ice scraper at my car because he got mad at me for staying in my lane. He then proceeded to make a gun with his right hand like a child playing cops and robbers and began gesturing that he was shooting me. I proceeded to wave in a very feminine and flirtatious manner, which only pissed him off even more. I laughed for a while after that one.

People don't really try to screw with me when I drive

[OceanEyes28]

Ehh, your ego's a dick. So is mine. So was his.

You did the right thing. He was way out of line, and you are not obligated to stop and tolerate a person with no self control.

[Crescent]

I was in the front passenger seat with my friend at the wheel n this idiot pulled up next to my window beeping his horn at us trying to get our attention. We were trying not to pay him any mind bt he was persistent n it was scary watching him try to maintain speed n have his head turning back n forth on us n the road. He started yelling at us n doing some feral gesture with his tongue n Im like ok this creature might kill himself (preferable), us n/or others so I then gave him my "are u fkng serious?" look n rolled up the window n lookd back at him (thru the window) whilst shaking my head. My friend n I couldn't even laugh bout it we were just like what a moron.

[Rowan]

I was in the front passenger seat with my friend at the wheel n this idiot pulled up next to my window beeping his horn at us trying to get our attention. We were trying not to pay him any mind bt he was persistent n it was scary watching him try to maintain speed n have his head turning back n forth on us n the road. He started yelling at us n doing some feral gesture with his tongue n Im like ok this creature might kill himself (preferable), us n/or others so I then gave him my "are u fkng serious?" look n rolled up the window n lookd back at him (thru the window) whilst shaking my head. My friend n I couldn't even laugh bout it we were just like what a moron.

If someone did that to my mrs while I was around, I would see red. Become berserk.

[Alpha]

I don't know what I would have done in this situation. Probably driven to the police station, and feigned a phone call a bit sooner. I pull the fingers at people often though, maybe I should nip that in the bud. I believe there's something deep down inside us that makes people very bad at driving: almost everyone is more prone to aggression when driving relative to doing anything else. I think it has something to do with seeing cars and not people. No one ever talks of pedestrian rage.

[Rowan]

I don't know what I would have done in this situation. Probably driven to the police station, and feigned a phone call a bit sooner. I pull the fingers at people often though, maybe I should nip that in the bud. I believe there's something deep down inside us that makes people very bad at driving: almost everyone is more prone to aggression when driving relative to doing anything else. I think it has something to do with seeing cars and not people. No one ever talks of pedestrian rage.

I think its because people feel invicible in their cars. It acts as a barrier between you and everyone else, similar to the internet. In reality, this is completely false.

[Meier Link]

I agree with the 2 above posts and most people on the road think their destination and time are more important then the safety of others.

I flip off anyone I see on their damn phones while driving like idiots. Specially if I am on the bike. And I make sure they see it too.

[Rocky]

Why didn't you take the crazy Aussie john cena to summerslam and settle it in the ring?

[Michael Swayne]

It's stories like these that make me hesitant to actually get my license. Luckily, I haven't experienced anything like this while practicing. I have probably made some people mad because I am not comfortable enough to drive at the speed limit yet. I average 3-5 mph below the posted limits. They can pass me if they're in a hurry.

[che]

Typically here, in America, we would have been driving trucks, not cars, in the first place. It just shows how manly you are , and not just because you can prove how much mud you can drive through. Wouldn't trucks make more sense in Australia, too? Anyway, one of the best reasons trucks are great is because you can hang shotguns in the back window. This shows those crazy beefcakes that you don't bring muscles to a gunfight.

[midgetbob]

Typically here, in America, we would have been driving trucks, not cars, in the first place. It just shows how manly you are , and not just because you can prove how much mud you can drive through. Wouldn't trucks make more sense in Australia, too? Anyway, one of the best reasons trucks are great is because you can hang shotguns in the back window. This shows those crazy beefcakes that you don't bring muscles to a gunfight.

Also, be sure to have your truck jacked up so you require a ladder to get into it. This shows them how big you are on the inside, and how much of a... package... you got, too. Intimidation!

[Pete]

Typically here, in America, we would have been driving trucks, not cars, in the first place. It just shows how manly you are , and not just because you can prove how much mud you can drive through. Wouldn't trucks make more sense in Australia, too? Anyway, one of the best reasons trucks are great is because you can hang shotguns in the back window. This shows those crazy beefcakes that you don't bring muscles to a gunfight.

Don't you drive a stanced vw golf?

[GypsyElder]

I'm also a fan of brake checking tailgaters because they'll usually back off.

What's even better than brake checking is gradually easing your foot off the gas. That pisses tailgaters the f*ck off because, in the mist of anger, they can't comprehend wtf is happening because you aren't acknowledging their assholery (aka they can't tell if you're blatantly breaking on them because no brake lights.) By the time you've reached 35 mph or less they're raging

Much better technique imo. California has the worst f*cking drivers in the world.

[Heartless Angel]

Lol. I always avoid engaging idiots, never know what some dumb**** might be smoking, or what sort of weapon he might have. People have been killed for dumber reasons. Fortunately, this isn't difficult for me, I never even pay attention to other drivers. If someone's riding my ass, I just gradually slow down until they get irritated and pass me.

[midgetbob]

What's even better than brake checking is gradually easing your foot off the gas. That pisses tailgaters the f*ck off because, in the mist of anger, they can't comprehend wtf is happening because you aren't acknowledging their assholery (aka they can't tell if you're blatantly breaking on them because no brake lights.) By the time you've reached 35 mph or less they're raging

Man... I've done this on the highway before. It was ~2am or so on a weekday night. Driving home from friend's house. Car gets behind me and is riding about 3' from my bumper. We're the only cars on the road. I slowed down enough that I came to a complete stop before they finally went around me.

I laughed.
They drove by honking, flipping me the bird, hanging out window screaming.
I laughed more.

Was good times.

[che]

Man... I've done this on the highway before. It was ~2am or so on a weekday night. Driving home from friend's house. Car gets behind me and is riding about 3' from my bumper. We're the only cars on the road. I slowed down enough that I came to a complete stop before they finally went around me.

I laughed.
They drove by honking, flipping me the bird, hanging out window screaming.
I laughed more.

Was good times.

Don't be doing that in DC, where people are packin. Guess there are worse places, though.

[Spooniest]

I am generally too terrified that A. I will wrap the car around a phone pole, B. I will be pulled over by the cops, something I absolutely NEVER want to happen ever, or C. the goddamn rust bucket I drive will explode for me to pay attention to anyone's driving but my own.

If someone were road raging at me, my solution would be to simply give them as wide a berth as possible, and, within as few seconds as possible, focus my attention back on not running my two ton death machine into a brick wall.

I'm not kidding, moving vehicles scare the shit out of me. Given the choice, I'd rather walk.