Road Rage

[RIduffer]

My road rage is at an all-time high right now with holiday shopping traffic. I try to avoid driving more than I have too this time of year, but I had some important errands to run today. I knew it was going to be bad, but it was worse than I could have possibly imagined.

Traffic is one thing (and I sure hate it), but I nearly got into two accidents in the span of 1.5 hours. On both occasions the individual swerved into my lane and I had to react to avoid a crash. On both occasions the individual was talking or texting on a cell phone and barely noticed anything.

Maybe I'm stir crazy now that golf season is over, but I just find myself incredulous at the complete incompetence of drivers in my area. Be careful if you visit Providence!

Sorry, rant over.

BTW, any tips for curing road rage? I quit smoking 2 years ago so I've got nothing.

[kpaulhus]

BTW, any tips for curing road rage? I quit smoking 2 years ago so I've got nothing.

Drink?....

[RIduffer]

Drink?....

Oh I poured a cocktail as soon as I got home. But it would be tough to prove it was the other driver's fault if I'm DUI.

[Fraser]

Driving over here in the US really pisses me off. People just don't take it seriously, it is almost like dead time. I forget the number of times I call people and they say 'now's a good time, I'm driving'.

Holiday traffic is awful, that coupled with the 16" of snow we received last weekend and driving at the moment isn't much fun. Some of the things I find intolerable:

- Blatant running of red lights - the light has been red for a good three seconds but because the traffic is heavy you find a gaggle of cars will sneak through.
- Blocking of intersections - if you can't get through then sit still, don't jam up the whole intersection for everyone else.
- Cellphones - need I say more. Yes some people can manage with them but how often do I find someone swerving over into my lane (without indicating or checking blindspot) to find them on a phone?
- Scant use of lights - maybe I'm weird but I either put mine in automatic mode or leave them on all the time. In the early evening when the light is poor I'm amazed at the number of people who don't bother with lights or just put their front lights on.
- No use of indicators - yeah, if you're the only one on the road at 2am you can change lanes without them but the whole point of them is to let other drivers know of your intentions.
- No checking of blindspots when changing lanes - yeah, if you look that'll stop you running into me...or killing a motorcyclist
- Horrible/lazy parking - no need to park your F-350 diagonally over three parking bays. Sure you won't get dents in your doors but someone might stone the vehicle because you're a tool.
- Middle or left lane hangers on the interstate - drives. me. up. the. freaking. wall. There are signs on all the interstates around me for slowest traffic to stay in the right lane but everyone (for the most part) ignores them. The result is a fool in the left lane driving at 65mph that refuses to move over creates a hazard by forcing those who want to pass to go up the other side. If people bothered to have some lane discipline then that would massively help traffic flow and reduce jams! I can understand people not wanting to spend time in the right lane on urban interstates where you have entry/exit ramps every 1/4mile but on sections where there is nothing for 10miles it is just annoying.

I'm not saying that driving in the UK (where I spend most of my non-US driving) is perfect but the difference in driving standard is pretty obvious.

[MI Rob]

Driving over here in the US

Agreed with everything said.

I cannot stand driving in heavy traffic, especially holiday traffic.

[Blades4me]

Driving over here in the US

LOL, you just described 80% of the dirvers here in Portland Or, but you left out one,(but only b/c it is unique to PDX drivers), courtesy to the point of being dangerous.

Other than all of that I wish you and yours a happy holiday season and a good up coming year

[RIduffer]

Driving over here in the US

Wow, spot on. I've got at least 15 other major driving pet peeves, but in the spirit of the holidays I'm going to try and relax. Happy holidays and drive safe.

[DBeane]

Curing road rage?

I keep it in check by simply accepting the fact that most people are un-evolved gorillas that stuff their head in their ass before they even start their cars. So, by accepting this as fact, I then expect that type of behavior and it prevents the stress.

Another example would be my basset hound Manfred, he eats his own poop. I have tried all the fixes (supplements, telling him no, etc...). So, rather than getting mad at him, I just pick up the poop once a day...and everyone is happy.

Happy Holidays,

-Beane

[jamo]

Yesterday i was coming home from an indoor driving range and was exiting the highway onto a 3 lane road. My car (2000 VW Jetta) has a crappy transition so i cant accelerate to heavily, which means i need to leave a lot of room behind me when i merge into traffic. Anyway, the ramp had a yield sign at the end and there was a lot of oncoming traffic. I had to stop, then the guy behind decides he REALLY needs to get onto the road so he first honks at me for a good 15 seconds, then he goes around me to the right then tries to merge into full in traffic.

He promptly gets hit, smashes up his entire car. Serves him right.

[normdamarine]

I know this is hard but the best thing to do is just try to understand that there are a lot of ass hats on the road and they all think they dont have to give 2 rats arse to what you are doing.... The best thing you can do when confronted with road rage is kill them with kindness, it drives them freaking crazy... WHy they are screaming at you, honking their horns, yada yada yada just wave at them and smile, they will go freaking nutts and then you can laugh some more...

Or choose the later, get a gun and go nuts... That seems to work for some people to and then your road rage will be no more...

[Big_M]

I would hate to know what my bloodpressure is when I drive in traffic... because I know it's bad. I have a serious problem and the only solution I can imagine is too move, but I need to make money... so I guess I'm staying in or near the city for a while. If I ever figure out or have the opportunity to make a living in the country... I will be residing in rural America for certain.

[zeg]

-

I hate this too. I always wait a few extra seconds after a light changes because you see enough dangerous, inconsiderate morons here to make it treacherous to do otherwise. I also find it amusing (in the "want to rip their throat out" sense of the word) when people turning left feel entitled to proceed into the intersection after it turns red. Sorry guys, if you're not *in* the intersection when the light goes red, you don't have the right of way to clear out. The best is when the person does this after not pulling into the intersection in preparation for their turn. I swear I'll never understand where some people learn to drive.

Of course, this person always inspires at least one person behind them to chase them through the intersection. I sort of understand the frustration with being held up, but you only make things worse for everyone by running the light. Sadly there never seem to be any cops around when this happens.

-Blocking of intersections - if you can't get through then sit still, don't jam up the whole intersection for everyone else.

In stark contrast to the above, people in my part of California are very good about this one. I think the police must be pretty harsh when they find violators because I almost never see an intersection blocked after a red. Not like in Boston....

-Scant use of lights - maybe I'm weird but I either put mine in automatic mode or leave them on all the time. In the early evening when the light is poor I'm amazed at the number of people who don't bother with lights or just put their front lights on.

YES. Dear god, if you're not ABSOLUTELY SURE it's light enough, turn on your damn lights. There's no law that says you can't have them on in broad daylight.

-No checking of blindspots when changing lanes - yeah, if you look that'll stop you running into me...or killing a motorcyclist

Just aboug got plowed into by one of these morons a few weeks ago. It was bizarre. It was on a multilane highway and he decided he wanted to be in the lane I was in. Just merged over without a look. I laid on the horn for a long time and the ••••tard never even looked over. Where do these morons come from?

[bruce]

To cure road rage you have to accept the fact that everyday someone is going to too cut you up e.t.c,does'nt matter how stupid you think they are you just have to refrain from trying to tell them that or showing them.If your
not going to accept it your going to drive everyday pissed off.Sad thing is you have to ignore them.Remember 20 seconds later there gone so just kick
back and enjoy the ride.

[Grahaman]

Yesterday i was coming home from an indoor driving range and was exiting the highway onto a 3 lane road. My car (2000 VW Jetta) has a crappy transition so i cant accelerate to heavily, which means i need to leave a lot of room behind me when i merge into traffic. Anyway, the ramp had a yield sign at the end and there was a lot of oncoming traffic. I had to stop, then the guy behind decides he REALLY needs to get onto the road so he first honks at me for a good 15 seconds, then he goes around me to the right then tries to merge into full in traffic.

OH sweet justice...NICE!

[nevets88]

In NYC, piss poor behavior is worse than it is overall in the US. Cabbies will do anything to get a fare and they pull some seriously stupid stunts.

But you think things are bad in NYC, drive overseas in India, China or wherever traffic rules are out the door, poor infrastructure, infinite variety of vehicles, awful cab drivers, etc...

What really irks me are people who blow through school zones during school hours.

You can't make a right on red in NYC. I've had more than a few people honk me on red when I lead on the right lane. I motion to go ahead of me and they don't get it.

And people who sneak by on the shoulder during bumper to bumper traffic. Love it when cops pull umpteen cars over.

[RIduffer]

In NYC, piss poor behavior is worse than it is overall in the US. Cabbies will do anything to get a fare and they pull some seriously stupid stunts.

Yeah, NY seems to have alot of really aggressive, impatient drivers. The problem in Providence is that we have a combination of really aggressive, reckless drivers, and then people driving 35 mph in the high speed lane tapping their brakes for absolutely no reason.

BTW, I got hit head-on 6 months ago by a guy who admitted to the cops he was trying to retrieve his cell phone which had fallen under the passenger's seat. This is even more ridiculous. A good friend of mine was recently turning left into his driveway off a 2 lane road with his directional on. A guy in an SUV who was behind him tried to pass on the LEFT!!! and crashed into him. But you are right. I was in East Africa for a while, and people do the most terrifying things I've ever seen on the roads. Riding public transportation buses there was like Russian Roulette.

[Jay-Bird]

In NYC, Cabbies will do anything to get a fare and they pull some seriously stupid stunts.

I once got a ride from China Town to Madison Square Garden and about three blocks from the Garden our cabbie turned left from the far right lane. We got pulled over and were told by the cop to get out and walk - and NOT pay the fare.

[Lemay427]

Solution:

Buy a 70's or 80's era car (think huge "boat"). Insure it. Forget about license plates or just steal some off other cars. Drive that around and if people piss you off, you know what to do!!!