It has been almost a year to the date since I wrote about a road rage incident. It is alive and well today AND thriving. There is so much of it today that you can’t even take a leisure trip to town!
Is it because I am spending more time on the roads with my job?
I don’t think so. I mean just this week the same kind of thing happened to myself and my husband, literally! My situation:
I was on my way to work, a vehicle with a man and woman in it pulled out right in front of me. Of course they took their sweet time about it. There was no opportunity for brakes so I zipped around them in the HHR. I had to stop for a right turning truck, giving the butt head time to catch up. After getting on the move again, the man driving the car behind me began flipping me the bird. I made no sign of relevance. Then he began riding up on my bumper and tailgating me. I did not acknowledge.
This went on for ten miles. Finally I said “OK”. I Got my phone, turned on the camera, slowed down until they passed and made no attempt to hide the fact that I was recording them. I really believe they were going to pass me and stomp on their brakes. Instead, I imagine after seeing my camera, they kept on going and took the first turn available.
My husbands situation:
Today we met his uncle for dinner and decided to go to Battle Creek. We decided to stop at the truck stop half way there and use their facilities. My husband pulled out of the parking lot onto the road and accelerated aggressively as he always does. Several minutes into the ride he is on the brakes and flipping somebody off behind us; all the while telling me a play by play of what is happening. We had pulled out and a car, exceeding the 45mph speed limit, was not appreciative of us not waiting until he went by before pulling out. I say this because we were up to speed several minutes before my husband did his brake check.
The young man, with his young girl[friend] passenger, had (still speeding) ran up on his bumper and stayed there. After the kid recovered from the brake check he began flipping my husband off, which my husband doesn’t take kindly. At the next intersection (we were turning right, the kid was going straight) they exchanged a few words. The young man promptly got behind us and followed us, most likely showing off for his friend. My husband was going to oblige the young guy but I begged him to spare the kid, and he did.
Is it the kids these days?
I don’t think so. In spite of poor parents being ripped off the money they invest into their children’s drivers training, I don’t think you can categorize road rage into an age group. My incident involved older people, plus I see (and read about) many incidents that include all ages.
Is it newcomers not appreciating our laws, or knowing road etiquette?
Again, I don’t think so, I rarely have noticed road rage incidents where the person(s) was not from this country. As a matter of fact, I have actually bore witness to people being so cautious of their travels in our country that they felt the need to lie about their direction of travel. I figured it was to help ensure they arrived at their destination safely. I could be wrong.
Let’s face it
It boils down to all American bad attitude and upbringing, if you ask me. Those who are selfish not only cant share, but in fact, feel that they are owed something from everyone on the planet. When they get behind the wheel they expect everyone to know and honor this.
Those not being showed how to process disappointment cannot get sharing the roadways with all the other attitudes. Therefore they didn’t get the memo about all the entitled drivers and will be damned to let anyone get the best of them!
Then we season the mix with the OCD drivers. They should really be evaluated every four years to make sure that their condition has not gotten to extreme leveles. I’m talking about the ones that cannot handle a car getting ahead of them at the merge, cannot use their turn signals correctly, do not appreciate the safe distance to pass or follow someone, when to dim their lights at night, and the beat goes on.
When did it all begin?
Did it begin, and continues today, with elderly drivers who are not able to navigate the highways bringing out the bad in people? Well, again, it lands us back at the bad attitude or upbringing. Unfortunately bad things happen to good people, but we all have to compensate for something. Out on the roadways it should be each other an non of this road rage nonsense.
We don’t live in a perfect world
I have bought a dash cam. The next thing I am getting is a second one for the rear of the vehicle. Then I am going to get my Concealed Carry Permit. If road rage has escalated to this point in a year, I’m not taking any chances.
I am not eager to aggravate an already bad situation, so I intend to put a sticker on the rear window that says “Smile, you are on camera”. If I am ever involved in a situation that escalates to the potential use of my permit, I will call 911, letting them know there is a road incident occuring that could involve a firearm along with all pertinent information. The documentation of the cameras will leave no margin for exaggeration on either party.