We all have that little demon, Mr. Wheeler, in us but shouldn’t let it show as much. Road rage is something where you have nothing to gain and everything to lose. In some places around the country it could get you killed. When I lived in California, I didn’t see road rage very often because everyone knew that it could get you killed, so that kind of controlled it. When I moved to Austin, Texas, I started seeing it a bunch.
The funniest one was when I was stopped at a light three cars back. I never saw what started the confrontation, but just pulled up to the light. All of us got there at about the same time. As soon as the cars were stopped, the lady in the second vehicle, about 35 years old, blond, well groomed, in a ladies business suit, got out of her car (a nice Cadillac) and started running to the first car. She didn’t even bother to shut her door. She ran straight for the car in front, yelling and shaking her fist. The guy in the first car was quickly rolling up his window. I started to laugh as the lady yelled obscenities at the male driver. Then, she started beating her closed fist against the window. She continued for a good minute or two until the light changed. The male driver drove off and the lady stood there yelling at him as he drove away. She got back in her car and turned the other way, and I went on to work.
In that situation, who could have gained what? The lady could have had the cops called on her. Being arrested always looks bad. The guy was substantially bigger than she was. He could probably have gotten out of his car and smacked her around. The guy couldn’t win. He could have stood there, let her beat on him and then call the cops and say “A woman beat me up.” Or he could have hit her a couple times in self defense, but when the cops got there, what would they believe?
I don’t know what sparked this situation, but it was something. One probably cut the other one off or something dumb. Since I drive a truck for a living and drive about 5,000 miles a month on average, I make a mistake from time to time. I’ve cut people off while pulling a trailer, drifted into someone else’s lane while trying to answer my phone, or just turned in fast without thinking. It happens, we all make mistakes. On the other side, I’ve also had people do the same to me.
Sooner or later it will happen to you. We have the choice of how we react. The chances of the person actually hurting you because you get angry with them are slim, but can grow with the situation. The problem is feelings are contagious. If you get angry, the other person gets angry. You can feed off of each other’s anger. Then you could have a problem.
The best way is to let it go. When someone makes a mistake around me, I’ll smile and wave. When I make a mistake and the person looks at me, I’ll look back and say, “I’m sorry” out loud. Of course, they can’t hear me, but they can see what I’m saying and that is generally the end of it. It’s much easier to say sorry and just end the entire thing.
Just a quick note to those that think they don’t make mistakes while driving, bull! If you don’t see your mistakes it’s because you aren’t paying attention, which probably means you are making more mistakes. So pay attention!
Stay Safe,
Ben
My friend Doug had a very intense road rage incident last year that happened at a stoplight. He’s one of my shooting friends and the most laid back guy you could meet. Him and his 8 year old son were going to Walmart and they were on a 4 lane highway. He noticed a car infront of him swerving between lanes and going real slow, trying to keep another car from passing it. He pulled up behind them and watched for a minute . Then saw an opening and gunned it to pass them both. He was in a Ford f150 and looked down and saw 3 black men in the swerving car but didn’t yell or do anything mean, just blew by them. They sped up and followed him, yelling and making gestures. They came to a stoplight and Doug was in the left lane behind other cars. The 3 men pulled up beside him in the right lane so close to the truck that his passenger door was blocked by their car. His son in the passenger seat was terrified as 2 of the men got out of the car and started walking around the back of the truck reaching in their pants for something. Doug was completely blocked in by other cars and a concrete median wall. He was lucky to have an old single shot 410 shotgun behind the seat that he had been teaching his son to shoot clay with that day. He grabbed it and jumped out of the truck pointing it at the 2 men. It wasn’t loaded but they didn’t know and were very frightened and put their hands up.
He held them there until the light changed and cars started moving again. He told them to get back in their car and leave as he held the gun on them until they were gone. His son was freaking out and he tried to calm him down as they continued on. He was pulled over by police a few minutes later and they arressted him and took his crying son in a separate car to the station. The 3 men had called the police on him. He explained what happened but he was the bad guy with a gun and had to post bail and after several hours was given his son back. He went to court and the charges were dropped because the guy that called the cops didn’t show. It so happened he had a long criminal history and had outstanding warrants. Doug finally got his shotgun back from impound after a couple months. He should have called the police first instead of letting them go but in situations like that its hard to think, he just wanted to end the conflict as quick as possible. This wasn’t in a bad neighborhood either, so it can happen anywhere. I just thought this story was relevant to your post, sorry for writing a novel on here.