[DMCForum] Re: The Angry Highway.

["Dave" <v-davidj@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ignore my earlier question about where this came from...I wasn't
reading any of the SUV posts, and I am assuming this is where your
post spawned from.

One more thing I forgot to mention....don't mess with Semi trucks. 
Cutting one off...extremely bad idea.  Leave those guys out of your
trouble...they have enough to worry about.

Dave Jacobs


--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Dave" <v-davidj@xxxx> wrote:
> 
> Robert...
> 
> Holy crap man!  You feel better?  Where did this come from?
> 
> One thing I think you forgot to mention is that some people just
> frankly don't know what the hell they are doing.  They are so
> ignorant about the laws and the capabilities of their vehicles that
> they make foolish moves.  I.e.  Austin Powers style U turn in a major
> intersection during rush hour (my fav), not taking a free right at a
> stop light, and everyone's favorite, riding in the passing lane
> at or below the posted speed limit.  
> 
> I personally feel that road rage isn't the problem, yet a side
> effect of other problems such as inadequate drivers' education.  I
> believe that more aggressive education and testing is the key. 
> Let's not give a license to just any monkey who can fill in the
> circle with a #2 pencil.  Some people are also very timid and
> intimidated by their vehicles or other vehicles around them, so they
> drive extremely cautiously which usually means slow and clumsy.
> 
> I think that you have a lot of interesting things to say, and while I
> certainly agree with most of what you have said, others I am not so
> sure about.
> 
> I.e.  Part 3. The Duel.
> 
> If someone is tailgating you and flashing you, don't ignore it. 
> Simply get out of the way.  If you are not in a rush, then you should
> have plenty of time to just move over and get out of the way.  How do
> you know that this person isn't rushing to get to a hospital or some
> other emergency?  Furthermore, if you slow this person down now, just
> means they may go even faster once they get past you to make up for
> lost time and may become even more aggressive putting someone else in
> danger.  Or simply get pissed at you and then you become a target. 
> Why waste your time by getting involved with them?  So much easier to
> just move out of the way?and if it makes you feel better, call
> him any one of several creative colloquialisms as he passes. (I know
> this forum has many to choose from)
> 
> A philosophy my father passed onto me when I got my drivers license
> has always kept me out of trouble and safe.  Simply put, don't be
> an obstacle.  Be aware of everything around you and stay out of the
> way.  If I'm doing 80mph in the fast lane, and someone is
> barreling up on me, I check to make sure it's safe to move over,
> and do so.  What's so hard about that?  I certainly agree with you
> that people taking matters into their own hands and becoming self
> imposed Police Officers contribute to, if not incite, road rage.
> 
> He also said, if you cut someone off or pull a stupid move,
> acknowledge it by giving a wave.  Even if you don't think you did
> anything wrong, waving, most of the time, can calm situations before
> they get heated.  Just this morning, I cut around this guy who was
> bobbing and weaving through the lanes at 25mph on a 40mph road trying
> to figure out where he wanted to be.  We were the only ones on the
> road at the ass crack of dawn this morning, so I gunned it and went
> around him so I wouldn't miss the light.  I had plenty of room
> and my maneuver wasn't close to him or highly dangerous however my
> going around him really pissed him off?so he gunned it and got
> right on my ass.  I gave him a simple wave, and he backed off.  It may
> not always work for some of the psychos out there, but a simple
> gesture to acknowledge, as you mentioned, that there is a fellow human
> being the other car etc. will go a long ways towards preventing road
> rage.
> 
> BTW?you will be glad to know that I don't judge people by the
> cars they drive, but rather by how they drive that car.  And as a
> Volvo driver myself, I can assure you that I haul balls with the best
> of them.  ;-)
> 
> Just my small contribution.  Nice write up though?I am curious
> about the inspiration behind it.
> 
> Thanks, and have a great weekend!
> Dave Jacobs
> 
> --- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "therealdmcvegas" <dmcvegas@xxxx>
> wrote:
> > 
> > Road Rage is a very interesting subject. EVERYONE does it, yet no
> one
> > admits to it. Everyone says that it's a problem, yet refuses to
> admit
> > to it's causes. And while everyone agrees that it's demonstrated by
> > aggressive driving, no one will accept the fact that it also
> > encompasses the polar opposite of over-passive driving.
> > 
> > Part 1: The Accelerating Aggressor.
> > 
> > I've run people out of their lanes, and people have run me out of
> > mine. I've shaken people so bad that they've had to pull over and
> > stop, and I've had someone point a revolver in my face. I've raced
> > someone @ over 80-mph in sleet on a highway with no visibility, and
> > I've slammed my brakes for force the tailgating car behind me lose
> > control. I've been forced into the curb by a drunk driver, and I
> > shoved his truck over the sidewalk with his family inside on their
> way
> > to church when I saw them again. And I'll never forget that image of
> > when everything went silent at dusk. The concrete divider lit up,
> and
> > became brighter, and more focused like a flashlight as it shrank.
> And
> > then the shower of sparks as it collided at high speeds with an old
> > Buick, and the view of it's exhaust system as it flipped, and the
> > disappearance of it's tail lights as it pushed to the side from the
> > GMC delivery truck behind it that slammed into it's roof when it
> > landed in front of it.
> > 
> > I am that person who has zipped in and out of traffic. I'm also the
> > person in front of you who purposefully drove slow, so you couldn't
> > pass when you were in a hurry. I'm the person who honks when you
> don't
> > pull out when the traffic is clear, and I'll pass you in the
> emergency
> > lane on the onramp when you refuse to speed up to merge with
> traffic.
> > I gawk at you when you're battered and bleeding on the side of the
> > road. I'll cut you off, honk at you, flip you off, scream at you,
> > swerve into you, and generally terrorize you for reasons that only
> > make sense in my own mind at the time. And just like when you do
> that
> > to me, I'll be wondering what in the hell is wrong with you.
> > 
> > The most frightening part about this isn't that I'm still driving
> > around on the road. It's not that I was given a license, It's not
> that
> > I've lost allot of fear on the highway. And it doesn't matter if I
> get
> > caught, because I'll just worm my way out of it, because I learned
> to
> > work the system. No. The absolute most frightening thing here is
> that
> > I'm just like you, and neither of us will admit to it. Nor will we
> > ever sit down to erase this problem, because we refuse to take
> > responsibility in both our actions, and our admittance that we're
> > doing this to fellow human beings.
> > 
> > Picture it this way. You're coming up on traffic, be it on the
> > highway, surface street, or even at a stoplight. You're not in an
> > angry mood. He'll, you're not even late for anything. But you will
> > 'shop' the cars in front of you. Like a bargain hunter in a store
> > who's looking for the best value in order to save money, you're
> gonna
> > examine the cars in front of you to see who's gonna help you get to
> > your destination faster, and thus save time. And it always starts
> like
> > this:
> > 1. How many cars are in each lane?
> > Less cars means less delay.
> > 
> > 2. What kind of vehicles are in each lane?
> > And this is a biggie. You don't want to get behind a bus that goes
> > slow, and consistently stops. And who the hell wants to follow a
> > lumbering tractor-trailer.
> > 
> > And if you are in a hurry, then question #3 is the beginning of road
> rage.
> > 
> > 3. Which drivers in front of me will accelerate faster?
> > And so we begin to dehumanize other drivers on the road. We don't
> see
> > a young woman on her way to work who has prospects in life, we don't
> > see the father of two kids and a loving wife, we don't see grandpa
> who
> > fought polio and WW2, we don't see a student on their way to learn
> and
> > change the world with their soon to be acquired knowledge. And most
> > importantly, we don't see ourselves in these other people.
> > 
> > No we see Volvos that are typically slow drivers, VW's that
> sometimes
> > speed up, pickup trucks that are a 50-50 shot, Hondas that are
> > aggressive idiot drivers (remember that one that cut you off),
> asshat
> > Corvette owner, you know that he's gonna peel out just to show off.
> > SUVs that we know are driven by people who are oblivious to
> themselves
> > and everyone around them. God I hate SUVs. I doubt the person behind
> > the wheel even knows how to drive that thing. If they wreck, it's
> > their own fault...
> > 
> > And thus we have dehumanized our fellow human beings. We don't see
> > individuals with lives in these cars. We only see the machine. And
> > based upon what we figure "the average driver of one" is like, we
> > believe that all of these cars are that way. We don't share the road
> > with other drivers, we only see the cattle of motor vehicles on the
> > road, being herded mindlessly around. But we know where we're going,
> > we are an individual, we are better than these fools. We can drive,
> we
> > know our vehicles, we know where we're going, and we believe that
> all
> > this somehow makes us better.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Part 2: The Decelerating Aggressor.
> > 
> > Now, just because a driver is going faster than a driver in another
> > car, that does not make them more dangerous. Nor especially does
> that
> > make the faster driver more aggressive.
> > 
> > Yes, people that drive too slow are as great a danger as those who
> > drive too fast. Moreso, dependent upon the situation. A group of
> > drivers can typically slow down simultaneously, with no problem.
> Such
> > as when everyone suddenly sees a police officer. However, a slower
> > driver can throw a money wrench into this situation, when faster
> > drivers are not prepared for them.
> > 
> > Slower, impeding drivers can be broker down into two distinct
> > categories of both passive, and aggressive.
> > 
> > When someone who drives too slow for current conditions, such as
> > inclimate weather, or even in an unfamiliar city can greatly put
> > everyone at risk with their actions. Yes, this is illegal, but it
> > doesn't just apply to a scared grandma out on the interstate doing
> > 30-mph. No. Some states have a posted speed limit, BUT also include
> > regulations that state that you must also maintain a safe speed,
> > dependent upon traffic conditions. So if you're out in the sticks
> > sharing an empty highway with triple trailer freight semis doing
> > 80-mph on flat highway, you're a danger if you go slower than they
> do.
> > A 54' trailer can weight up to 80,000 pounds fully loaded, and isn't
> > easy to stop. So how do you think it's gonna be for a tractor
> pulling
> > 3 30' trailers? Or any other vehicle hauling messy cargo from
> liquid,
> > to perishables, to live animals?
> > 
> > This type of driver that I speak of is a passive hazard. The root
> > problem that we have with this person here, is a quite selfish
> > attitude. For whatever reason that they have, be it intimidation of
> > the road, lack of urgency in reaching their destination, etc, these
> > are VERY dangerous drivers. These drivers care nothing about other
> > people on the road. They place their own safety and comfort above
> > everyone else's. Why? They typically figure that since THEY are
> > traveling at a safe speed, that it's EVERYONE ELSE who is causing
> > problems! And it's the same dehumanization factor. If someone else
> > wrecks, it's their fault because of the way they're driving. And
> NEVER
> > would they be figured into the factor of being a danger to anyone
> > else. After all, they believe that they themselves are operating
> their
> > cars in a condition that they deem *safe*. So obviously, it's
> everyone
> > else that's at fault.
> > 
> > And of course, there is the aggressive decelerating driver. The one
> > that causes the most problems, places the most people in danger,
> > angers the most people, and is the one that EVERYONE is guilty of
> being.
> > 
> > A sadistic driver that chooses to actually anger other people, and
> > inspire rage. Their actions can be as passive as gently
> decelerating,
> > to hard braking, to actually changing lanes & cutting other drivers
> > off, just to prevent them from getting ahead. And this is what
> causes
> > "Road Rage" as we know it, in the overwhelming majority of
> instances.
> > Yes, someone who cuts you off to get ahead of you is aggressive,
> yes.
> > But the fact remains that they're not sticking around to try and
> piss
> > you off. You were simply in the way, they wanted to get ahead, and
> now
> > they're gone. While this is rude and dangerous, yes, they didn't
> have
> > anything personally against you. You just happened to be there, and
> > they're gone as quickly as they came.
> > 
> > However, it's these aggressive decelerators that are causing allot
> of
> > the real problems. Where as someone whose speeding just passes you,
> > and doesn't think twice, these are people who are actually going
> after
> > you. Why? They're gonna teach you a lesson. That's right. The idea
> of
> > retribution, fueled by some twisted spur of the moment logic that
> > justifies this act in their mind. Maybe you did something a ways
> back
> > down the highway, and they're now just catching up? Maybe they saw
> you
> > coming, and wanted to stop you from speeding by them? Maybe they're
> > fed up, and now have the chance to exert their aggression onto you.
> > "Fucking rice rockets. Think they own the road, cutting people off."
> > And so the goal is to teach these people a lesson. These people whom
> > we generalize as "bad", or "unsafe drivers". "They're putting my
> life
> > at risk, just so they can show off. Think they're so good. Moron
> > doesn't know a thing about cars." And that's all they justification
> > needed, to pull out and cut someone off. Or to swerve into them. Or
> > worse yet, sneak up on them, and then do whatever.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Part 3: The Duel.
> > 
> > It's on. Two people are going to have it out at high speeds. Let's
> say
> > that you are on the receiving end of things. Let me now explain to
> you
> > what's going to happen. But keep in mind that the aggressor's idea
> > here is simply to try and intimidate/hurt you WITHOUT damaging their
> > own vehicle. This is an important idea to keep in mind.
> > 
> > I tailgate you. Resist the urge to tap on your brakes. Instead drive
> > as you normally would and ignore me. Don't be a dipshit and do the
> > speed limit. That just tells me that I'm intimidating you, and thus
> > winning. drive normal, even if I flash my highbeams. And If I turn
> > them on, ignore them. I'll get bored and eventually leave, when I
> see
> > this shit is pointless. I'll think you're a moron, but I'll leave.
> If
> > not, keep an eye on me, and let's move on.
> > 
> > Two people are in the car, and are creeping up on the driver's side.
> > This means that they are getting ready to throw something at you.
> Wait
> > until the car is a little past half way on you. Then quickly, but
> > gently swerve into it. They'll over react. At this point change
> lanes
> > further into them, but go no more than halfway into their lane, and
> > then retract back into yours. The drive will be scared, and will
> most
> > likely be so shaken that they'll enter into a state of shock, and
> will
> > not be able to keep up with you. A brush with mortality can to
> > wonders, and with just a couple of gentle moves, you'll remain safe.
> > 
> > Now let's say that this doesn't work, or perhaps this opportunity
> > never presents itself, and the other driver is now tailgating you,
> and
> > will not let you go. You change lanes, they change lanes, and will
> > never pass you. You can try going to your local police station, that
> > is an option. But if you're not, there is another option. When
> someone
> > follows you that closely, they have tunnel vision. Use this to your
> > advantage. And if boredom doesn't work, there is an alternative.
> Find
> > an semi truck. With the aggressor in tow, cut the truck off. When
> the
> > car pulls up, swerve into it's front end. That should accomplish the
> > previous of sending the driver into shock, or getting them to crash.
> > (Note: use a semi for this cause, because regular cars/trucks slow
> > down too fast, and will just open up a gap for the aggressor)
> > 
> > Finally, trying to run a tailgater into a barrier, or an abandoned
> car
> > by swerving at the last second is a dangerous proposition. Unless
> you
> > REALLY know your vehicle, and can successfully duck out of the way
> in
> > time, the risk for you is actually greater, and isn't as successful.
> > BUT, if you're in a car with great handling like the DeLorean, tight
> > turns on interchange ramps can be your friend. People don't realize
> > that your car can handle things that theirs cannot. So if you whip
> > around a tight turn that they cannot negotiate, let they wreck.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Part 4: The Cause and Solution.
> > 
> > Part of the problem with road rage is our highway infrastructure.
> And
> > you can see this with new roads that are built. For high traffic
> areas
> > where speeding is a concern, engineers will purposefully build
> > narrower lanes. The idea behind this is if other cars are in a
> closer
> > proximity of other traveling vehicles, this will psychologically
> place
> > fear into the drivers, thus they will slow down. However, this logic
> > is SEVERELY flawed, as they highways themselves become overburdened
> by
> > increased traffic flow.
> > 
> > Take rats, and place them into a box. If you cram more rodents into
> > that box than it was designed to handle, the rats will become
> > aggressive. So much so to the point where they will bite their own
> > tails off just to make more room, and to vent their frustrations.
> And
> > it's the same with the highways.
> > 
> > Plus there is the frustrations of people in life, and how they vent
> > themselves out. You take a person who is angry on the inside, and
> put
> > them into a situation where they have anonymity towards other
> people,
> > and don't see whom the other person is, and they will be complete
> > assholes, if not monsters. Just look at internet message boards like
> > this one. We view everyone as humans, because most of us have a face
> > to put with whom we interact with. No one here is anonymous, because
> > we all have an identity of some sort that we've created for each
> > other. Now, look at the DML with people like "checksix" who remain
> > anonymous, and are total aggressors, because none of us know each
> > other. When you don't view another human being as an individual, you
> > loose MANY inhibitions when it comes to how you act out towards
> them.
> > 
> > We cut a Chevy off, forced an SUV to slow down, we got ahead of that
> > rock hauler. We never realize nor say, "I got ahead of that car by
> > putting that person's life in danger." Or the flip side, that Camaro
> > is driving like maniac, that Honda has been weaving in and out of
> > traffic! We don't like to say the driver of said vehicle did this.
> > After all, it's not the cars' "fault". It's just a machine that
> > demonstrates the actions of the person in control of it. As a
> result,
> > we treat vehicles as if they were living entities. We simply
> endanger
> > and damage them, and not the people inside, since we refuse to
> > acknowledge their existence during these split-second decisions. Go
> > out for a drive now, and question yourself about how you view other
> > cars on the road. The cars almost always come first, before other
> > drivers. And if you don't quite get what I'm saying, read this
> > paragraph over again, and compare the statements above to ones that
> > you yourself have made in traffic.
> > 
> > -Robert

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