Road Rage Stories

[DMZ]

I am willing to bet everyone who rides has experienced situations where drivers in cars/trucks/semi's have intentionally tried to do you harm. I have been subjected to thown objects, attempts to run me off the road, intimidation and other forms of road harassment.

I would like to here from other's concerning their worst or most frightening experience (not near misses by blind idiot or drunks, but intentional attempts to do you harm) and how you reacted or resolved it, with a goal of trying to understand why we, as motorcyclist, seem to bring out the very worst in some people.

I was thinking about this as I had an experience two days ago:

Was coming home from a long trip to visit my ailing parents.
Was stopped at an intersection on a State Route waiting for the light to turn green.

Light turns green and I move into the intersection. Guy in a white late model chevy truck turns right in front of me. I notice he is talking on a hand held phone and figure the idiot was not paying attention.

I make an evasive manuever to the left and go around him using the passing lane.

About a mile down the highway I see him coming up on me and he gets right on my tail. I think he will pass as there is no oncoming traffic in what is now a two lane highway. No, he tailgates me at 60 mph.

I speed up to 70-75 lose him, but he stays with me. I know there is a cut-off coming up (a twisty paved county road) so I take it up to 85-90 get there quickly. He stays with me.

I take the cut-off and keep my speed up. I notice he has done the same and is trying to catch up.

Now I ignore him and focus on maximizing my advantage on this winding, dipping farm road. I slowly lose him and get home shortly after that.

I was perplexed.

What set him off? My quick evasive move around him? What was he planning to do? Just scare me? What if I would have pulled over? Why did he obviously go out of his way to screw with me?

[dhaynes]

a) they get set off before they get in their cars... they're just looking for an opportunity to vent when a car or bike happens along.

b) it's got some sort of social background - because now as many women seem to do it as men. In the "old days" it seemed like it was only guys that would fly off the handle (notable exception - the fat middle aged woman who chased me down and threatened to run me over back in the late 70's because I had an "I Lost It" bumper sticker on my van)

c) it's associated with political/religious beliefs and attitudes. They've declared their views "superior" and had the superiority of their views "confirmed" over and over by some radio/television show they listen to. Doesn't take much before they become the next leader of North Korea - in their own little heads at least... and anything they do is therefore justified and good.

I think maybe more important than why they do it is what to do when they _do_ do it. My personal feeling is that these people will continue to do such things as long as they can get away scott-free with it. At the very least it should be reported to the highway patrol or whoever. It seems to me if like it's a big disservice to others to not at least report the encounter so that when they finally do hurt someone they can't get away with it.

I'm sure the LEOs out there must have some sort of 'quick checklist' for when something bizarre happens, don't they? Stuff like time, color, make, model, license etc.?

I've harped on it before - my GPS is on all the time even if it's just a ride to the store for milk. If someone goes ballistic on me and I go to the cops, they're going to have explain how my GPS shows me riding in a straight line at the speed limit when they rampaged.

I also try to keep the helmet camera on as much as possible. It's a hassle, but worth it if something happens. I've got it mounted on the beak of the GSA and it's a pretty good piece of insurance. Like the GPS even if it doesn't capture specific details it will clearly show a long history of safe/sane riding leading up to any encounter. As cheap as DVD+R discs are I can archive 20% (one per week) of my commute videos for less than $2 a month.

(I can see me in court with camera footage Jury:"All we can see is the sky, where' the road?" Me:"Yes, yes, just wait a minute the wheelie ends in a second and then you can see the guy pulling out in front of me..." :p)

[ecujim]

It could be jealousy and envy.

Once i was riding in the andes, and i passed a small SUV, soon he was tailgating me, there were many thight curves on that road and i lost him many times but he was trying very hard to catch up, that continued for about about 30 minutes, i lost him easily, then i relaxed and he was there again, it was not safe for either one, so i decided to lose him again and pulled over, i waited for him to pass, he slowed down and he honked 3 times and gave me thumbs up.

[k7]

Originally Posted by ecujim

It could be jealousy and envy.

Once i was riding in the andes, and i passed a small SUV, soon he was tailgating me, there were many thight curves on that road and i lost him many times but he was trying very hard to catch up, that continued for about about 30 minutes, i lost him easily, then i relaxed and he was there again, it was not safe for either one, so i decided to lose him again and pulled over, i waited for him to pass, he slowed down and he honked 3 times and gave me thumbs up.

You sure it was a thumb? Why would he mess with you otherwise? Just trying to see how skilled you were?

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by dhaynes

a) they get set off before they get in their cars... they're just looking for an opportunity to vent when a car or bike happens along.

b) it's got some sort of social background - because now as many women seem to do it as men. In the "old days" it seemed like it was only guys that would fly off the handle (notable exception - the fat middle aged woman who chased me down and threatened to run me over back in the late 70's because I had an "I Lost It" bumper sticker on my van)

c) it's associated with political/religious beliefs and attitudes. They've declared their views "superior" and had the superiority of their views "confirmed" over and over by some radio/television show they listen to. Doesn't take much before they become the next leader of North Korea - in their own little heads at least... and anything they do is therefore justified and good.

I think maybe more important than why they do it is what to do when they _do_ do it. My personal feeling is that these people will continue to do such things as long as they can get away scott-free with it. At the very least it should be reported to the highway patrol or whoever. It seems to me if like it's a big disservice to others to not at least report the encounter so that when they finally do hurt someone they can't get away with it.

I'm sure the LEOs out there must have some sort of 'quick checklist' for when something bizarre happens, don't they? Stuff like time, color, make, model, license etc.?

I've harped on it before - my GPS is on all the time even if it's just a ride to the store for milk. If someone goes ballistic on me and I go to the cops, they're going to have explain how my GPS shows me riding in a straight line at the speed limit when they rampaged.

I also try to keep the helmet camera on as much as possible. It's a hassle, but worth it if something happens. I've got it mounted on the beak of the GSA and it's a pretty good piece of insurance. Like the GPS even if it doesn't capture specific details it will clearly show a long history of safe/sane riding leading up to any encounter. As cheap as DVD+R discs are I can archive 20% (one per week) of my commute videos for less than $2 a month.

(I can see me in court with camera footage Jury:"All we can see is the sky, where' the road?" Me:"Yes, yes, just wait a minute the wheelie ends in a second and then you can see the guy pulling out in front of me..." :p)

I'm pretty sure yer full of it with C. I doubt it has much to do with religious/political beliefs and more to do with "you did X to me, therefore..."

M

[Curtis]

Originally Posted by k7lro

You sure it was a thumb? Why would he mess with you otherwise? Just trying to see how skilled you were?

Gerry, Do you remember when we rode to Divisadero last October in Copper Canyon. There was a local I thought was trying to tailgate me and I was going so fast I thought it was dangerous on the corners. Funny thing he was in a small car. When I pulled off he flew by and he continued to drive the same way. Turns out he was just out enjoying the twisties like us.

[toothy]

Originally Posted by ecujim

It could be jealousy and envy.
...he slowed down and he honked 3 times and gave me thumbs up.

An excellent point. Jealous of the "freedom" of the biker.

I don't try to get in the mind of the road rager. To me they are a danger that I must avoid for my saftey. There can be any number of reasons for road rage, none of them are positive, so steer clear.

In a 4,000 pound box, they are nice and insulated with the reality of the stupid behavior. They can feel power and anonymity in an otherwise useless existance.

[Boon Booni]

Originally Posted by ecujim

It could be jealousy and envy.

Once i was riding in the andes, and i passed a small SUV, soon he was tailgating me, there were many thight curves on that road and i lost him many times but he was trying very hard to catch up, that continued for about about 30 minutes, i lost him easily, then i relaxed and he was there again, it was not safe for either one, so i decided to lose him again and pulled over, i waited for him to pass, he slowed down and he honked 3 times and gave me thumbs up.

You know, I did something like this once... About 10 years ago, I used to drive pretty hot.. I had a '84 300 Z and I thought I was the shit.. I used to get into those high speed drag races on the interstate and shit.. (hell I was 20)

One time in the mountains I was following a sport bike, and decided to try and race him in the twisties.. we would loose me in the tight stuff, but I could catch him when it straitened out some.. This went on for about 5-10 miles, until he finally pulled over and waved me on.. It hit me just then that he was afraid of me.. (I didn't really ride at the time so I couldn't relate) I felt pretty shitty, because right up to that second I thought he was playing just like I was...

Some times cagers just don't know the difference...

[mike54]

Originally Posted by Gramps

You know, I did something like this once... About 10 years ago, I used to drive pretty hot.. I had a '84 300 Z and I thought I was the shit.. I used to get into those high speed drag races on the interstate and shit.. (hell I was 20)

One time in the mountains I was following a sport bike, and decided to try and race him in the twisties.. we would loose me in the tight stuff, but I could catch him when it straitened out some.. This went on for about 5-10 miles, until he finally pulled over and waved me on.. It hit me just then that he was afraid of me.. (I didn't really ride at the time so I couldn't relate) I felt pretty shitty, because right up to that second I thought he was playing just like I was...

Some times cagers just don't know the difference...

I've had cars do that to me. You think they're trying to run you off the road or something and they're just playing. There was one time on Angeles Crest where there was some fat tired porche behind me and I couldn't loose him in the tight stuff so I pulled over and let him by. Thought I try to keep up with him. That lasted about 3 corners. That guy could drive and had the car to do it.

[k7]

Originally Posted by Curtis

Gerry, Do you remember when we rode to Divisadero last October in Copper Canyon. There was a local I thought was trying to tailgate me and I was going so fast I thought it was dangerous on the corners. Funny thing he was in a small car. When I pulled off he flew by and he continued to drive the same way. Turns out he was just out enjoying the twisties like us.

Yep. And the year before, Al & I tried to keep up with a freaking ambulance of all things and we both finally backed off and watched him race off ahead of us. I think we were afraid that the maniac would drive off a cliff before backing down.

[norton73]

couple years back riding in WV, we crested a hill that went down hill and into some tight switchbacks. We caught a BMW Z3 pretty quickly, the driver pulled over and let us by. When we got to the bottom, the road opens up to fast, 90+ sweepers along a river. I was on my K100RS, MsNorton and a friend were on their K75S's. The Z3 caught MsNorton, she pulled over to let it pass, the other guy on his K75S kept ahead of it, but couldn't pull away from it.
MsNorton was pretty impressed, she decided she had to have a Z3, got one this summer with a 3.0L and handling package.

[Rad]

It happens to me all the time on my commute through the Santa Cruz Mountains. I can't even count the 100's of times over 30+ years ride'n those tight 2 lane mountain roads it has happened. It has always been a "lets race kinda thing", almost never a road rage. I chase them, they chase me, just have'n fun. I do far less of it now, but still do it enough

[Queen]

When I had my Harley I had a woman change lanes into me on purpose. I was ATGATT and she decided that since I was on a black Harley I must be her ex-husband (cause you know there is only ONE black Harley out there ). So I kicked her door hard enough to leave a dent and at the next stop light yanked off my helmet and proceeded to rip her a new one...all the time she's saying "I thought you were my ex, I thought that was his bike".

That's the only time (that I know of) where someone was intentionally aiming for me and I wasn't even the right person.

[w1ley]

Originally Posted by ecujim

It could be jealousy and envy.

Once i was riding in the andes, and i passed a small SUV, soon he was tailgating me, there were many thight curves on that road and i lost him many times but he was trying very hard to catch up, that continued for about about 30 minutes, i lost him easily, then i relaxed and he was there again, it was not safe for either one, so i decided to lose him again and pulled over, i waited for him to pass, he slowed down and he honked 3 times and gave me thumbs up.

I drive from Boston to Northfield Minnesota a couple of times a year. Its a LLLLLOOOOONNNNNNGGGG and frequently boring ride. To overcome the boredom I will frequently find a truck/car/motorcycle and run with them. No harm. I just want something to do so I bird dog em for a while.


The guy was probably just having fun with you, then when you pulled over he waved as a "thanks for the fun" sort of gesture.

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by w1ley

I drive from Boston to Northfield Minnesota a couple of times a year. Its a LLLLLOOOOONNNNNNGGGG and frequently boring ride. To overcome the boredom I will frequently find a truck/car/motorcycle and run with them. No harm. I just want something to do so I bird dog em for a while.


The guy was probably just having fun with you, then when you pulled over he waved as a "thanks for the fun" sort of gesture.

There's usually a difference between "playing" and being an . Its hard to tell at first, but the "play" behaviour's not malicious, road rage is.

My $.02

M