4x4 vs. van

[HotelMinion]

So I'm cruisin down the right lane at the speed limit, 65 mph. I'm on the HOV lane, which is notorious for accidents. On my left I see a van moving just as "slow" as I was . Behind that van zooms in a huge 4x4. I could see it was full of youngs lads up to no good. The 4x4 starts tailgating the van, flashing its lights, trying to make it go faster so it can pass it. Mind you, we were all at the speed limit. Van doesn't like being flashed. It hit the brakes. 4x4 doesn't brake. I swear I thought they were going to hit, so I veered away just in case. Finally 4x4 hits the brakes, cruises over to my lane, crosses over so its in front of the van, and hits ITS brakes. WTF? Seriously? Cause an accident because of road rage? Well the van hits its brakes and slows down, I'm the driver in there is shaken. The 4x4 speeds up and disappears. I could hear the boys laughing loudly in there as they went like hyenas.
I was going to write down their license plate, but it happened so quick. Crazy people.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

This is why when an asshole who has been harassing you passes you, immediately slow down substantially. They will fly around you much faster and wider than they intended, and any foolishness they might be planning will be thwarted because you'll be far enough behind them that any brake slamming won't cause a problem.

Couple times assholes have tried this with me, and it never works. One really memorable time, the chick that was trying to do it was really obvious about it. And then when it didn't work, she kept trying to slow down to "make me tailgate". You can't make anyone tailgate any more than you can make them go faster.

Frustrated, she jerked down the road at increasingly slower speeds, repeatedly hitting her brakes in angry frustration, only to find me so far behind her I barely had to react. It was sad.

Kind of makes you wonder why they pull stuff like that if they are so all fired in a hurry to begin with.

[Evandril]

Van doesn't like being flashed. It hit the brakes. 4x4 doesn't brake.

That's the part that gets me...You see a vehicle full of idiots, and you decide provoking them is a good idea? And/or trusting that they are paying enough attention to *not* hit me? Personally, I just get out of their way, let them cause problems far in front of me, instead of trying to block them. Then again, if I'm not passing, I'm not in the left lane, so it'd be a fairly moot point for me. Deliberatly being annoying, and then being surprised at road rage seems slightly silly, IMO

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I don't do the slam on brakes thing anyway. I don't want to be in an accident. I do however, carefully slow down, because if I am going to be in an accident, I'd rather it be a low speed one. Also, if I slow down, they can pass easier, although they seldom do. It's not usually about them wanting to get somewhere. It seems to me it's really more about them wanting to be a bully.

I'm not trying to be provocative, although the idiots trying to bully me probably think I am. That's their problem. But I'm sure as heck not going to speed up and drive faster. I WANT them to go around me. And if they won't, well, I'm not going to volunteer to be rear ended at a high speed, either. So they can either pass, or go very slowly. I'm good with either.

[PepperElf]

someone did it to my bf once ... the brake-check that is. he was pissed. i didn't have the heart to tell him that "well dear you were riding their ass a bit" (cos we were already both in bad moods)


but to jump in front of someone JUST TO slam the brakes? Yeah that's fucking illegal. asshatcockwallets

[Arcus]

Something to keep in mind about driving in the left lane. In many areas if a car is going faster than you comes up behind you when you are in the left lane, you are required to move over. It doesn't matter if they are speeding and you are doing the speed limit. You can still get a ticket for not keeping up with the flow of traffic (that's what they call it here and I have seen the non speeder get pulled over rather than the speeder.)

[seigus]

Like Kinkoid, I'd just prefer for them to go away. I ALWAYS get out of the way of tailgaiting cars (when safe and legal), whether I'm going the speed limit or not. I know there are those who won't, saying "I'm going the limit! Too bad for them!" I understand that, but if there are angry aggressive drivers I would rather them be in front of me getting further and further away rather than piling up behind me...

[Captain Trips]

These days, I tend to be careful about "brake checks." They are useful for letting someone who is obviously oblivious (hey, I like that phrase) know they are getting to close. But there was that one time...

I hit the brakes gently, because he was so close I couldn't even see his headlights. He did the ol' jump-around-and-SLAM-on-the-brakes shit, but I expected it and was too far back (like Kinkoid's technique.) But for some reason, around 10 miles down the road, he had slowed down, was in the second-to-right lane, and I ended up cruising past him -- just as he was rolling down his window. Next thing I know, HE FRELLING SHOT AT ME!!! Talk about road rage - to remember my car ten miles down the road and still feeling such rage! Fortunately, he was a lousy shot, completely missed me. But it took me a few minutes once I got to work to unwind.

I want to live out in the country. The percentage of idiot drivers isn't less, but the shear numbers are!

[Andara Bledin]

I prefer to let the idiots get ahead of me, where I can keep an eye on them and not be involved in the accidents they'll be getting themselves in.

^-.-^