how to handle someone with road rage?

Commuting to work this morning, I turned off of Hubbard and turned onto Green Street and signaled a left turn onto Kinzie and followed all traffic laws in the process. A jerk in his suit and silver Audi came up behind me and got within inches of hitting me while I was waiting on a cement truck to make the left turn. I turned around and told him to "watch it" because his bumper was about an inch from my rear tire. He proceeded to lose his sh*t on me...I mean screaming, cussing, flailing about in the driver seat like he was having a seizure...I thought he was going to floor it and put me under his wheels....I quickly turned left and cut off the cement truck making the turn and a car because I was actually that concerned for my life. What's do you do in these situations?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on May 10, 2012 at 6:25am

Be offended all you want, but it's folly to think that you'll have an effect on that guy, no matter what you do...

Permalink Reply by spencewine on May 10, 2012 at 6:28am

I don't know, I think the thumbs up/unicorn idea sounds pretty promising.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on May 10, 2012 at 6:31am

It might make you feel better about yourself, and it's better than escalating the situation. I'm just saying I'd shrug it off and ignore him.

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on May 10, 2012 at 7:38am

i usually keep looking forward and do the middle finger/left arm drop.

i just leave it hanging there until it's time to turn.

maybe they notice, maybe they don't.

 

 

Permalink Reply by your duncle on May 10, 2012 at 9:47am

Do not do anything, ever, until you have their license plate number!  Once they realize that you can identify them, they shut up and take off.  Works every time.  I'd even say "like a charm".  But if they are stupid enough to do something even dumber, you will at least you have something the police can work with.  Think Sharpie rubber-banded to the stem, write in the handlebars.

Once you have their plate number, then you can say something snappy. I have found that "SHARE the road" is usually enough.

Permalink Reply by blair on May 10, 2012 at 3:46pm

Yep - I like to yell the cab# out to aggressive cabbies, too.

h' said:

I start yelling out their license plate number repeatedly as loud as I can in a situation where it looks like they may physically act out. It attracts attention/witnesses, and also reminds the perp that he's not about to act out in a vacuum. It also helps you remember the license plate number if need be.

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on May 11, 2012 at 5:56am

I use the thumbs up, or occasionally scream... after I move myself out of a position where they could hit me if they wanted. 

Permalink Reply by Joe Sak on May 11, 2012 at 7:15am

Carry one of those big ass chain locks on your waist. When drivers start giving you shit, just grab it in one hand and stare them down.

The more shit they give, the more you remove it from your waist.

Never fails.

Permalink Reply by Ryan L on May 11, 2012 at 8:19am

In my experience, here in Chicago at least, drivers of BMW's and Audi's are the most dangerous, impatient drivers, after cabbies of course. I wish I could understand what it is about those two brands that give drivers such a feeling of entitlement, but I swear, 9/10, the people trying to run me off the road and who take the time to get verbally violent with me are one of those two groups.

I've read reports proving drivers of luxury cars are more aggressive and break the laws more often, especially at intersections, but I would love to read a study separating the different car brands and their relation to driving practices. I would wager all of my savings that at least here in this city, BMW and Audi would come out on top in a study of dangerous and dickish driving. 

Another thing I find fascinating, every single person I see driving a Mercedes is on the phone while driving. I know that sounds like a bold statement but the next time you see a Mercedes, take the time to notice where their hands are placed, one on the wheel, and the other on a phone. They might as well be drunk.

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on May 11, 2012 at 8:49am

I will agree with BMW, have yet had any experiences with Audi's, but Range Rovers/Land Rovers whatever those big ugly boxes are called, usually are horrible.  I think you have to have a special jack-ass permit to drive them. Mercedes drivers can be awful, too.  Taxis and buses rank up there as well.

It's funny you mention the cell phone thing. My boss drives a Mercedes- the only time he has ever been pulled over is because he was talking on cell. 

As far as what I do when someone is acting irrationally in their vehicle- I try to ignore them or just shrug and give them the confused look. If they are particularly aggressive or nasty, sometimes I yell at them "Please don't kill me/hit me/hurt me!" loud enough so anyone within earshot will hear it- usually people will stare at the aggressive driver or at his/her car to make them feel stupid or cause the driver to pause and stop their behavior. 


Ryan L said:

In my experience, here in Chicago at least, drivers of BMW's and Audi's are the most dangerous, impatient drivers, after cabbies of course. I wish I could understand what it is about those two brands that give drivers such a feeling of entitlement, but I swear, 9/10, the people trying to run me off the road and who take the time to get verbally violent with me are one of those two groups.

Another thing I find fascinating, every single person I see driving a Mercedes is on the phone while driving. I know that sounds like a bold statement but the next time you see a Mercedes, take the time to notice where their hands are placed, one on the wheel, and the other on a phone. They might as well be drunk.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 11, 2012 at 8:54am

Followed closely by Toyota Prius drivers.  They are nearly as bad as the BMW drivers.   Volvo drivers are pretty bad too. It's like they have already resigned themselves to crashing into everything in their path and have decided to just buy the safest car they can think of to save at least themselves as they careen into things (and other people.) 

I don't know what motivates the Prius owners to drive like such jerks.  Perhaps they think they've done their part to save the earth and are entitled to drive like total J-hooks. 

Ryan L said:

In my experience, here in Chicago at least, drivers of BMW's and Audi's are the most dangerous, impatient drivers, after cabbies of course

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on May 11, 2012 at 9:03am

Oh yes, I forgot about Prius- I've been pushed into the curb by a Prius a couple of times- same lady driver, screaming at me to get out of the road (I was on the sharrow side of the lane both times, btw).  As a driver of a Volvo, I do have to admit that due to the safety factor of the car, James is pretty correct in his assessment that most Volvo owners don't really care about crashing and drive accordingly- although I make it a point to only crash into inanimate objects- such as other cars, posts, garages, etc. This is why my main transport is a bicycle.  I am super aware of cyclists when I do drive, though, so please don't worry.  :p 

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