Ugh! F#$#*%@^ people!!!

[andrewgd]

A very not fun thing happened to me today. I've already IMed it to friends, so I'll past it here, forgive me if its a little choppy.

So you know how you tap on your breaks to get people to back off who are tailgaiting you? well, there was this biker tailgaiting me, so I did that, and he ran into my bumper. then proceeded to swear at me. he didn't fall off his bike, but his tire squealed on my bumper. He then drove past me and was on his cellphone looking back at me. I got his licence, but wasn't going to stop, cause he was gesturing and all. we get to a light and he pulls up beside me. yelled at me and told me I was going to get beat. luckily that was my turn and he kept going but, even though there's a few turns to get to my house, if he was determined, and drove for a little while looking around, he could find it (my car is bright red too) I did call the police and reported it, gave them the licence number. But I'm still kinda freaking out...I think I heard a motorcycle drive slowly by about 10 minutes ago too. so yeah, I'm kinda freaking out.

Argh. Granted, I shouldn't have pushed on my breaks, but I didn't slam on them, I only slowed down like 5 mph. Its his fault all the way around, no matter how you look at it, but that doesn't save me from getting beat, or take away the chance that he'll show up at my door with a gun. Or his biker gang.

Ugh. Most definitely worried over nothing. But definitely worried.

[Natasha (candygirl)]

Andrew, you never know exactly how psychotic the other person is until it's too late! I had one guy follow me a couple extra miles and then pull up next to me, get out of the car, and start yelling at me - all because I DIDN'T peel out the second that the stoplight turned green. That incident made me see that people get totally irrational when they're that pissed. I mean, by the way he was honking at me as soon as the light turned green, I thought he was in a hurry, but given the fact that he followed me for so long, he must NOT have been in that much of a rush after all (or getting somewhere on time paled in comparison to trying to bully me). He followed me all the way to school and then started circling the parking lot after I got out of my car. What a frickin' nutjob.

I admit that I have a temper, but when other people get that upset I just don't get it. Of course, remaining calm while being sworn at usually riles the crazies up even more. What can I say? I have a way with people.



Seriously, that sucks. Can you park in the garage? Or take your car down to Earl Schwabb?

What really annoys me about stuff like this is that no matter how wrong anyone considers your actions, this situation is a result of the other person being wrong in the first place. I realize that sounds very 3rd grade ("he started it!") but it's true. If he hadn't been tailgating in the first place, none of this would have happened! If it makes you feel any better, he's down at least two on the karma scale while at most you're down one. I dream of a world where people take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming others and throwing hissy fits.

[JPP13]

andrew, in all honesty, if he had been hurt, you would have been liable (perhaps). Be careful with that.

[Natasha (candygirl)]

I'm not sure about that - in most situations like that, the person who is behind is responsible. Of all the people I know who have been in rear-ending accidents, the person in back was always found to be responsible by the insurance companies (which is not always fair, mind you).

[andrewgd]

Exactly. Motorcycles are supposed to keep twice the distance behind as cars should. I was going 55, he should have been at least 10 car lengths behind me. He was, at best, 3/4 of a car length. I tapped my break and slowed to 50 (which was the speed limit). Then he hit me. I have always heard that, no matter what (unless the person is backing up) the person from behind was the one who is at fault when hitting a car.

The only way it could ever so slightly be my fault is if I slammed on my breaks for the sole reason of getting him to hit me. I have any number of reasons I slowed down. One, I realized I was 5 mph over the speed limit. Two, I knew there was a 35 mph zone coming up. Three, I think I saw a squirrel by the side of the road.

Needless to say, I think I may just run over the squirrel next time.

[starbug]

I don't think it was your fault, andrew. I have always heard that if someone runs into the back of you, it is pretty open and shut that it is their fault. It's careless driving not to keep the correct distance between your vehicle and the car in front. Sounds pretty clear to me that this guy wasn't doing that.

Can understand why you're uneasy though. One incident springs to mind that's similar. I was a passenger in the car my now ex-boyfriend was driving (we were both 17 at the time). We came (as is usual in England) to a road with parked cars on either side, and no room for two cars to pass. Someone was going to have to pull over. There were cars coming the other way, and we had been sitting there a few minutes. I wouldn't say that we pushed our way through, but we'd been waiting some time letting other cars past and eventually had to assert ourselves or sit there forever. Anyway, we asserted ourselves against the wrong person. He swore at us as we drove past, actually turned his car around and tailgated us all the way through the town centre until we left the town and got on the dual carriageway. He was gesturing wildly all the time.

To say I was unsettled would be an understatement, so I know exactly how you feel. At some point, you have to encounter these creeps. Maybe one day he will himself pick on the wrong person

[Sascha]

Oh, I hate these situations too. I drive a not-very-powerful 8year old Peugeot 106 Diesel. In Germany are usually no speedlimits on highways, so it happens from time to time that I'm in the process of passing a truck at around 120km/h when I see in the rearview mirror some huge Mercedes/Porsche/Audi/BMW/whatever rapidly approaching with over 200km/h. Although the driver in the car behind should know even from many kilometers away that my tiny car just CANT drive any faster even if I wanted to, they get as close as possible, obviously trying to get in my trunk . Safety distance? What's that?

Last month, a young mother and her child were killed here after some of these Mercedes-assholes tailgated her at 130 km/h. She got nervous, lost control of the car and died while the Mercedes driver just continued his race. It's war on the highways, especially now in the summer when it's hot and everyone is more aggressive.

So I'm trying to ignore them as best as I can, try to keep calm, and get safely out of the way as soon as I can. If they want to risk their own lives, that's fine with me. Just let me out of the game. It's very hard to say "Okay, this is a driving asshole, but I'll let him go" - but it's the only way to survive this in a long term... Trying to enforce your right in these situations can end very ugly.

(One of my friends had built a tiny flash-light into his trunk. Whenever someone got too close a flash made the driver think he's following a masked police car. Amazing how fast they suddenly kept an huge safety distance...

[JPP13]

If you purposely brake because you perceive someone is too close to you, you may be found to be found liable for a certain percentage of liability (in a comparative negligence state) or more if not. The notion about the person behind you always being liable is common street law, which is not always accurate. Kind of like the idea that if you ask an undercover police if he is a cop he has to say yes. Many think that, but its just not true.

Here's a quote from a Florida Supreme Court case somewhat speaking to the issue:

'Based on the foregoing, we agree with the decisions of both the trial and district courts below. Abrupt and arbitrary braking inbumper-to-bumper, accelerating traffic is an irresponsible anddangerous act that invites a collision. Cases involving allegations ofsuch an act are properly submitted to the jury, for the crucible ofcross-examination is well-suited for gleaning meritorious fromnon-meritorious claims. In the present case, the trial court properlydenied Eppler’s motion for a directed verdict.'

Now obviously, that is not an identical fact pattern, but it does illustrate the issue. Not that the guy tailgating doesn't deserve it, mind you.

[mglenn]

Being that I ride a motorcycle I can say that this guy is an idiot. If he was following you that close, what would have happened if a deer ran in front of you? He wouldn't have tapped you, he'd be laying in your backseat! In PA at least the only time you are not responsible if you rear end someone is if you were rearended and pushed into the car infront of you. In the end it comes down to responsiblity of the person behind you to maintain a distance that will allow them to stop given any situation that that occurs.

But as a side note I also have used this manuver. I personally have put my car in second gear and dropped the clutch (no brake lights). That will cause just about anyone to back off... but alas this is the reason I quick working in downtown Pittsburgh, because I was not a defensive driver I was very much and offensive driver, and there are only a few people who will ride with me when I drive in heavy traffic.

[Nothingman]

This is one of those times that I’m really glad I live in a state where people are still nice to each other (at least in comparison). It also helps that we don’t have city traffic. I am confident that the accident would not have been deemed your fault. I’ve been in two rear end collisions and have been the last car in each, including a 6 car pile up where other accidents occurred prior to me getting involved. The fault goes to the last guy in line, unless there is an indication of reckless driving, like sudden skid marks or swerving, something of that nature. You slowing down 5 mph doesn’t count. Most of the time cops don’t even care, they just follow the rule because they have other stuff to do than investigate every little car accident.

Maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t it seem odd that he was talking on his cell phone while riding his bike? He might have been able to control his bike better if he wasn’t on the phone, idiots! Anyway, having someone follow you in a rage is pretty rare here. Partly because of the mindset and partly because over half the people have hand guns under their seats. Also, the cop isn’t going to care if you got your ass kicked because you followed some guy to his house and threatened him as he got out of his car.

Finally, here’s my little road rage story. I was waiting at a light in the right hand lane that goes straight or right. A large truck was waiting in the left hand turn lane without his blinker on (nothing new). The light turns green, traffic moves, and I go straight, so does the truck. I stop in the intersection he swerves into the lane and starts having a fit as if I was trying to cut him off. Arms are flailing, face is red. About a block later he pulls into the bank parking lot. I pull in slowly behind him to inform him that I was in the correct lane to go straight, but before I can he goes into this rant about how he’s this off duty police officer (flashes badge) and that if ever do that again he’ll have me arrested. I then told him I was in the correct lane, and that if he wanted to call his buddies and go look at the sign, I had time. He refused to believe me, continued to curse some more and threaten to have me arrested, and then went into the bank. I managed to stay pretty calm the whole time, I knew I wasn’t in any physical danger and legally I was totally in the right. I drove on my way with a big smile on my face thinking of the next time he goes through the light and realizes what an ass he was. Just to add icing on the cake, the police station is on the corner where the light is, they drive through it all day long.

[Natasha (candygirl)]

Sascha, I totally feel for you - my first piece of crap car was a 1985 Chevy Cavalier. It could go 70 downhill on a good day. Whenever I saw big cars zooming up behind me (especially uphill), I would think to myself, "I can't help it! The car is physically incapable of going any faster! Have pity on me!"

[Megs]

Sascha, I totally feel for you - my first piece of crap car was a 1985 Chevy Cavalier. It could go 70 downhill on a good day. Whenever I saw big cars zooming up behind me (especially uphill), I would think to myself, "I can't help it! The car is physically incapable of going any faster! Have pity on me!"

I hear you. My first car was an 85 Ford Escort, which literally shook once I hit 60. NOt a good highway vehicle!

[lance]

Andrewgd,

So sorry to hear about your incident. People definate lose it big time over extremely trivial stuff.

I am glad that you are okay and that you reported the license to the police.

Take care.

Lance Man

[starbug]

I just got reminded of a small incident Mr. S and I encountered a few weeks ago... we were driving down our road where we live, and coming opposite the direction most traffic flows. It's a narrow street (parked cars either side and only room for one car at a time). We had been waiting at the end of the road and nobody was giving way for us, so in the end Mr. S got a little aggressive and pushed his way through (he now has a mega fast car so beat the opposing guy to the space). The guy and wife coming the opposite direction took offence, rolled down their window yelling that it was a one way street and how dare we go the wrong way.

It's not a one way street. Mr. S rolls down his window and responds that this is most certainly not a one-way street and we are perfectly entitled to drive this direction and by the way it is polite to give way to someone who has been waiting for some time letting cars coming the other way pass.

Anyway, his wife is getting shrill and lecturing us on how the road is one way. Eventually I yelled at her that actually, we live on this road and we know fine rightly that it is two-way. If they don't believe us, show us the sign saying 'one-way'. Ha. That shut them both up. They were still staring at us in disbelief as we pulled up, exited the vehicle, opened the door to our house and walked in. I hope they both felt like prize idiots.