Aggressive Driver/ Road Rage

[TomInPA]

I was actually chased yesterday by a road raged driver. About 3:00 PM Thursday I went out on an errand about 20 miles away. Shortly after leaving the house, I was on Winding Way in Sacramento, which lives up to its name in a few section as it curves through some 25 MPH curves, but it is definitely an urban "country" road.

Approaching a red light, I filtered to the front. The signal is at an intersection in a right curve with a short line of sight where it is not real good to be at the back. As I reached the front the signal changed to green, and I easily passed the first vehicle, a guy in a black Lexus SUV. Well he took strong exception to being passed, honked at me, and accelerated hard along Winding Way. I easily outdistanced him in the 1/4 mile to a T intersection with a stop sign. I had just enough time to allow traffic to clear when the SUV approached fast from behind blaring the horn again. I made a fast left and gunned it through a right curve, 1/3 mile to a red light where I again passed 2-cars to the front. The black SUV attempted to overtake on the left turn lane just as the light turned green, and I lofted the front wheel through 2-gears, made a legal pass (dashed cenerline) of 2- more vehicles at a very illegal speed, and was far gone. I didn't wait to see this douchbag again.

I'll take full credit at being a bit overly aggressive myself, and I plan to dial it back. Credit California drivers,lane sharing and filtering are usually uneventful, everyday maneuvers, but aggressive cagers are potentially lethal if you meet the wrong one.

I'm sure all of you have had encounters with aggressive drivers. What did you do in response, or how do you prevent crossing paths with the "wrong guy".

 

[Old Michael]

You were making assumptions, Tom.

You shoulda slowed down and asked what you could help him with.

Maybe he was trying to tell you how you could save a lotta money by running a car tire on the rear.

 

[TomInPA]

Yeah, I'm sure that's what he had in mind...and if I'd have been carrying, I think that might be a conversation I might pursue.

When you see a SUV trying to keep pace at over 80 MPH on an urban road, conversation is kinda impaired. It is impressive how motivated a FJR can be when given a healty twist on the throttle..well, at least a Gen I. .

 

[FJRBluesman]

Tom - Sure they didn't think you were Old Michael...?

That's not good. Some folks don't like it when bikes cut to the front, I guess they are jealous, or something, or just plain asshats.

Not sure how I would have handled that except also gotten some distance between us. If he did try to pass me without trying to run me off the road, I'd probably let him, just as long as he's not behind anymore.

One thing that you may think about is; I'd call his actions reckless at least and possible assault with a deadly weapon. He went after you in the car, that's is assault and the vehicle could be considered a deadly weapon at that point. If you could have gotten his plate and immediately phoned 911 and told them that he tried to run you down, the uppity Lexus cager might think twice about doing that again while cuffed in the back of a black & white.

Ride safe brother.

 

[TomInPA]

Given traffic and limited passing opportunities for a full-size vehicle, I was at a significant advantage to stay out of reach. I never did have a position to get a plate number. The HID lights on the SUV made it really easy to track his position relative to me.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Did the best thing under the circs. Just ditched him. Too bad you didn't spot a Sheriff along the way, tho.

 

[PhilJet09]

I would have done the same.

 

[TheZsdad]

Thinking back on the times I have been involved with road rage it has usually started with one party making an unexpected move.

Like someone cutting me off and I have to jam the brakes to avoid them. Those things get the adrenalin going. I've done some stupid things

under it's influence. I think part of it is embarrassment over being surpised. The male ego doesn't deal with that very well.

I'd think that if the guy was just a jerk and drove like that all the time that he'd already have killed someone by now.

Then again maybe he has.

Glad I can wish you a Happy New Year.

 

[Geezer]

Sounds like you did the same thing I would have done. Treat them like rolling road blocks and get away from them as quickly as possible. In NY, where lane sharing is not an option, I will normally turn off on a side road and go around the long way to avoid further confrontation.

 

[lonerider]

Don't think I'd have done any different, though we don't have the advantage of legal lane splitting in the People's Republic of Maryland. Glad you escaped from the experience unscathed and hope you don't meet up with that jerk again.

 

[TomInPA]

Thinking back on the times I have been involved with road rage it has usually started with one party making an unexpected move.

Like someone cutting me off and I have to jam the brakes to avoid them. Those things get the adrenalin going. I've done some stupid things

under it's influence. I think part of it is embarrassment over being surpised. The male ego doesn't deal with that very well.

I'd think that if the guy was just a jerk and drove like that all the time that he'd already have killed someone by now.

Then again maybe he has.

Glad I can wish you a Happy New Year.

I'm pretty sure you hit on the problem here. He was surprised by my last second pass at the light. I had barely pulled even with him when the light changed, so I never stopped and got a huge jump on him off the line. I think something just snapped for the guy that that seemed like an aggressive or competitive move to him. I generally have more time to "establish" position, but this may have felt like a race to him.

 

[wfooshee]

I had it happen to me once, guy doing 20 in a 40, I passed him and he came after me like I stole his balls or something. Road we were on ends with a merge onto another road, and he actually tried to get beside me in the merge lane. I gunned it and pulled into the parking lot of a crowded restaurant, got off the bike, and watched as he pulled in and got out of his truck. Someone in the traffic we were merging into saw what happened and followed him in and parked behind him. The passenger of the truck was holding the driver back, and later came up to me all apologetic and stuff, saying the driver was drunk, didn't know what he was doing, etc. Well why the $%#@ is he driving?!?!?!? And why are you riding with him, knowing he's drunk???!!

Little did they know I'd already called 911 on the headset when the "chase" started, and told them where I pulled in. It wasn't 3 minutes before the law showed up. he had some 'splainin' ta do.

But yeah, basically, lose them if you can. You don't know what kind of mentality is behind that wheel, other than the fact that you already know he's a little bit unclear in his thinking.

 

[Fontanaman]

I stay away from SUV's especially the expensive high end SUVs. My experience is those drivers are extremely competitive people who perceive driving is a must win game. And when they see a motorcycle they are more than willing to use there size to encroach in my space.

 

[FJR Jimbo]

Hey Tom, I have 3 letters for ya,

CHL

Better to have the insurance and not need it then otherwise, ya just never know.

Not sure how that will work for you out there on the 'left coast' but you might

want to check into it if its possible.

 

[azitlies]

I stay away from SUV's especially the expensive high end SUVs. My experience is those drivers are extremely competitive people who perceive driving is a must win game. And when they see a motorcycle they are more than willing to use there size to encroach in my space.

Yup, my experience too. Also the highly expensive beemer cars fit in here. Yesterday riding home from an MSF class, really expensive beemer car behind me tailgating big time, there's 2 cars in front of me, 1 in the left lane 1 in the right, rolling road block.

I'm thinkin... what the f*** is the matter with you beemer bone head? No body's goin F*in nowhere until one of these idiots figures out where the gas pedal is... So I turn around in my seat and just stare at the guy. Have to turn back to be sure I'm still going straight... then do it again.

It was only after I put up my left hand like "what?" did he slow down.

Tom, would have done the same thing you did. So many dang asshats out there, but the worst ones seem to be in these expensive cars / suvs and they can't deal with what they interpret as being "shown up" ?

 

[James Burleigh]

If someone tries to run you over, you have to save yourself, and for a motorcyclist that usually means going fast and going in and around traffic in a way you would not normally do. So the part that makes me angry is that the rider is put in a position of riding in a dangerous way and could injure himself. And other examples have shown that if a cager is crazy enough, he WILL get you, because he will go onto the shoulder or into on-coming traffic to kill you. You have nothing to reproach yourself for, Tom.

 

[James Burleigh]

Tom, would have done the same thing you did. So many dang asshats out there, but the worst ones seem to be in these expensive cars / suvs and they can't deal with what they interpret as being "shown up" ?

The difference between a porcupine and a BMW is that with the latter the pricks are on the inside.

 

[FJR Jimbo]

Tom, would have done the same thing you did. So many dang asshats out there, but the worst ones seem to be in these expensive cars / suvs and they can't deal with what they interpret as being "shown up" ?

The difference between a porcupine and a BMW is that with the latter the pricks are on the inside.

Sir Burleigh, although thou do appear to be steeped in antiquity, you are quite correct on the issues.

 

[James Burleigh]

Hey Tom, I have 3 letters for ya,

CHL

CHL?