A Fight in Traffic?

[Matrix]

Hey everybody,

I was driving back to my office today in the mid-afternoon, and had just made a right turn. I was in the right hand lane after completing my turn when a guy in Toyota Tacoma in the left hand lane blared his horn at me. I had seen him before making my turn and knew that he was in the left lane and on his cell phone. I had made my turn without even coming close to his lane and with sufficient distance before he even entered the intersection anyway.

After he blared his horn, I turned and raised my hand in a :wtf: gesture.

He swerved into my lane and cut me off, then slammed on his brakes and came to complete stop in the middle of traffic. I couldn't change lanes as traffic in the next lane was too heavy.

He approached my window on foot and started screaming and yelling about me flipping him off. I just sat in my car and looked at him. He then got in his car and drove off.

The weird thing is that 5 years ago I would have gotten out and kicked the crap out of him. I used to train in martial arts and was a tournament fighter. I was stunned after this confrontation not because of fear or anything like that, but because I was surprised that I didn't do or say anything at all.

I'm pretty sure I did the right thing by not escalating matters to make them worse, but did I puss out? Or did I do the mature thing?

Thanks.

 

[D-rock240]

Wow, that's one crazy driver. You definitely made the best decision.

 

[meinp5]

I'm pretty sure I did the right thing by not escalating matters to make them worse, but did I puss out? Or did I do the mature thing?
Thanks.

It's always fun after to wave at them like you know them. Screws with their heads....(WTF?? did I know that guy??)

 

[camrycev6]

You did the right thing. No doubt. If he was kicking your car, or otherwise causing some kind of harm or damage that would have been different. You did what so few people can do in situations like that --- acted like a mature adult.

 

[sanblaster]

He will get his one day. Perhaps a bullet between his eyes..

 

[AlturredMP5]

you did the right thing.

he racks the disciprine

 

[B1GHAM]

Hey everybody,

I was driving back to my office today in the mid-afternoon, and had just made a right turn. I was in the right hand lane after completing my turn when a guy in Toyota Tacoma in the left hand lane blared his horn at me. I had seen him before making my turn and knew that he was in the left lane and on his cell phone. I had made my turn without even coming close to his lane and with sufficient distance before he even entered the intersection anyway.

After he blared his horn, I turned and raised my hand in a :wtf: gesture.

He swerved into my lane and cut me off, then slammed on his brakes and came to complete stop in the middle of traffic. I couldn't change lanes as traffic in the next lane was too heavy.

He approached my window on foot and started screaming and yelling about me flipping him off. I just sat in my car and looked at him. He then got in his car and drove off.

The weird thing is that 5 years ago I would have gotten out and kicked the crap out of him. I used to train in martial arts and was a tournament fighter. I was stunned after this confrontation not because of fear or anything like that, but because I was surprised that I didn't do or say anything at all.

I'm pretty sure I did the right thing by not escalating matters to make them worse, but did I puss out? Or did I do the mature thing?

Thanks.

no dont worry I had a similiar situation a few years back.

I was driving my dad's explorer (of which I only drive RARELY) and was in the left hand line of a 2 lane highway (approx 12am, dark out). I needed to be in the righthand lane so I could make a right turn @ the intersection. So I looked over, checked blind spot signalled and moved. As soon as I did I hear a horn honking and I see in my mirror someone on the shoulder in a low car WITH JUST HIS PARKING LIGHTS ON. I move back over into the left lane to allow him to get back on the road. The light @ the intersection turns red and I cant make my turn now so I stop. This guy FLIPS out and parks his car diagonally infront of me blocking me from going around him or going straight.

He then gets out of his car (mid-late 30s bigger/fatter guy) and comes to my window FLIPPING the **** out. I WAS on my cellphone, BUT it was because there was (not at this point) a friend of mine I was following and I was on the phone with him. The guy then proceeds to scream and yell telling me to turn the phone off and throw it out the window (he must have lost his ******* mind) I also gave him the WTF look. I didnt say a word.

I sat there calmly (while he screamed) deciding between 1 of 2 things.

A) call the cops with said cellphone.
B) slam my door open and knock his ass down, step out and do what I have to.

Hes still yelling and screaming everything he can think of and actually tried to open the door (**** THAT). The light turned green. I looked to my left directly @ him and at this point realized that Im not in my little car, but my dad's explorer. He then (again still screaming) pounds on the window. I made a decision he really wasnt expecting. I whipped the wheel hard left, hopped the curb (knocking him back in the process, he was that close too me) and drove around him while flipping the bird. I then continued to my (now new because I lost my friend) destination and life resumed. It was hilarious to see the confused look on his face as he drove off.

I wanted to beat this s*** out of the guy soo bad, but I decided it would have only made the situation worse. All because the guy didnt have his lights on (and sitting in my blind spot, he was basically invisible).

In short: I think you did the right thing, it would have only escalated and made the situation worse no matter what, if you would have stepped out of the car. The only time I approach a situation violently is when I have no other choice. In both your case and my own, there was an alternative way out. To me? I say good for you.

 

[ChopstickHero]

similar thing happened to me. except the guy walked to the passenger window and punched my friend (the window was already down). we got out and scrapped a bit. got his license plate number as he drove off. called the cops and they arrested him for assault. heard he got a few months in jail b/c it wasn't the first time he's done that. bastard.

 

[Matrix]

B1GHAM: Oh man, that's almost exactly what happened! Late 30's/early 40's fat guy but he didn't touch my car. I think that might have set me off, so I guess it's good thing that he didn't.

Thanks a lot everybody. I'm confident I did the right thing. I called the cops afterwards and gave them his info. They'll keep it on record in case he tries anything in the future. (I think he saw me turn into my office.)

It's just weird coming to the realization that I've (GULP!) grown up. EEEEEEeeeeekk!!

 

[RacerXGirl]

You definitely did the right thing. You never know if someone is carrying a concealed weapon. Calling the cops was a good move, too!

And being a grown up isn't a bad thing - it's a very desireable quality!

 

[genericuser]

You never know if someone is carrying a concealed weapon.

a valid point.

on the contrary, if you are the one outside of the car, you aren't too smart either. the person inside the car could be concealing.. All he'd have to do is quickly open the door, take out your legs with the door, and then you are vulnerable.

 

[RacerXGirl]

a valid point.

on the contrary, if you are the one outside of the car, you aren't too smart either. the person inside the car could be concealing.. All he'd have to do is quickly open the door, take out your legs with the door, and then you are vulnerable.

I'd rather just shoot through the door - who wants all that nasty personal contact...

 

[genericuser]

I'd rather just shoot through the door - who wants all that nasty personal contact...

this is why I make sure I'm on your good side JA.

 

[AlturredMP5]

im concealing legally.

 

[enry]

When someone is pissed you gotta smile and wave in a thanks! kind of gesture it really gets them. And best of all you can laught at it.

 

[AlturredMP5]

i made a thread about a guy threatening me at work. he walked by yesterday and stared me down while i was at my film computer. i put a smirk on my face, winked, and blew him a kiss. he got sofa king pissed off, it was great.

if i had someone come to my window like that, my pistol would be out in a second. id just point, i dont think i could ever shoot.

 

[B1GHAM]

i made a thread about a guy threatening me at work. he walked by yesterday and stared me down while i was at my film computer. i put a smirk on my face, winked, and blew him a kiss. he got sofa king pissed off, it was great.

if i had someone come to my window like that, my pistol would be out in a second. id just point, i dont think i could ever shoot.

yeah I wish I could have a concealed weapons permit for that reason (delaware is court approved and they approve a total of 5 per year).

I wouldnt point it @ him. I would leave the clip out, so in that situation he WATCHES you load the gun. Im sure the guy in my situation would have done an about face really quickly.

the reality though? Dont pull a gun unless you intend to shoot. Youre only asking to escalate the issue to a level it never needed to go.

 

[ariana]

my husband got into a situation like this last year. We were on our way to World of wheels to drop off the Yukon and set up our booth so I was driving the Yukon and my husband was driving our Astro Van. Well this jackass cut off my husband at the last minute because he almost missed his turn tryiing to catch up and check out the Yukon. Little did he realize that the owner of the Yukon was driving the crappy Astro he almost hit. I almost hit the Van when this guy did this. Then the other guy whips his car around cause he sees my husband almost hit him. My husband gets out, and immediatly regrets it(middle of a 4 lane rd) the other guy gets out of his car and he is friggen huge,I'm afraid they are going to start fighting or worse. So they start screaming at each other until a cop and I pull around. We had to sit there and talk to the cops for an hour. The guy told my husband he was just trying to check out the Yukon. I bet he felt like an ass. I told my husband that he shoulda stayed in the car. You never know what someone else is either capable of or carrying.

 

[smo0f]

i made a thread about a guy threatening me at work. he walked by yesterday and stared me down while i was at my film computer. i put a smirk on my face, winked, and blew him a kiss. he got sofa king pissed off, it was great.

if i had someone come to my window like that, my pistol would be out in a second. id just point, i dont think i could ever shoot.

a girl i know does that, blows kisses to people who get pissed off. they either get more pissed off and drive off, or just simply don't know how to react.

 

[RacerXGirl]

yeah I wish I could have a concealed weapons permit for that reason (delaware is court approved and they approve a total of 5 per year).

I wouldnt point it @ him. I would leave the clip out, so in that situation he WATCHES you load the gun. Im sure the guy in my situation would have done an about face really quickly.

the reality though? Dont pull a gun unless you intend to shoot. Youre only asking to escalate the issue to a level it never needed to go.

Exactly. It's not something to be brandished to threaten someone. It's for self-defense when you are in fear for your life.