Road rage incident.

[StumpyDave]

I had to pop home at lunchtime to pick some stuff up that I forgot to bring into the office this morning.
On the way I was driving slowly down a residential road near home when the Volvo V70 in front of me suddenly stopped so I got on the anchors and stopped behind it.  On came the reversing lights so I gave a quick toot on the horn.  The car stopped and then started coming back again, so I gave a longer blast on the horn.  At this point the driver turned around and looked at me so I kind of waved "hi" and shrugged.  At this point the guy shut off the engine and got out of his car coming towards me mouthing off.
I'm not the shy retiring type and not worried about self defence so I thought I'd at least meet him on equal terms, so I shut off the engine, unbelted and got out quickish.
This guy was giving me a real mouthful, telling me I had no right to blast the horn at him and what did I think I was doing on the road etc etc.  He took a few more steps towards me a started to bring his hands up so I stepped into a "ready" position and calmly told him that he had a real problem and I didn't think he wanted to make his day any worse.
At this point he backed down and got back into his car, still yelling and swearing.  He took off with loads of noise and zoomed off up the road.
I got back into my car feeling slightly bemuzed and went on with my life.

I've just told the guys in the office and one of them said "What would have happened if he'd had a knife?"
I hadn't even thought of that.  Now I've got a reall good adrenaline buzz just thinking about it.

[Sly Red]

It's shocking that this kind of behaviour is becoming widespread, even in your 'green and pleasant land'.

Red

[tomgallagher]

What if he had had a gun.

[StumpyDave]

Scarey thought, Tom.
Fortunately I think that the incidence of guns in the UK is low enough for this to be a low risk.  At least I have practised knife defense (albeit in a class environment - and I think I could have run faster than this guy if it came to it) but a bullet is another prospect (and a car window probably wouldn't be a great help).

It is worrying that this sort of thing isn't rare any more.

[tomgallagher]

That's true. My wife was at a traffic merge the other day and some fool tried to bully his way in and she wouldn't let him. Up the road a piece he tried to run her off the road. No harm done but WTF.

[Mikekoz13]

This happened to my Dad a few years ago when he was about 71 years old. Now my dad isn't a big guy... about 5'-6". Apparently the guy in the other car took offense to something he thought my Dad did......so he started yelling, "Pull over you old bastard I'm going to kick your ass!". Dad tried to ignore him but the guy kept cutting him off and swerving close to him. So finally Dad had enough..... you see...Dad legally carries a gun. He carries it in his sock so it isn't apparent.

So Dad pulled over and this dumb ass gets out of his car and comes running up to Dad's car screaming "Get out i'm going to kick your ass!".

So Dad rolls down the window and while it's rolling down he reaches down and pulls the pistol out of his sock. As the window hits full open Dad points the gun at the guy and asks, "Do you have a problem because if you do it can be settled right now?". The guy never said a word..... just put up his hands, backed away and drove off very fast.

I asked Dad if he would have shot the guy. He never hesitated when he said yes. He's still a ballsy old guy at the age of 75..........

[herronm]

Good for Dad.

[RICKYBOBBY74]

mike...i just added your pop to my hero list !

[Jer]

This just happened 2 days ago.  I really wish people would think twice about how they act and react behind the wheel...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/07/08/401-accident.html

[TheTrucker]

These things are a sign of how society has digressed. At one time it was expected that a man would behave like a gentleman. These days this word holds no meaning at all for most.

I guess I'm lucky in that when people see me in person they tend to think I am a person that it would be best to not tick off. I'm actually very friendly and easy going, but having such a look does tend to come in handy at times as I spend a great deal of time in less than desirable places. Truck stops, factories, and warehouses are never in "good" neighborhoods.

[Tyler]

This just happened 2 days ago.  I really wish people would think twice about how they act and react behind the wheel...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/07/08/401-accident.html

Jer, I had someone slam on their brakes in front of me on the freeway at 65 MPH.  They were pissed because I honked at them as they cut me off and almost hit my front bumper.  My pregnant wife was in the car at the time and I started seeing RED.  Traffic slowed to a stop up ahead I started to get out of my car to go beat this guys ass.  If it hadn't been for my wife talking me out of going over there I'd probably still be in jail today.  It's the only time in my life that I've ever completely seen red.

[Jer]

This just happened 2 days ago.  I really wish people would think twice about how they act and react behind the wheel...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/07/08/401-accident.html

Jer, I had someone slam on their brakes in front of me on the freeway at 65 MPH.  They were pissed because I honked at them as they cut me off and almost hit my front bumper.  My pregnant wife was in the car at the time and I started seeing RED.  Traffic slowed to a stop up ahead I started to get out of my car to go beat this guys ass.  If it hadn't been for my wife talking me out of going over there I'd probably still be in jail today.  It's the only time in my life that I've ever completely seen red.

With DAMN good reason though, I think you probably weren't worried about the danger to yourself, but actually to the fact the sh!trat endangered the life of your wife and kid.  Hell, I think most of us would have had the same reaction you did eh!

[TheTrucker]

This just happened 2 days ago.  I really wish people would think twice about how they act and react behind the wheel...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/07/08/401-accident.html

Jer, I had someone slam on their brakes in front of me on the freeway at 65 MPH.  They were pissed because I honked at them as they cut me off and almost hit my front bumper.  My pregnant wife was in the car at the time and I started seeing RED.  Traffic slowed to a stop up ahead I started to get out of my car to go beat this guys ass.  If it hadn't been for my wife talking me out of going over there I'd probably still be in jail today.  It's the only time in my life that I've ever completely seen red.

Can't blame ya. I doubt I coulda been stopped under those circumstances.