What would you do in this situation? (Road Rage)

So tonight I had the unfortunate experience of road rage against me.

I was driving down a rather busy street in the left lane, heading home, when a Toyota 4-Runner cuts me off, leaving about 5-10 feet between the back of his truck and the front of my bike. I flashed my brights, wondering if he even saw me. He rolled down the rear window, adjusted his rear-view mirror and waved like he was sorry.

At the next crosswalk, he pulled immediately to the right lane again and stopped so I would pull up next to him. He then proceeded to curse and yell at me, saying that he had the right of way, etc. I ignored him, and about 100 feet up at the next intersection turned right. He got stuck behind a bus, and a gap opened for me to get in that lane, I did not cut him off.

As I waited there to let him get far down the road, I realize that he had just passed me and pulled over on the side of the road about 100 feet in front of me. He then got out of his truck and started running at me, yelling 'Get off your bike, or I'm gonna take you off it', all while still cursing and yelling at me. Now, normally I would have done that, and talked it out, but being a cyclist and having no upper body strength to defend myself if needed, I decided not to.

Thankfully, a gap opened up in oncoming traffic, and I was able to get in that lane and speed past him.

What would you personally have done if you were in this situation? Gotten off the bike and immediately called the cops? Gotten off the bike and talked to the guy who is about 6" taller than you, and has at least 50lbs on you? Sped off like I did and saved your a$$?

And in the future, what would be the better thing to do if this happens to me again? Could I have just gotten off my bike and called the cops and have them on the phone, as hopefully a deterrent to him attacking me? Or should I have just filed a police report right there no matter what?

If you have any similar stories, post em up. This way we have a place to go for advice in situations and how to handle ourselves. And for beginner riders like myself to see how to properly handle more situations.

And everyone knows, a motorcycle is no match for a 2 ton truck in a battle royale.

 

Sounds to me like you did the right thing.

I wouldn't have stopped either.

I suppose you could have called the police after you were out of the situation, but probably nothing they could do.

 

I think you made the right choice in leaving the idiot in the dust, he was obviously a road-rage'r looking for a confrontation and who needs that stress and BS. Do you have a cell? Should consider a Bluetooth headset and voice dial capabilities...no need to pull over so as to call 911 if you get cornered and feel threatened :wink:

 

If you're not packing the great equalizer, then by all means, roll on the throttle and get on out of there. And really, if you had the opportunity to leave--and you did--that's always the best option. Good choice. If not, and you're packing, then he may force you into revoking his birth certificate. If you're unarmed, you better look for an exit unless you're willing to duke it out.

 

Stopped.
Grabbed a BIG Handful of front brake.
Spun that baby around under some power ... and,

Got the heck outta Dodge ... the other way!

Somebody nuts enough to confront you ... is crazy enough to KILL you.
Head for a safe place.
Shovel the coal into the boiler and put as much distance between you and that psychopath as you possibly can.

THEN, ... 9-1-1 and get the Calvary involved!

 

If he pulled over in that situation and did end up having to protect him self with deadly force he would have spent a whole lot of time in prison... I have carried since I was 21 and know the laws pretty well considering my father teaches the Home Firearm Saftey Course (which is the course you have to take to get your permit here in Va.) here and was a weapons instructor in the Marine Corp. for 23 years... The advice you just gave was terrible... His way out was to leave right away and he did the right thing. Stopping just because you carry a firearm is about the worst idea anyone can come up with. When you have a weapon of anykind and the other guy doesnt whether you know it or not, you still stopped to prevoke the confrontation, and screwed yourself. You MUST use any means of getting out of that situation, period. Also, if he does not brandish a weapon... even if he punched you, you are not authorized to use deadly force! People don't understand how these laws work and they are very tricky. My advice is to edjucate yourself and make rational decisions, other wise the bad guy gets away and you go to prison.

 

Interesting. In your case and country I would probably do the same thing.

But in my country where the right to bear arms is illegal so the possibility of him carrying a weapon would be 1 in a million I would have stopped and dealt him a truckfull of hurt before I asked him what his problem is.

He is out of his vehicle so is no longer putting your life n danger. Hurt is required before he kills the next person who he thinks might have done him wrong.

I disagree with the right to carry firearms as fighting fire with fire only leads to death. Sometimes punishment is required and a good old fashioned hiding needs to be dished out without fear of dying.

 

Gbambeck, with all do respect, you misread what I wrote, or I wasn't clear enough in what I wrote. Either way, I said:

I was trying to say that the best option is always to avoid confrontation. I meant to be clear and apologize if I wasn't crystal.

You also said, "if he does not brandish a weapon... even if he punched you, you are not authorized to use deadly force...." Yes, and no. Your right to self defense is unalienable. If you believe your life is in jeopardy, then it is your right to defend yourself. I agree that just because he walks up to you in a threatening manner is not enough cause to give the guy lead poisoning. Punching you in the nose does. A broken nose puts you well on your well to being beat to death. Again, that's why I said, "he may force you into revoking his birth certificate." He, the other guy, determines the outcome. He started the confrontation. If you're cornered, and your only option is your life or his...? He loses every single time. I wouldn't hesitate. Hesitation gets you killed.

 

I did mis read that! lol, sorry bout that. But the Va concealed laws state VERY clearly that if no weapon is brandished than you cannot pull yours. If there is a way out like running away whether you have or are being assalted you must take that opportunity. So unless your totally surrounded you cannot use deadly force. If you use your weapon in an unlawful manner you become the bad guy here. It's sad really. But we are also an open carry state which means no permit for haveing a side arm as long as it is clearly visible, I bet that would stop alot of this crap ion the first place. An armed society is a polite society.

 

shoot him in the leg. i've heard if you shoot someone below the waist its only assault but above the waist is attempted murder. not bad odds. i usually have a small knife on me but this dude sounded off-balance. i wouldve rolled by and gave him the finger and a smile. better things to do.

 

Gbambeck, I agree that carrying concealed puts you in the position of wanting to avoid confrontation for fear of having to use your weapon. Who in their right mind wants to shoot and kill a fellow human being? I know I don't. Therefore, carrying deadly force forces you to constantly evaluate situational outcomes and avoid those that would put anyone in harm's way.

Does an armed society create a polite society? You bet. You may be interested in a radio program that speaks to this subject on a regular basis: American Radio Show with Dave Champion. Check out the show's archives. There's a ton of good information to be had.

 

I will check that show out! I seem to be alone when I talk about carrying being important to your safety as well as others, glad to see we have some others that agree with supporting our rights...

 

You did the right thing speeding off. I would have done the same and I walk around at 6'4" and about 260lbs. Any sort of confrontation between you and the rager would have ended badly. For all you know, he may have found out his wife was cheating on him and his dog died.

You did the right thing. Ride safe.
Rob

 

Thanks guys for all the replies. I know I did the right thing in speeding off, yet a part of me still wanted to call the cops and report him. Then again, knowing the cities police dept, nothing would have happened. In the past 2 years, I have been run down as a pedestrian in a crosswalk (with the right of way) and as a cyclist in a bike lane, by cars. Both times were hit and run, yet I got the plates. The cops did absolutely nothing, and the last time I got hit, resulted in over $30k in medical bills.

But also being an outdoorsman, I always carry a knife on me and had I remembered that, I may have felt a little safer in talking to the guy if I had my hand on it ready to pull it out if necessary.

But man were my nerves a little messed up last night after that incident. And the worst part is, now I have to keep an eye out for that guy, cause I don't want him to retaliate when I least expect it (yellow bike and silver helmet are pretty rare around here, so if he just saw me, he might remember and then try to run me down or something).

 

Yeah, be carfeul out there... I have had some "experiences" as well, You gotta be careful!

 

I believe your actions were the best XJ600S, avoid if possible. Upsetting yes, but not worth the possible outcome if he was armed. I would suggest informing the authorities about this nut job, it may not be the first time he pulled this and if enough reports pop up on this guy, the police will have no trouble convincing a judge to send him away for a while the next time they bag him.

 

XJ600, as a cyclist as well as a motorcyclist, I know exactly what you mean. I was on my road bike in town a few years ago and was going through a green light at an intersection. A bicycle has all the same rights as any automobile in this situation. This was in town, so there was a 25 mph speed limit, and I was probably meeting or exceeding it slightly. I see a pickup with its left signal on, but begin to proceed through the intersection. He starts to turn in front of me anyway and calls me a motherf**ker. I slam on both brakes and slide sideways and barely miss hitting his truck. I was just in shock. I didn't know what to do, but he was still yelling at me. I just clipped back into my pedal and continued on my way, fuming pissed off and shaking. I got to work and put my bike away and told my boss to look out for the truck, but I never saw it again.

It is a little worrying when you're in your own town though. I mean, there were very few cyclists in that town, and the odds of him seeing me again were pretty good. I just tried not to worry about it. I've had cans thrown at me, doors opened in my path, and lots of other things on a bicycle. For some reason, rednecks hate non-motorized transportation. Anyway, the best option is always to walk, ride, or drive away. I'm only 5'5 and 155, so I'm not going to win too many fist fights. I can sure leave in a hurry though.

 

when he cut you off that was a sign he was drunk, nuts or blind
all good reasons to put distance between you and him, then you flashed him the high beam , that got him good and pissed, and proved he wasn't blind
don't flash lights at a drunk nut
then you pulled along side him, he took that as a challenge to his masculinity
try not to get beside drunk nuts
a left turn here would have ended it
then he saw you again and his testosterone/blood alcohol level took over
you did good not to stop
never stop for a drunk nut...........unless he is blind........then smack him with your helmet

 

You did the right thing by getting out of the situation completely...

Gun laws... Hmm.. Like Hired Goon, I live in a country where it is lillegal to own a firearm without a firearms licence and you are only allowed to own a side arm or pistol if you are a member of a gun club and have a special licence for one... Under no circumstances is any member of the public in this country allowed to carry a concealed firearm.

Guns are about, but few and far between and I like it that way...

I don't want it any other way... I want to go to the States one day but your gun laws scare the crap out of me and really put me off the idea.

 

I know for a fact that he wasn't drunk. The place I was coming from was the ATM, where he was in front of me. Then he walked back to his truck in front of me walking back to my bike. He was walking straight, but at a slightly brisk pace. He was probably late for something, and was already pissed off. However, that doesn't explain why he would take more time to get out of his truck and try to take me off my bike.

Anywho, I've alerted all of my friends to watch out for his truck. I am still getting used to my bike, so if I'm ever in this situation again, I'll know the limits of my bike and be able to get out of the situation faster and feel safer doing it as well.