**Road Rage**

[Silvertwinky]

I don't know how long this link will stay active but here is a link to a news article about “Road Rage” .

I know that when towing, I have to be extra patient of other drivers. My experience has been that drivers have a tendency to pull out in front of someone towing trailers or just simply race around in order to get in front when merging lanes. When towing, I find that I can’t always get over for them, even though I have the right of way.

Thought I would share this with the forum. We always need to be alert when driving and remain aware of other drivers.

[Pick]

Thanks Bill. One thing I was not aware of in the State of Ohio, was this: The more expensive your automobile is, the more rights you have on the road. For example, if you are driving a BMW or Porsche, you are allowed to pull out in front of folks driving Chevrolet of Ford vehicles. You can ignore the normal "right of way" rules and regs most folks have to obey, such as who goes first at a 4 way stop intersection or using turn signals. You do not have to move to the left when passing bicyclists on the road, or when you see someone getting their mail or newspaper. You are also allowed to use private driveways to turn around in and spray gravel and stone in their yards.

For some strange reason this only applies to $35,000+ automobiles. If you are driving a $35,000+ pickuptruck or SUV these laws do not apply. (Must have something to do with the GVW)

[85MH325]

When I lived on Guam for several years, I heard a similar rule, but it was called PI (as in "Phillipines") right-of-way. I've since observed it being applied almost everywhere.

The "PI right-of-way" rule says that the guy who is the craziest that drives the biggest and heaviest vehicle has the right of way. So, if you're out there in your big whatever and you decide to go, everyone brakes for you.

That rule is pretty effective in places where folks understand basic physics and conservation of momentum. Unfortunately I'm finding more and more folks who are either absolutely clueless about the fundamental laws of the universe or who must have a death wish. I'm sure you've seen them too... the moron in the Escort who jumps into that teeny-tiny opening just in front of the tractor-trailer who is already sliding to a stop... Perhaps it's the "I can beat that train" syndrome...

Roger

[Pahaska]

because I was subjected to a small incident yesterday on the way back from the Airstream dealer in the Z71.

I was keeping right at the speed limit on a twisty stretch of road with a lot of construction traffic and side roads when an old sports coupe came up behind at high speed. It was a real piece of junk with no front numper, retractable headlights jammed in the up position, and big rust spots and patches of primer on the body. There was no place to pull off and let him pass.

He pulled in behind the pickup so closely that I could see he was there only by the shadow on the road, then started alternately backing off a little way and roaring up again to where I couldn't see him. After about the fourth iteration, he passed me, right in the face of an oncoming cement truck. and then cut me off so that I had to take the shoulder. Fortunately it was in the 4WD and I had no damage. He disappeared in the distance at what had to be close to 80.

So, it's not limited to expensive iron, just ignorant people.

[PeterH-350LE]

Stupid drivers always have the right of way...

[trumpwer]

Originally posted by Pahaska


I was keeping right at the speed limit on a twisty stretch of road with a lot of construction traffic and side roads when an old sports coupe came up behind at high speed. It was a real piece of junk with no front numper, retractable headlights jammed in the up position, and big rust spots and patches of primer on the body. There was no place to pull off and let him pass.

...So, it's not limited to expensive iron, just ignorant people.

I was typing almost exactly the same thing when you posted, only it was a construction zone. I felt kind of sorry for her, I weigh 7 tons, hers maybe 1. I had a truckload of loved ones surrounded by good 25 year old American steel, so I was pretty sure who was getting the worst of her foolishness.

[59toaster]

I love the tail gaters My toy is a 1975 GMC Jimmy that stands 7ft tall and rides on 35 inch tires. It can drive over a car without much problem. I can loose a small car behind me REAL easy!

I love the clue less folks that can't seem to regulate their speed. They just tailgate the car in front till that car moves then they slowly creep up in speed till they get to the next car and tailgate them. This is on the hwy so they have plenty of places to pass.

Well I was on my way back from a 4x4 outing. Truck was pretty crusty with mud. I pretty well stay in the right lane with this truck and run at 65mph. Here in Atlanta most folks are running 75mph. Got some woman doing exactly the above. She did it for 10 miles at least. I'd slow down to 55 mph and she would just stay there. Speed up to 70 and she would just stay there. Couldn't get her to get off my bumper. Some tmes I would see a side veiw mirror of her car, a rear quarter or a shadow.

Well after 10 miles I was tired of it. I had not come accross a slower car to pass and let her latch onto them. I will not slam on brakes. That's just plain dangerious for me as well as them. So I got to thinking about how to get this wench off my bumper.

Then an idea hit me. I have at least 100 pounds of dried caked GA red clay hanging up under the truck. Right behind the front tire there is usualy a lot of mud caked up on the underside of floor board. I start stomping for all I'm worth and finaly rewarded with a LARGE chunk of dry mud becoming dislodged and exploding when it hits the ground at 65mph. Sounded like a 1,000 marbles hitting the bottom of the truck as it broke apart and was further aided by the back tire.


I look in my rear veiw mirror to see a huge red cloud trailing off me and her car suddenly drops off my bumper after the feirce pelting she was taking. A second chunk dropped of about that trime and gave her another good shower of dried GA red clay. She changed lanes and started tailgating the next car who was traveling faster then me. Gave me the dirtiest look when she passed. I just smiled and waved.


Now would you mess around with a guy in a truck that could actually drive over your car? Yes that's my truck.

[Silvertwinkie]

Been there too. Whenever I have the Bambi or the boat, seems the the morons come out in drones.

One time some guy tried something when I was not towing and he was so preoccupied with passing, he didn't see the 3/4 ton Suburban turning right and inserted his Infiniti hood right into the rear end of the burban......

He was pretty pissed, but within minutes of the Police showing up, I heard, rip, rip as he was handed two cititaions....

[Pahaska]

I have often thought of mounting a paint ball launcher somewhere in the rear of my vehicle. Maybe compressed air powered (remember the old VWs that used spare tire air to power the window washer?). The nozzle could be very easily concealed and would make a nice mess for a tailgater.

[bryanl]

paint ball launcher? I like the 'dummy darts' idea, too.

On registration, each driver with no points, in a certain 'mature' age range, and meeting other pertinent criteria, is given a quota of dummy darts to distribute as he or she sees fit by firing at the cars of dummy drivers.

Each car is also inspected for the number of dummy darts it has attracted and this number is deducted from the car driver's quota or, if too many, a requirement for supervised driving is imposed.

As you drive, you can distribute your quota of dummy darts in whatever manner you choose. These are 'fired' to stick on vehicles of your choice. This way, you can see who to avoid by how my dummy darts they have on their car.

Smokescreens and rocket lauchers have also crossed my mind at times. Perhaps this is why James Bond's cars get such a high bid at autions?

oh well, I am sure they have their reasons. Most of the time I can just go somewhere else and find some peace and quiet. Otherwise, I just have to consider it a test of my karma controls.

[Pick]

Pahaska, how about a remote control electric dump valve for the black tank? "Sorry, I thought I was airing up my shocks"

[Pahaska]

Originally posted by Pick
Pahaska, how about a remote control electric dump valve for the black tank? "Sorry, I thought I was airing up my shocks"

That happed to someone in my caravan some years ago on my trip to Copper Canyon. Unfortunately, it happened to two good guys.

Our tanks were fairly full after some dry camping. We were told to close up ranks as we approached a Mexican city on a 4-lane. We were going along at about 60 with minimum spacing when a truck passing us shed a tire tread. There was no way for one rig to miss it. He swerved and hit the brakes, but the tread tore the dump valve off his trailer which resulted in quite a brown cloud, engulfing the rig that was following who had closed up tight because of the unexpected braking. Fortunately, I was about 3 rigs back and wasn't affected. The Green Angels came by and led them to a place in the city where they were able to hose off the rigs.

I woul say that would be a pretty good anti-tailgate weapon.

[Stefrobrts]

Barely on topic... When I was in college I had a 74 Mustang Mach I (looks like a pinto) which I treasured. I had come home for the weekend and cleaned it up, polished and waxed it. I even took a toothbrush to the whitewalls and scrubbed until they were clean. It was shiny-perfect when I hit the road to go back to school.

So I'm driving along when I see the sedan up ahead of me on the freeway and there a kid figiting around in there, then he's hanging out the window, (doing 60), and I think what's he doing? Suddenly I get a brown shower right across the windsheild and all down the passenger side. I guess the kid was car-sick! He fired off another round before I could get out of the target zone. I had to stop in the next town and hose off. Man, I don't ever want to see anything like that coming at me again! All I could think was, the kid needs to hurl and they don't pull over (or even try to slow down), they just tell him to hang his head out the window?!?

When we're pulling the AS we pull over to let people go by a lot. I don't want the idiots passing us at bad times, and you never know who's stupid or high or what. I agree though, people drive crazy when they see a trailer on the freeway. They want to get ahead of you, no matter what, even if they are going slower than you are. We just try to be laid back and take it easy, and watch out for the idiots!

[geof]

.....My tow vehicle is a 16,000# roll-off hydraulic wrecker....Bring them on!....It's good for business!.....geof-in Cincinnati

[apple 1]

Six years ago on the way home from work on I-96, driving a 4x4 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel, the traffic stopped a head of me and of course I stopped but not that hard when the young woman behind me in a Honda Prelude who was tailgating did not stop. Heard the squeal of locked up brakes and felt the rear of the truck go up in the air. When I got out to look I see she is under my trailer hitch which is about half way up her hood. The rear of the truck has no damage I can see. When going to pull off the road surface I find my rear wheels are lifted high enough the wheels just spin. Easy, shift into 4wd and pull off of her and take her hood with me. Only damage to the truck is her white paint on the bottom of the trailer hitch.

[E Double]

That's happened to me twice in the past year. Thankfully I was in my f150 both times, so I came away with out a scratch. Unfortunately I had some fool on a cell phone in their Excursion rear end my F350 and cause 4 grand worth of damage. Insurance paid for it, but that's beside the point. I'm getting tired of catching bullets because of other folk's stupidity, lack of experience and sheer ignorance of physics. I have to say I'm glad I don't have a firearms carry permit, lest I might be in jail because of one of these legion of fools on the road.

Cheers,

Dennis

[Silvertwinky]

I had someone pass me not long ago while they were trying to make an entrance onto the interstate from a ramp. The only problem with that is that they didn't yield and they ran out of ramp. They were merging into my lane from the left side.

Our rig is almost 53' long from bumper to bumper but that didn't seem to detour them, they kept on coming and seemed to be determined to get around us regardless. They ran right on into the median strip until they got around us. I finally had to slow down because I didn't know what they were going to do, if they were going to hit us or what.

Had they lost control someone could have gotten killed! People need to think and some of them just simply don't!

[gwsullivan]

here is my post from a few months back:

I had an experience a few months ago traveling through Los Angeles where a Volvo decided I wasn't traveling fast enough (55 mph) in the slow lane so she passed me on the left and then immediately cut back in front of me to exit the freeway. Unfortunately for her the off ramp was backed up and she had no where to go. There were other vehicles in the lane beside me so I decided it was her time to go. I eased off the gas and braced for the broadside collision. Someone must have seen what was about to happen and made an opening for her to get off the freeway so she got to live another day.

People do not realize that you can not stop 12,000 pounds of mass travelling at 50-60 mph on a dime.

[Pahaska]

Originally posted by gwsullivan
here is my post from a few months back:

I had an experience a few months ago traveling through Los Angeles where a Volvo decided I wasn't traveling fast enough (55 mph) in the slow lane so she passed me on the left and then immediately cut back in front of me to exit the freeway.

I had one like that on I-10 in Florida. Big, old sedan. I knew the woman was passing, but until she was almost broadside in front of me, I had no idea she was going to cut me off. She took out the reflector post at the top of the exit ramp. The only thing that saved he after that was that it had rained for a week. She spun broadside down the hill, throwing fountains of mud, almost to the intersection below. I saw it all because I had instinctively locked up the brakes when she cut me off and was down to a crawl on the shoulder by the time she got stopped below. I shook for a while.