# Road Rage: what to do... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475 "2013-12-16T16:34:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/21 "2013-12-17T14:02:04Z")
I got into that situation once. My friend was driving and he initiated the altercation. The other car followed us up to 110mph and wouldn’t pass us at 5mph. After a while they started ramming the back of his truck. With much consideration we figured: 1. We were heading into the mountains and reception would not get better, nor would we likely stay on the road being rammed. 2. The other driver was likely unarmed, otherwise with his level of aggression he probably would have shot us already. 3. We were going camping and were each carrying a loaded sidearm, and had about a dozen other handguns and assault rifles in the extended cab portion of the truck. We planned to leave the highway at the next exit. If he followed we would stop on the offramp and wait in the truck. If he got out of his vehicle we would cross the overpass and wait. If he followed we would head back to town and see if he followed. If the shit hit the fan someone would go down in a blaze of glory and we hoped it wouldn’t be us. We exited the freeway and the guy followed, we stopped on the offramp and the guy got out (apparently unarmed) and ran up to the truck. We took off across the overpass and waited several minutes. Eventually the other driver got back on the highway going the original direction. We headed back to town anyway and I never got in a car with my friend driving again. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/22 "2013-12-17T14:52:48Z")
> [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > 1. We were going camping and were each carrying a loaded sidearm, and had about a dozen other handguns and assault rifles Two people with 14 firearms? May I ask where you were camping, —and why? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/23 "2013-12-17T15:51:57Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > You mention swerving into the slow lane. So there are three lanes in the road you are traveling? In this hypothetical, 3 lanes and occasionally a shoulder. Assume that there is mostly guard rail on both sides, but where there isn’t is either blocked by an impenetrable wall of trees or has a gully drop off that would be impossible to cross w/o rolling. > [@chacoguy](#): > > Pull out your phone and get them on video, get shots of the plates. Best answer. Thank You! Its a record that is time-stamped and can be shown to the police. Also, if its along a regular commute and they “come back looking for you” you can show the different events on different dates indicating a regular pattern of aggressive driving and reckless endangerment. It negates the whole “he said, she said” and “I’m so-and-so and am _fill-in-the-blank_ in the community! Do you know who I am? You’d dare accuse me?” argument. It will also have sound and indicate your frame of mind too ( Keeps the guy in the car honest and shows who’s who in case the truck guys start recording their ‘kills’). Also, if it starts to look like “World’s Wildest Police Videos”, its going to become obvious as to who is chasing whom. Anyone doing this is just trying to get off on Fear. A cop at their door with a warrant will do a lot more to fill their shorts and stop them in their tracks than any escape maneuver I can think of. Their driving license? It goes away. Their job? That likely follows. State licenses and certifications that require a clean record? Gone. Oh, and if there’s a conviction, they better brush up their “I was ice fishing and all my firearms fell in” story. Felons can’t own guns. Ever. But on the bright side, they may make the local paper. You can’t buy that kind of publicity… ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/24 "2013-12-17T16:09:00Z")
Stop mooning them. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/25 "2013-12-17T18:05:10Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > What would you do? Assuming the highway is near empty and the person is constantly pacing after I’ve already tried to slow, honk, and avoid them-- click the left paddle a few gears and accelerate. They’d need a fast truck and a serious agenda, after that. > [@](#): > > Also, what possible defenses or tactics can you think of to keep the psycho-in-a-pick-up-truck at bay until you can get to some police? I wouldn’t stop, since that isn’t likely to end well and you’ve said the highway is near empty, meaning someone is less likely to assist me. That means I’d create and maintain distance, find an exit into a populated area (if possible), and try to contact the police. ---
**Author:** ![pyromyte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d26b3c/32.png) [@pyromyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pyromyte)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/26 "2013-12-17T21:57:52Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Best answer. Thank You! > > Its a record that is time-stamped and can be shown to the police. Also, if its along a regular commute and they “come back looking for you” you can show the different events on different dates indicating a regular > pattern of aggressive driving and reckless endangerment. It negates the whole “he said, she said” and “I’m so-and-so and am _fill-in-the-blank_ in the community! Do you know who I am? You’d dare accuse me?” argument. I don’t necessarily think recording is a bad idea, but what good is a recording if you’re dead? I personally put a higher priority on surviving the situation. Slow down, keep calm, both hands on the wheel, keep situational awareness, and react as the scenario unfolds. I personally would not be able to both record with my phone and maintain proper awareness of the road/situation, especially if it escalates to him hitting my vehicle or brandishing a firearm. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/27 "2013-12-17T22:17:34Z")
Plenty of options for me; 1; obviously, document their agressive behavior for record keeping and to assist law enforcement 2; they’re in a large truck with high center of gravity and lots of suspension travel (body roll and instability)? Hmm, my car is small, low to the ground, maneuverable and nimble, they may have me beat on horsepower, but I can out handle them, perform fake-out and evasive maneuvers in an effort to lose them, last minute off ramp exit, brake, j-turn and head the other way, etc… All other alternatives fail? Being on the wrong side of a S&W 686 stainless .357 revolver with a 6" barrel tends to make would-be aggressors re-evaluate their plans… ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/28 "2013-12-17T23:00:31Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Two people with 14 firearms? > May I ask where you were camping, —and why? We were camping in the forest for the purpose of shooting recreationally. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/29 "2013-12-18T00:18:44Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Slow down to 30-40 MPH. By all means do not stop - your vehicle is your best defense, and also a potentially offensive weapon. If confrontation is unavoidable consider trying that PIT maneuver. Use deadly force only if warranted. Do you really think your average driver knows how to PIT somebody? I’m with **Omar Little**. Shoot their tire out! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/30 "2013-12-18T00:31:04Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Stop mooning them. Is THAT what that button does? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cerealbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Cerealbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerealbox)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/31 "2013-12-18T00:36:06Z")
Realistically, you should be calm about it and just tough it out as best you can. There’s not much you can do that would be safe or rational in this situation. Slowing down would be your best bet and reacting from there as the situation progresses. If you get car jacked, then you get car jacked. Personally, I \*\*might \*\*slam on the breaks. I’d _probably_ try to ram into their car and try to cause an accident by turning into the rear corner of their car. I am not proud that this is what I would do, but it’s still how I would likely to react. It would take a very large amount of effort that I don’t think I would have to not do it. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/32 "2013-12-18T02:06:21Z")
If me pretending to talk on my phone doesn’t defuse the situation, then I’d do whatever it took to get away from them, including exiting at the last moment, doing a last minute U-turn from the high speed lane, slowing down, etc. At the first sign of civilization, I’d exit and hope to find someone who can help me with the crazies. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/33 "2013-12-18T02:10:40Z")
Slowing down is your best bet. Crazies want excitement and get bored quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/34 "2013-12-18T05:40:00Z")
> [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](#): > > Slowing down is your best bet. Crazies want excitement and get bored quickly. Good point. Probably the best approach. I still believe, no matter what, do not stop. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/35 "2013-12-19T13:44:38Z")
I think I’d turn off my lights and brake hard, then slowly move to the shoulder (keeping the engine running). The sudden disappearance of lights should confuse them - they wouldn’t be able to make out my car behind them. If they also pulled over and got out to walk towards my car, I’d be able to overtake them. If they carried on, I’d be safe. Either way, as soon as I saw lights approaching from the rear, I would turn mine back on, then follow that new vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![HipGnosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HipGnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HipGnosis)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/36 "2013-12-19T16:31:00Z")
Your detailed scenario seems contrived to elicit a specific answer. A tied on tag is more likely to be stolen than phony. Slow down - to about 30. Hopefully someone will catch up to you. When they go by, speed up to be a normal distance behind them. If 3 lanes, straddle right and center lanes - leave yourself a buffer on both sides but would make them drive on the shoulder to be on your right. Repeat the plate number out loud over and over - scream it, it will help you remember it and bleed off your adrenaline to help you keep your head. Hold phone to your ear. Take pictures - a flash would be nice. If they don’t leave after a bit, speed up - most cars are faster than most pickups. Fearing for your life is justification to find out how fast your car can go. If you can go faster than them, get some distance from them, then turn off your lights, then after a bit more turn off w/o using the brakes - either down shift or use the parking brake. Turn around and park, wait to see if they followed me. If you can’t go faster than them; speed and slow down repeatedly - learn their reactions. If possible, speed up well above the speed limit. SLAM on the brakes at the last possible moment and turn off or turn around. A truck can not stop as fast as a car or turn as fast as a car. Speed away. Go to nearest civilization. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/37 "2013-12-19T19:16:08Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > I hates posts like this. Why didn’t you simply tell us what was in that “very instructional” movie? Were you just waiting for someone to formally ask you? 😕 > > It always comes across as I know the answer, but you don’t. I’m not going to spoiler box this because who spoils a 40 year old movie? [Duel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duel_(1971_film)) A fairly famous film, it was Steven Spielberg’s first directorial effort and starred Dennis Weaver. Weaver played a motorist who was being harassed by a murderous trucker. Weaver eventually parks his car at the top of a cliff facing the trucker. He then accelerates toward the trucker, puts his briefcase on the gas pedal, and jumps out. The trucker plows through Weaver’s car and over the edge of the cliff. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/38 "2013-12-21T15:48:17Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > All other alternatives fail? Being on the wrong side of a S&W 686 stainless .357 revolver with a 6" barrel tends to make would-be aggressors re-evaluate their plans… This was just supposed to be a hypothetical. Still, its incredibly weird that something personal that I shared in a firearms thread in which I wasn’t even\* close\* to being a major participant some 4-5 years ago (and many, many thousands of posts) just seemed to be right on the tip of your tongue. Do you have a list of what everyone who posts on the board purports to have owned at one point in time or another in their lives? I’m trying to find words to describe how I feel about this without using the adjective “creepy”. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/39 "2013-12-22T09:08:17Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > This was just supposed to be a hypothetical. > > Still, its incredibly weird that something personal that I shared in a firearms thread in which I wasn’t even\* close\* to being a major participant some 4-5 years ago (and many, many thousands of posts) > just seemed to be right on the tip of your tongue. Do you have a list of what everyone who posts on the board purports to have owned at one point in time or another in their lives? > > I’m trying to find words to describe how I feel about this without using the adjective “creepy”. Perhaps **MacTech** owns one too? They aren’t as common as say, the Ruger Mk 1 through 3 .22 pistol, but they aren’t insanely rare either. I’d love to get one of the Performance Center models, one of these days. Loved shooting the Highway Patrol model K-frame S&W .357 my granddad had back in the day. And it’s hard to find a pistol load with a better track record than the 125 grain load at ~1450 fps. But yeah, that would be creepy if he was referring to something you own, but had mentioned only several years ago. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/40 "2013-12-22T09:31:31Z")
I love how with any such question to Americans the answers quickly devolve to solving the problem by using a gun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475.md?page=3)