# 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:** 3
**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 22, 2013, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/41 "2013-12-22T10:15:48Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I love how with any such question to Americans the answers quickly devolve to solving the problem by using a gun. As the old sayings go: Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight, and… Better to have one and not need it, than to need one and not have it. > [@](#): > > Your safety is your responsibility. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the police owe no duty to protect individual citizens, so if you dial 911 and the police don’t show up for several hours, they are not liable for what happens. That’s the law of the land. > > Are you paranoid if you buckle your seat belt? How about if you keep a fire extinguisher in your bedroom (a word to the wise: keep one there)? Like a fire extinguisher or a seat belt, a firearm is a safety tool. The odds are that you won’t need it. But if you do, you and your family will be glad you were prepared. > **[It's Better to Have a Gun and Not Need It, Than to Need a Gun and Not Have it](https://www.nj.com/njv_scott_bach/2007/10/its_better_to_have_a_gun_and_n.html)** > > It's 10:30 a.m. and you're locked in your bedroom. There's a madman pounding on the bedroom door, just seconds from breaking through. Best case, the police are 5-10 minutes away. Worst case, it could be more than an hour.... ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/42 "2013-12-22T11:51:57Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I love how with any such question to Americans the answers quickly devolve to solving the problem by using a gun. To be fair, it’s only a certain type of American. We pretty much are two nations. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/43 "2013-12-22T19:08:22Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I love how with any such question to Americans the answers quickly devolve to solving the problem by using a gun. In all fairness, these are the sort of questions that are often most effectively answered with the use of a gun. “Q: You’re walking down the street with your gun and are attacked by a gang of hoodlums. What do you do?” “A” Uhhh…Shoot them with my gun?!" ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/44 "2013-12-22T20:12:08Z")
That would make an awesome thread. “What do you do when …” and every single time the answer is “pull out your gun”. ---
**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 23, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/45 "2013-12-23T05:53:12Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > 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. That would be a great gun thread in an of itself and I’d love to read about it. If I asked nicely, perhaps you could post a new thread about it for us all to read? > [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I love how with any such question to Americans the answers quickly devolve to solving the problem by using a gun. I honestly did start this thread searching for creativity. Pulling some cold metal frame out with good reviews and plunking holes in things is Not creative. That and I live in a state with possibly the third tightest gun laws in the nation. To own here, you have to jump through more hoops than Seigfried & Roys white tigers. For a carry permit? You better be regularly carrying diamonds or gold bullion for an OK. Conversely, if the cops find you with an illegal gun in your car? You’re next “gun” is a “3 to 5 Automatic”. No plea deals, no Nothing. Just ass-clowns in jail. (It might be more time if there is ammo for it in the car and even more time if the gun is actually loaded. Any laws you break by discharging it are just icing on top of that cake. ) ---
**Author:** ![Cerealbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Cerealbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerealbox)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/46 "2013-12-23T06:15:34Z")
Let’s be honest, if the question were “can’t seem to nudge the top off of this ketchup bottle, what do you do?” most Americans would instinctively reach for one of our many automatic assault rifles that we carry on us 24/7, then, once blasting the top off of the bottle, celebrate by firing a few rounds into the air before finally pouring the ketchup onto our hamburgers and hamfisting it down our enormous, freedom-loving gullets. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/47 "2013-12-23T08:24:05Z")
> [@Cerealbox](#): > > Let’s be honest, if the question were “can’t seem to nudge the top off of this ketchup bottle, what do you do?” most Americans would instinctively reach for one of our many automatic assault rifles that we carry on us 24/7, then, once blasting the top off of the bottle, celebrate by firing a few rounds into the air before finally pouring the ketchup onto our hamburgers and hamfisting it down our enormous, freedom-loving gullets. And the bonus is all the shards of broken glass in the ketchup. Yeah, chew 'em like a Real Man, MF. ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/48 "2013-12-23T08:54:54Z")
> [@pyromyte](#): > > You don’t leave too many options in this situation. > [ul] > [li]I can’t call the police.[/li][li]There are no exits or side roads.[/li][li]There are no/few other cars.[/li][/ul] > > First, I would slow down to an extremely slow speed to reduce the severity of any potential wreck and to get them to drive on. If that didn’t work, I would possibly pull over. > > Depending on how the situation went from there, I may cooperate and surrender my car, or I would possibly use deadly force to defend myself. > > I do not think running or increasing speed is a very good choice, because both the likelihood and severity of a catastrophic wreck would be greatly increased. \< I would possibly pull over.\> I was with you till then. I’d slow down suddenly, turn around and get the frack out of there. If they pursued me, then I’d use the car as a weapon, unless I actually had a weapon, then I’d use that. There is no way you could control the situation if stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/49 "2013-12-23T08:57:52Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 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. I can’t remember if the truck explodes as is usually the case in Hollywood epics. ---
**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 23, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/50 "2013-12-23T15:46:14Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > That would make an awesome thread. “What do you do when …” and every single time the answer is “pull out your gun”. Its boring & is the reason why “Westerns” genre of TV series died off. ---
**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 23, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/51 "2013-12-23T16:18:29Z")
> [@Cerealbox](#): > > Let’s be honest, if the question were “can’t seem to nudge the top off of this ketchup bottle, what do you do?” most Americans would instinctively reach for one of our many automatic assault rifles that we carry on us 24/7, then, once blasting the top off of the bottle, celebrate by firing a few rounds into the air before finally pouring the ketchup onto our hamburgers and hamfisting it down our enormous, freedom-loving gullets. > [@panache45](#): > > And the bonus is all the shards of broken glass in the ketchup. Yeah, chew 'em like a Real Man, MF. Pffft. Real Men [sabre the tops](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IajqdiPKvlY) off their bottles. Which also works on other kinds of bottles than Champagne, as I learned to my sorrow, trying to get the foil covering the lid, off a bottle of syrup with a chef’s knife… I was cleaning syrup of the counter for awhile after that. Not sure what new thread I’m supposed to start; I was just mentioning a possible alternate explanation for **MacTech** picking that specific pistol. Me, I’m doing absolutely everything I can to _not_ have to resort to using a gun. Basically, don’t stop, don’t let the other driver box you in to where you’ll be forced to stop, and get somewhere with decent cell reception so you can summon the cavalry. Cell phones will help your safety a lot more than any firearm is going to. If there absolutely must be violence—and I hate hypotheticals that are set up so that violence is the only solution—then most people are going to be better at using their car to commit it, than they will trying to drive with one hand and throw shots with the other. Not to mention guns fired inside a car leave a mess: glass, permanent loss of hearing, the joys of catching ejected brass down your shirt… You are responsible for every bullet you shoot: legally, morally, and financially. Bullets also generally go to pieces after hitting a car door or windshield glass. The net effect is that you can hit a lot more people in the car than you were originally aiming for. Try explaining a dead, unarmed passenger to the police, even if you were shooting at the driver. Dumping the magazine at the bad guy’s car is therefore usually a Bad Idea. Unfortunately, like a fire extinguisher is a really good tool for putting out a fire, a firearm is a good tool for some, very rare, situations that call for it. I don’t think the OP’s situation is necessarily one of them. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/52 "2013-12-23T16:34:08Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > That would be a great gun thread in an of itself and I’d love to read about it. If I asked nicely, perhaps you could post a new thread about it for us all to read? > > I honestly did start this thread searching for creativity. Pulling some cold metal frame out with good reviews and plunking holes in things is Not creative. That and I live in a state with possibly the third tightest gun laws in the nation. To own here, you have to jump through more hoops than Seigfried & Roys white tigers. For a carry permit? You better be regularly carrying diamonds or gold bullion for an OK. > > Conversely, if the cops find you with an illegal gun in your car? You’re next “gun” is a “3 to 5 Automatic”. No plea deals, no Nothing. Just ass-clowns in jail. (It might be more time if there is ammo for it in the car and even more time if the gun is actually loaded. Any laws you break by discharging it are just icing on top of that cake. ) wish I lived there, too. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/53 "2013-12-23T17:00:05Z")
You’re all overthinking my handgun comment… I happen to own a 6" stainless S&W 686, nothing more ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/54 "2013-12-23T17:33:08Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Its boring The creative part is thinking up the questions. Like, “What do you do when a bunch of evil fuckers are herding Jews and other people into camps and bunring them alive and shit?” See? Or “What do you do when a car full of drunk violent rapists force you off the road and you have your family in the car with you?” But that is going full off topic … ---
**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 24, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/55 "2013-12-24T00:46:55Z")
This has been off topic for a while now. ---
**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 24, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/56 "2013-12-24T22:27:47Z")
Godwin 1, FX 0. _Close Sesame_ ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/57 "2013-12-24T23:04:51Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > This has been off topic for a while now. Well, since it was a question, and not an opinion, yes. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/58 "2013-12-24T23:57:35Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I love how with any such question to Americans the answers quickly devolve to solving the problem by using a gun. At what point were you given the authority to decide what a poster can or can not post? Using a firearm is still a choice here. Your government has decided that you can’t be trusted with firearms. It’s almost as if your country was founded by criminals. It’s not like I can toss a spare dingo into the offenders car. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/59 "2013-12-25T00:26:27Z")
For those Americans who forget to bring their gun I would suggest the following. Slow down so you’re behind them and. if they pull over and walk back then drive up to the car and grab the keys out of the ignition. drive one mile and toss the evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475/60 "2013-12-25T02:52:30Z")
post got chopped. slow down so you’re behind them and then pull over. If they pull over and walk back then drive up to their car and grab the keys out of the ignition. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-rage-what-to-do/676475.md?page=4)