Yuppies in Escalades (Braddock: safe, car, ticket)

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by UKyank

I don't think that qualifies as a road rager

I'll bet you would agree if I said when someone cuts me off, I speed up and pass them, then signal to get in front of them, and either let off my gas, or fully depress my brake pedal until I hear their tires squeal. I've also turned around and followed someone, who pulled out in front of me on South Braddock, in to Westmoreland County. Those are just two of many instances.

Everyone has their own definition of road rage. I constantly here people calling others who drive fast "crazy". I don't think someone who drives fast crazy at all. What they are doing while driving at higher speeds is another story. But if someone is simply driving down the road at speed, using their signals and minding their own business, I don't find that crazy at all.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by SorryIMovedBack

Don't have ample time to react to??? Well, that's why you maintain a safe following distance: To have your own vehicle under control at all times. What is so difficult about that? There are buses and delivery vans and tractor-trailers and cargo vans and all manner of bulky vehicles out there on the streets and highways. If they bother you people, then you should either buy a "similar wide behemoth," stay the H home, or only travel at night when the vehicles can spread out.

Trucks have a purpose. The economy doesn't function without them. Doesn't mean we need more huge things on the highways.

The inability to scan traffic far in front of one's own car has been proven to be a more significant factor in accidents than road conditions or weather. Even with a 1 car length per 10 mph speed convention, large SUVs block uproad vision in many normal conditions. So the less huge behemoths on the road, the safer it is for everyone. Simple math. Not that you'd care about anyone else.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I'll bet you would agree if I said when someone cuts me off, I speed up and pass them, then signal to get in front of them, and either let off my gas, or fully depress my brake pedal until I hear their tires squeal. I've also turned around and followed someone, who pulled out in front of me on South Braddock, in to Westmoreland County. Those are just two of many instances.

And the point of that was? You made yourself more dangerous and crazy than the driver you were mad at.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

And the point of that was? You made yourself more dangerous and crazy than the driver you were mad at.

My point is, people do ridiculous things in traffic every day, knowing the police most likely aren't going to be around to do a thing about it. They also know they can screw with most people and most people are to afraid to fight back. My goal is to leave that person with the impression that it's not always a good idea to screw with any old stranger on the road.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by sskink

The inability to scan traffic far in front of one's own car has been proven to be a more significant factor in accidents than road conditions or weather.

I agree. That's where a lot of Pittsburgh drivers fail. They don't assess traffic until they are immediately ready to change lanes, and either change lanes at the last minute without using a signal or using the signal. But they expect other drivers to assume they are going to change lane.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I'll bet you would agree if I said when someone cuts me off, I speed up and pass them, then signal to get in front of them, and either let off my gas, or fully depress my brake pedal until I hear their tires squeal. I've also turned around and followed someone, who pulled out in front of me on South Braddock, in to Westmoreland County. Those are just two of many instances.

That's definitely road rage. In fact that is severe, actually acting out those moves. Mine is extremely mild in comparison, though I would put it on the rage scale. All I do is shout (which only me and other occupants of my car can hear), maybe wave my arms or flip a bird here and there. I prefer not to add my own unsafe moves to the mix. I am able to control it enough to not do that, even when alone in the car.

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

Everyone has their own definition of road rage. I constantly here people calling others who drive fast "crazy". I don't think someone who drives fast crazy at all. What they are doing while driving at higher speeds is another story. But if someone is simply driving down the road at speed, using their signals and minding their own business, I don't find that crazy at all.

People doing stupid things are not the road rage though. People doing stupid things CAUSE the road rage. The slow people aren't it either, at least not alone. As you said about driving fast, it's what they're doing while driving slow that makes the difference. The other night I was headed down to the airport, some car on 79 was in the left lane for a long time not getting past the car on the right, seemingly matched speeds. I didn't have enough room to go between them. So I blasted the high beams, and the realization finally hit and the car moved over. Hey, wow, just another driver completely unaware of his surroundings....

The rage comes from people doing things that are clearly unsafe, not just from people who get in the way or whatever.

[polo15129]

(( I can't see around you. Thus, I'm at more risk for whatever danger might be lurking ahead that I don't have ample time to react to. ))

UNLESS YOU THINK YOU ARE IN A DRAG RACE ,KEEP YOUR SAFE DISTANCE, GO BY THE SPEED LIMITS AND YOU'LL BE JUST FINE .

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by greg42

The other night I was headed down to the airport, some car on 79 was in the left lane for a long time not getting past the car on the right, seemingly matched speeds. I didn't have enough room to go between them.

Not that this is particularly useful, but I vividly remember a time when I was driving on I believe it was I 75 north towards Columbus from Cincy. On a stretch of two lane road, there was a truck in the right lane, and in the left there was a car (or suv, can't remember) that literally matched the truck's speed for over 30 miles. This is at midnight. The truck was doing his best to alternately speed up and slow down to shake the vehicle to his left, because he could clearly see the cars behind him trying to get by.

I remember that, over times just about anywhere else in the country (I've driven in many places at many speeds in many different types of vehicles), as one of the most tiring drives I've ever had. Five cars are lined up behind this a-hole, spanning a total area of 'maybe' 8 car lengths. Speeds ranged from 45 to 85 mph, and I tried my best to follow at what I thought was a safe 10-20 car lengths behind. I thought for certain I was going to see someone die that night, and that I was going to have to be on the side of the road giving medical help even though I'm woefully unqualified.

Dumb drivers are everywhere, and drive all types of cars. In this situation, there were 8 cars total. Truck driver, me, guy next to truck, and the 5 cars behind him all tailgating one another. At least 6 of these drivers were idiots. Myself and the truck driver, as far as I can tell, were the only reasonable ones. Funny as I don't normally consider myself to be a reasonable person or a non-aggressive driver.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Also, let it be known that I hate speed limits. Why on earth do I need to be limited to 50 mph on a road where I can clearly do at least 80 safely. We need some autobahn-style stuff here. I don't even get comfortable in my car until I hit 80 on most non-congested highways (traffic makes for a different story). I find myself to be very safe, but come on, I hate these crazy cops who pull people over doing safe speeds even though they've exceeded some arbitrary limit.

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I agree. That's where a lot of Pittsburgh drivers fail. They don't assess traffic until they are immediately ready to change lanes, and either change lanes at the last minute without using a signal or using the signal. But they expect other drivers to assume they are going to change lane.

The same goes for people who go a certain speed until five feet behind a slower car, then slam on the brakes (as opposed to gradually slowing and then maintaining a distance). That's not just in Pittsburgh, though. We seem to like to attribute things to Pittsburghers that in fact go on everywhere.