Road Rage/Reckless Driver Incident

[Doc Safari]

This past Saturday some idiot pretty much tried to run me off the road on one of those streets that changes from two lanes to one. I did get the guy's license plate number, but I realize the cops pretty much would blow it off since he never actually hit my vehicle or anything.

My main concern is that this jerk probably does this kind of thing all the time. Is there any way to get back at him within the law just so he learns a lesson?

[jsbhike]

Which lane ended? They aren't always left or always right.

That being said, they probably do it all the time. We have lots of center passing lanes on hills here and it can be interesting watching how long someone will hang in the lead vehicles blind spot before trying to pass only when the lanes merge. Seen it so often I wonder if it isn't some sort of weird mental disorder.

[Circle_10]

I don't believe there is any sort of legally sanctioned vengeance you can exact upon someone. If there is anything "within the law" you can do, it will be so minor that it won't achieve the result of "teaching him a lesson", so why bother wasting the energy?

[MegademiC]

Are you sure he tried to run you off the road?
Maybe he didnt realize the lane was ending.
Both sides need to work together during a merge... were you trying to block him out?

Not all bad driving in intentional or malicious, just showing the other side.

If he was being a jerk, just accept that some people are asses and move on- imo.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Californians, high on weed, or just dumb. Here is CO I've given up on expecting anything out of other drivers. We don't have the speed freaks that seem to populate FL highways, but Jesus are there a lot of non-hackers out there not paying attention while driving.

Considering the number of millennials that don't want to drive- image their lack of interest in knowing the finer points of correctly driving.

While we are here. What do you guys think about 'zippering' . I thought I was taught, and I was definitely told, to get into the lane going through early- even if that lane is backed up and the other lane clear. Now it seems the taught way is to use two lanes until the merge point? Thinking about it, the merge at the actual physical merge makes sense. It should be the fairest if you go left-right-left-right lane when in stop and go traffic. Lots of times the merge traffic starts before you know what is going on because there haven't been signs yet. Plus, when you have a light ahead of the merge, using both lanes allows more people through during the light, which can then bleed off during a red light and traffic is stopped at the light.

[AKDoug]

Are you sure he tried to run you off the road?
Maybe he didnt realize the lane was ending.
Both sides need to work together during a merge... were you trying to block him out?

Not all bad driving in intentional or malicious, just showing the other side.

If he was being a jerk, just accept that some people are asses and move on- imo.

I'm working with my 22 y.o. son on this right now.

Right lane merges into the left. Dude stuck in the right looks in his mirror and realizes all the cars in the left lane are packed tight, he accelerates because there is a gap in front of my son, son accelerates to block the guy, I give my kid a giant WTF?, son says "no way that asshole gets ahead of me", I say "why not? It's not an F'n race and what would you have done if you were the guy in the right lane?" As long as the guy in the right lane continues on at a rate of speed that doesn't impede me, I don't care any more. Life's too short to get wound up about shit like this.

Do I get annoyed when a guy gets out of line, knowing the lanes are going to merge, and pass on the right.. hell yes I do, but I just move on with life.

BUT.. as a commercial truck driver, it more annoys me when the lanes merge to one and I'm signalling for over a mile and not one asshole will let me in.

[gaijin]

I think the answer to your question is; no, not really.

[austinN4]

My main concern is that this jerk probably does this kind of thing all the time. Is there any way to get back at him within the law just so he learns a lesson?

Don't know where The Ranch is, but if you are in Texas you can report such activity to 911 with the plate #. They will then be on the lookout for them. Not sure what they do when they find the however. https://www.txdot.gov/driver/share-r...e-drivers.html

[kerplode]

if you lived up here, that shit would happen to you three or four times a day...

[AKDoug]

Don't know where The Ranch is, but if you are in Texas you can report such activity to 911 with the plate #. They will then be on the lookout for them. Not sure what they do when they find the however. https://www.txdot.gov/driver/share-r...e-drivers.html

It's happened to me. I was pulled over by commercial vehicle enforcement for a report from a concerned citizen that I didn't signal when I changed lanes. I changed lanes quickly and did not signal because the guy in front of me (guy who called me in) inexplicably slammed on his brakes on a highway. No time to signal with two hands on the wheel, check the mirrors and take evasive action. I replayed my dash camera for the officer and was cleared immediately. The officer noted the vehicle type and license number and turned it over to the troopers because he felt the guy complaining was a danger.

So... if you want to be a road ranger, get a dash cam. Be aware, just like body cams, they can hang you just as much as they can save you.