Okay, I can honestly see how someone could get a case of road rage. Seriously. With a 120 mile work commute every day at some point or another a driver is going to irritate me, but last night was RIDICULOUS. GRRRRRR.
So, there I am, heading from work on my way to my daughter’s basketball practice. And well, I got stuck behind someone doing 40 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. I was getting a tad bit miffed. Especially since it was a pickup truck and they kept riding the centerline so I couldn’t see to get around.
But, I figured, “Okay, I can deal with this. I’ll just be running a little late.”
Then comes the DB (douche bag) behind me. He’s riding my tail. I’m of course muttering to myself “I can’t go any faster, hello, someone in front of me.”
Of course, DB can’t hear. But now comes the part where this jack weed starts to tick me off. He starts flashing his bright lights behind me.
WTF? Seriously. I have a truck in front of me that I CAN’T see to get around. And I’m sure he/she (truck in front of me) isn’t going to go any faster with you flashing your frickin brights in MY mirror.
DB does this a couple of times, then backs off. Then another mile or two down the road, DB gets on my tail again and starts to flash the lights again. At this point, I’m thinking if they don’t back off I’m so gonna slam on my brakes! But then, of course, I don’t want to do that because my car is only a year old and I don’t want it smashed up.
So DB now becomes A**hole, and A**hat (and a number of other unsavory naughty words). So A-hole, formerly known as DB backs off once more. At this point, my heart rate is up and I’m tossing around cusswords like they’re going out of style (trust me, I came up with some inventive names for A-hole).
Once more, I try to see around the truck this time, I notice oncoming traffic. And A-hole comes riding up on my butt once more. Again, with the bright lights. So, I touched my brakes and he backed off. I nearly, rolled down my wind to give him a friendly gesture, but then thought better of it.
Eventually, I got around the truck and the other car got stuck behind him (hahahhaha). Serve’s him/her right!
So, here are the top five ways to give me (or someone else) road rage: And yes, A-hole, formerly known as DB this is for you…
5) Drive below the speed limit when the roads are clear and weather is good (some of us really want to get home). And if you don’t want to do speed limit, kindly take back roads (or pull the heck over so I can get around).
4) Swerve into my lane because you’re too busy talking on your flipping phone or texting.
3) Whip out/pull out in front of me (when there’s no one behind me and you could’ve waited) then turn 1 road up (grrr). Really? I mean, you couldn’t wait for me to go by?
2) Go too fast for road conditions when it’s snowy/icy (um—do you not see all the cars in ditches—moron). Why yes, I do see you have 4-wheel drive, but guess what? Ice + driving too fast= 4-wheel drive vehicle in the ditch.
1) And the number one way to give me a case of road rage? RIDE MY TAIL WHEN I’M ALREADY GOING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT or RIDE MY TAIL WHEN I CAN’T GO ANY FASTER BECAUSE THERE’S A CAR IN FRONT OF ME THEN FLASH YOUR FREAKING BRIGHT LIGHTS.
Hugs, lady. I think everyone can identify. I get SO irritated when people do the pulling out in front of you thing and then turn one road (or driveway) up when I’m the last car before it’s clear. And the tail riders. Not to mention, with Amish buggies here, sometimes you CAN”T pass and some idiot decides to take chances with everyone’s life as he/she jets past. I especially hate when they fly around curves or down hills passing a buggy and I’m headed the opposite direction. Talk about scary. Can’t they see all the CROSSES along our roadways that should be an indication to a NORMAL person to slow down? It’s very frustrating and I admit can inspire road rage. Great post!!
Traci, We have the Amish buggies on some of the roads here too. I don’t know why people have to be like that. It’s SO annoying (and sometimes dangerous). I’m always thinking “Where are the police when you need them”. Last winter on my way home, there was freezing rain and everyone was going slow and this guy decides he’s going to pass the car behind me, me, and the 2 cars ahead of me. Um–yeah, then came the oncoming traffic and he’s car started to skid and he narrowly missed the guy in front of me and went flying into the ditch.
Rebekah L Purdy Blog: Writer Adrift
120 mile commute?!? Please tell me that’s both ways, not one.
And I don’t blame you for being ticked off. I would be too!
Hey Vanessa! Yeah, that’s both ways (not one way). Although, I normally end up running from work to kids sports which puts it a bit longer (ahh). LOL. Lots of time on the road, that’s for sure. And yeah, I was so ticked last night. You have like a million things run through your mind (most of which were cuss words and what kinds of gestures I’d like to show him/her). LOL. I’m normally a mild mannered person, so when thoughts of throwing up my middle finger started to go through my mind, I was like “Er…better not to do that.”
Rebekah L Purdy Blog: Writer Adrift