My First Road Rage, How To Handle It?

[twistsick]

So today, as I was riding home from school I witnessed my first serious road rage in a whole year.
I still don't get what I did wrong. I was doing the speedlimit, the car after me started tailgatting and honking. I turned around to see what was wrong, he flipped me off. He passed me then at full speed and cutting off in front of my way too close. I had to do an emergency break of I'd hit his rear. After a while I had to chance to pull next to him, which I did to ask him whats wrong. He provoked me, called me a f*cking retard and such. He didn't say why he was angry at me or anything. Only that he would run me over next time he sees me on the road. I was shocked so I just drove off without further listening to all his shouting.

So I'm wondering if I could do anything to prevent such things from happening? Or should I have reacted differently? What do you think? And do you have a roadrage story?

 

[Marbro_za]

People are dicks,

Drop a gear and disappear, or turn off and go another route. Dont try to understand morons

 

[ShadowBoxer]

I think you handled it fine (staying calm and in control of your motorcycle), except that you seem to be feeling responsible for the rager's actions or feelings.
You are not responsible for anyone else' actions or feelings. If you must assume anything, assume they are like that most of the time. They acted like that last year. They will probably act like that tomorrow with someone else.

Bottom line: it has nothing to do with you.
They are hating on other things in their life and are probably the most angry with themselves. However they can't admit to being wrong, lazy, insecure, whatever their issues are.
So they direct those feelings at others around them. A faceless motorcycle rider who is not moving fast enough is a great, seemingly free, target. You are just the current excuse to vent.

It's nothing to do with you or about you and there is nothing you can do to satisfy these types.
Your best action most of the time is to do as Marbro_za suggests above.
Then enjoy the view and decide to make your day happy.

 

[Andy]

Staying calm is the best route to go with, I had an incident where this lad cut me off, pulled straight across me and I pulled the front brake that hard I lifted the rear wheel up. I chased him down only to realise he was stoned off his face and probably didn't even realise I was there, you just have to take a deep breath say ********************************** (usually lots of swearing) then carry on with your journey. Moan to people when you get off the bike, helps alot

 

[Marbro_za]

You are not responsible for anyone else' actions or feelings.

That goes for life in general, not just while riding

 

[ShadowBoxer]

You make me laugh Marbro_za.
I was going to follow up that sentence with, ". Ever. Period." You know, the aerial map/ Life point of view.
Then I thought, no someone will come back with some small minded argument about sometimes yes... So I just left it local to the topic.

Two posts later you come back and basically say, "Ever. Period!"
Cheers mate

 

[Carmo]

Sounds like a classic case of someone who feels they're too good to do the speed limit and the reason people need to ride with a helmet camera. It's surprising how quickly some people calm down when they know they're being recorded. But if that fails and someone is still very aggressive (and your doing the correct speed etc) I'd just let them pass if I was feeling threatened. If I was 'comfortable' about a situation and it was just someone trying to intimidate me, I'd just continue riding how I was and let that motorist obey the road rules like I am.

 

[TheDutchTexan]

Some people are just pissed off at life, some people are just pissed they can't do what you are doing... Be it riding, fit trough a tight spot whatever. The best thing is to drop a gear and disappear like mentioned previously. Unless they got something really fast they won't catch up. Chances are if they have something really fast they are not the kind of person to get road rage like that.

 

[DeeMoney]

Drop a gear and disappear

Couldn't have said it better myself. If you were in the left lane, I would say the best choice is to switch to the slower one if you could earlier before he tried to pass you.

Honestly, these guys are in cages, you aren't. You are going to have to start letting things go and ride like they are out to kill you.

 

[BbqRider]

Number one rule of road rage: DON'T GET INVOLVED! I am guilty of this, especially in the cage when someone is driving like an arse, I'll give them the stare or "what are you doing ****?" gesture, but on the bike it's best to remove yourself from the situation ASAP. You handled it pretty well, but now you know not to waste your time talking to them next time. As Marbro said, drop a gear, take the next exit etc etc. Don't provoke them and 99% of the time they'll leave you alone

 

[SighBored]

People are dicks,

Drop a gear and disappear, or turn off and go another route. Dont try to understand morons

 

[Marbro_za]

Was riding behind a guy today... Instead of going around cars while filtering... He decided to tap mirrors, or redline his engine. All i could do was shake my head.
All this before work too

 

[MrJoel]

Were you recording? Call it in man, file a report. They probably won't do anything. But if it happens again you have cause for them to take action.

I haven't see a thread on it here but maybe we should brainstorm defensive techniques. I'm on a 600 seca II (xj600, if I drop a gear I ain't gonna disappear!). I can open carry here in Kentucky but I'm not a fan of open carry on a bike. Maybe a good Thumpin stick mounted somewhere easiy accessible. It's never good to stop and tak anymore but if you are cornered, you gotta do something. (All this coming from a seminary student too...yeah, I'm a little counter cultural in a lot of ways!)

 

[lupin]

Sounds like you handled it well. Not sure I could have.

 

[Marbro_za]

I'm on a 600 seca II (xj600, if I drop a gear I ain't gonna disappear!).

Then back off and drive slower/take a different route.

I can open carry here in Kentucky but I'm not a fan of open carry on a bike. Maybe a good Thumpin stick mounted somewhere easiy accessible. It's never good to stop and tak anymore but if you are cornered, you gotta do something. (All this coming from a seminary student too...yeah, I'm a little counter cultural in a lot of ways!)

I wouldnt do that. I believe that if you make a gun/thumpin stick etc an option... you are going to use it. I dont wanna get to that point, not over some arb road rage shit

 

[twistsick]

Sounds like you handled it well. Not sure I could have.

TBH I was in a very good mood that day. It probaly would gone differently if I was in a normal/bad mood. :l

 

[twistsick]

Were you recording? Call it in man, file a report. They probably won't do anything. But if it happens again you have cause for them to take action.

I haven't see a thread on it here but maybe we should brainstorm defensive techniques. I'm on a 600 seca II (xj600, if I drop a gear I ain't gonna disappear!). I can open carry here in Kentucky but I'm not a fan of open carry on a bike. Maybe a good Thumpin stick mounted somewhere easiy accessible. It's never good to stop and tak anymore but if you are cornered, you gotta do something. (All this coming from a seminary student too...yeah, I'm a little counter cultural in a lot of ways!)

I wish I had that on camera. But I don't always ride around with my camera recording or even on my helmet.
And all I know for defensive techniques is just stay away from angry cagers and always remain calm.
But a topic on defensive techniques would be a good idea!
And I ride a YZF R125, if I drop a gear, it would made any difference XD

 

[twistsick]

People are dicks,

Drop a gear and disappear, or turn off and go another route. Dont try to understand morons

Can't really "drop a gear a disappear" on a 125cc. And it was on my way home from school. Not a lot of choise to change routes as any given time.

 

[twistsick]

I think you handled it fine (staying calm and in control of your motorcycle), except that you seem to be feeling responsible for the rager's actions or feelings.
You are not responsible for anyone else' actions or feelings. If you must assume anything, assume they are like that most of the time. They acted like that last year. They will probably act like that tomorrow with someone else.

Bottom line: it has nothing to do with you.
They are hating on other things in their life and are probably the most angry with themselves. However they can't admit to being wrong, lazy, insecure, whatever their issues are.
So they direct those feelings at others around them. A faceless motorcycle rider who is not moving fast enough is a great, seemingly free, target. You are just the current excuse to vent.

It's nothing to do with you or about you and there is nothing you can do to satisfy these types.
Your best action most of the time is to do as Marbro_za suggests above.
Then enjoy the view and decide to make your day happy.

I don't really feel responsible for the rager's action. I'm just doubting that I maybe did something wrong, like cutting him off, without knowing.
I hope it has nothing to do with me, it still sucks to have someone raging at you...
Problem is, its only a 125cc, its impossible to dissapear on that thing. Unless you drive into a canal.
Always enjoying the view from my little bike!

 

[twistsick]

Number one rule of road rage: DON'T GET INVOLVED! I am guilty of this, especially in the cage when someone is driving like an arse, I'll give them the stare or "what are you doing ****?" gesture, but on the bike it's best to remove yourself from the situation ASAP. You handled it pretty well, but now you know not to waste your time talking to them next time. As Marbro said, drop a gear, take the next exit etc etc. Don't provoke them and 99% of the time they'll leave you alone

Guess this was one of those 1% of the time? I only looked over to see what's up. Still got the finger, even I didn't do any gestures or anything