Dangerous First Impressions

Road rage is, to be trite, all the rage these days. The other day, I was getting into the car at the supermarket when a grey-haired woman in a large white car barrels into the spot next to me. When I didn’t move my legs fast enough, she laid on the horn and shot me the finger. The finger was not considered sufficient, so she roundly roasted me with a string of curses that could have peeled paint off the hood of her car. Backing my car out, I sweetly smiled nicely and told her to have a nice day. For some strange reason, this seemed to enrage her more. Was I missing the point of her message?

First impressions while driving are probably the only ones. On the same day as the “little old rude b@#$h in the white car” situation, two other people generously yielded the right of way to me. I waved thanks to them. I am not likely to see either of them again.

However, first impressions may have serious implications when heavy traffic is involved. It’s not easy to scamper out of the way in congested traffic when an aggressive driver starts tailgating and laying on the horn. Eventually, the aggressive driver runs into another of the same tribe. They start playing tag in their supersized SUVs, and tragedy ensues for themselves and the drivers near them.

It would seem that, if possible, a good tactic would be to just let them have the right of way and watch them roar off towards their next encounter – probably someone like themselves who likes to lay on the horn and scream a lot. Perversely, this does not always work. They decide that you are the patsy of the day, and they continue to harass you.
Where I grew up, the expression “don’t get mad, get even” were words to live by. Unfortunately, getting even on the road may be the worst thing you can do.

I don’t pretend to know the answer. The internet is full of advice, from getting out of their way to breathing exercises. One thing I tried was pulling over, but I found that jerk face pulled over, too. A fight by the side of the road was not something I relished. In a panic I picked up my phone, and made as if to make a call. I then looked at him and shouted out 9-1-1! He seemed to realize that a State Trooper might not see things his way, so he ran back to his car and booked it.
What would I have done if he hadn’t taken the hint? I would have called 911 and stayed in the car. I’ve been in enough fights to know that violence is best avoided.

What advice do I have? Use common sense, whether you are on the road or walking down the street. Stay aware of your surroundings. Know where you are. Was the last exit number 36? What is the flow of traffic like around me? Is someone driving erratically who I should avoid? Knowing where you are on the road is vital if you get into the sort of situation I wound up in. Or if you need to call in an accident.
Being watchful of erratic behavior may allow you to avoid contact with aggressive, distracted, or intoxicated people who seem more and more to occupy our roads.