I suppose everybody has a road rage story... here's mine...

I pulled out onto a four lane divided highway just behind a truck... as I started to overtake the truck on the left, he cut me off without a turn signal, slowed and went into the left turn lane, again without a turn signal.  I swung past him on the right and made the mistake of flipping him off as I went by.

He aborted his turn and chased me to the next stoplight... jumped out of his van and started screaming.  I put the window most of the way up and locked the door.  He wanted me out of the car so we could beef... I wanted no part of him.  so he reaches through the slit of the window that was open (maybe two inches or so and smacks me in the nose with the side of his hand... got me good.

Got his plate number and the name of his company (it was on the side of the truck... duh!).  Went straight to the police department and reported the incident.  Called the company up when I got home and told them their employee had assaulted me and I had reported it to the police.  they knew exactly who I was talking about and aplogized profusely... seems they'd had trouble with him before.  Next think I know he's calling me, pleading with me to drop the charges or he'll lose his job.  I probably should have taken him to court, but I gave him a break (after he almost gave my nose the same treatment).

But I learned several valuable lessons... don't flip anybody off... you never know what kind of a nut case they may be.  And in case of confrontation, roll the window all the way up.  I'm no fighter... self preservation is much more important than proving the size of my genitals.  And drive defensively... there is no future in getting someplace two minutes faster... who cares?  Besides, if I'm interested in arrival time, what am I doing in a vanagon?

Mick Kalber
89 Syncro Westy "Daddeo"
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani Place
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
808-935-5557
808-935-0066 (fax)
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: JordanVw@AOL.COM 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001 11:35 AM
  Subject: Re: road rage...my first experience tonite.. LOCK YOUR DOORS!!!

  In a message dated 2/10/01 2:17:20 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
  jwalker17@earthlink.net writes: 

    can't let it ruin your life, and make you afraid to go 
    out. that's what i don't like about SUVs ... they tend to promote that 
    sort of temperment in their drivers (i'm more important than anybody 
    else on the road!!!). 

  i agree..   Alot of SUV drivers get that pumped up testosterone level "im the 
  king of the road-dont mess with me" attitude.. That, and maybe he was trying 
  to "impress" his girlfriend (who was sitting in the SUV the whole time) with 
  his "tactfulnes" (read: "insane brut force") in handling a situation.  i hope 
  she dumped him after last night.   One of these days he is going to do that 
  to the wrong person...someone who wont back down like i did.  Someone who has 
  a short temper just like him..someone who has a loaded gun in the glovebox. 
  And he'll be dead.. 
  what comes around, goes around, they say... 
  i think i did the right thing , tho. still a little shaky, but calming down.. 

  chris 

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