[bug_girl]

Wow, I and my little car almost bought it last night. I need some advice about what to do next.
Yesterday, on the way home from work:
A big black HumVee came up behind me really, really fast as I was passing a big tractor-trailer truck in the left lane. The guy got so close to me that all I could see was his grill in my rear view mirror.

Since I was already going 70, and had quite a bit of truck left to get by, I did the logical thing. I rolled down my window and gave him the finger. (See, I'm not claiming innocent angel status here :lol: )
However, what happened next wasn't cool or reasonable at all, IMO.

The HumVee actually got *closer*. I swear I thought he was going to ram me. So, I took off, since i know they don't accellerate that well. I passed the truck going about 80, and moved over into the next lane. The HumVee came barreling after me, and was coming up fast in my rear view mirror. Then he started sideswiping me!!! :shock: He made three side swerves, two of which i accellerated out of, the second of which I only missed by slamming on the brakes. That one he just barely missed the front of my car, and came halfway into my lane before pulling back.
This was on an overpass, where he would have sent me flying if he'd actually hit me. Or, if I hadn't been able to get off the road, I would have been flattened by the tractor trailer, which was right behind me.

Now, here's my question.
1. is a finger really justifiable provocation for all that??? I think not.
2. What, if anything, can I do to protect myself? I have a custom plate and a very noticible car. This @ss can find out where I live, or damage my car in a parking lot and drive away.
3. Should I have called the cops? (didn't see the plate, was too busy trying not to soil the seats in my car.)

God, that was awful.

 

[Delta Flyer]

Several months ago, I "casually" passed an H2 that was cruising at 78 mph (it does not stick out much in Dallas). We both exited the freeway and stopped at a light. Only once in my four years driving an Insight has anyone been six inches off my bumper. Can't prove it, but I'd bet this driver had the same mind set as the driver bug_girl just mentioned.

Perhaps some people tire of me talking about this kind of thing, but better yet, I'd like it to be harder for drivers like the one bug_girl mentions to do what they do.

 

[Aaron Cake]

I would have stayed perfectly even with the truck at 70 for as long as possible.

When someone is tailgating, I find the most effective manouver is to put the car in 3rd, then SLAM on the brakes and immediately FLOOR the accellerator. I'm sure that more then one tailgater has slinked away with wet pants after that one.

It's also a good one to pop the car into 3rd, floor the fun pedal and just wind it out until it won't go any faster. Since I have a 2000, there is no speed limiter. Of course, that's more then a little illegal...

 

[Yves M.]

Hello, I would not say to touch the brake pedal at all. Just drive normally or accelerate a little to show 'good will' and move to the right lane as soon as possible.

The finger was not provocation. It was an answer to His provocation. Which he was looking for. He was 'game' to do what he's done and tried to see if you where game for your answer.

I used to have (many years back) a 1980 Jeep Cherokee Sport with a big brush gard in front. When someone would brake in front of me, i would just ignore it. If someone would have been foolish enough to hit the brakes, it would have created an accident. And I was aware that in my big truck, I would not have been the one to be injured. I remember a guy in a Srint hatchback, I could barely see his roof top (I could not see his bumper or rear window). This was after the guy hit the brakes. I could not see his brake light anymore.

Now if I had your bad experience in my car, I would follow the person until he stops or ran out of gas. Then would explain to him what he as done. It happened once, the guy was in a a big truck and locked his door while I 'spoke' a little loud to him. Did I mentionned I used to sing in a punk band in the 80'

The advice I have is:
To follow the truck, far enough not to be in a danger and near enough to see his license plate. Fake to call the police. Use a glasses box or something of a similar size to a phone if you do not have a cell phone.
Make sure you can be seen by him while you do that, talk loud to the thing in your hand. Then stop on the side of the road for a minute or two.
To make it is more beleivable and have some distance between the two of you.

It should scare him and then do not follow, slow down for a while

 

[Rick]

Word of advice, don't piss people off when you have customized plates. They will remember them if they ever see you again. About all you can do with a road rager is to call the police and if possible report their license plate number, but even then it doesn't prove anything unless a cop happens to catch them in the act.

I try to avoid situations like this by not passing unless I have enough room to do so safely without slowing down traffic in the lane I intend to pass in.

Anyway glad to hear you or your car wern't hurt.

 

[Big D Insightman]

I agree with Rick. First off you should never ever shoot someone the bird out on the open road (unless you know them personally) because you never know what they may be capable of doing. A vehicle can be used as a weapon, the bigger it is the more harm it can inflict. In this case if the guy in the H2 had run you off the open highway after you shot him the bird and then came back to finish you off where would you be. answer = SOL

Safety First

 

[bug_girl]

Word of advice, don't piss people off when you have customized plates. They will remember them if they ever see you again.

yeah, I didn't remember that until much later, when I was breathing again. :?
I'm just having a hard time accepting that someone could be so casual about trying to kill me, when they don't know anything about me besides my car (and my finger ). It was a very, very, very close thing.

(edited to add, since BD and I posted at the same time: I claim my redheaded temper as an excuse. 8) And you are absolutely correct. I will have to work on remaining a zen driver.)

 

[SeanW]

The best thing you could have done was just complete your pass, signal right, and get out of his way.

Once you shot him the bird, you were dead meat in his eyes.

Unless you have a ton of them where you are, they Insight is unique enough on its own to be remembered if it's encountered again.

What's done is done. Relax and try to keep your cool on the road is my advice. 8)

 

[jsanford]

You can still call the cops and give a description. With any luck, the HUMVEE driver has done this before and they may be familiar with his commute pattern, etc. HUMVEES are about as uncommon as Insights so it should be easy to spot. If you Google some HUMVEE pictures you might even be able to specify the model year of your attacker. If nothing else, they'll be on the lookout for a repeat performance in the future in that area.

I long for the days when cars the Insight's size were more commonplace; so many drivers of SUVs feel like their behind the wheel of a tank compared to us.

 

[Delta Flyer]

While it's not a safe thing to do, just passing by these Nethandals would kick where it hurts. After all, they wanted to kick butt, not get their butts kicked :twisted: It's all they seem to understand. Some drivers are on an eco-trip, others are on an ego-trip - two different points-of-view on a collision course, hopefully not in the literal sense.

The safer thing is to make it more expensive to drive tank-like vehicles on the road (unless you are hauling more than an ego in it).

 

[james]

How about an NRA bumpersticker? Maybe something like "The smaller the car, the bigger the ammo"

 

[Guest]

Hi All:

___Some might have seen the discussion on how many automobiles nowadays are in the far right lanes doing the speed limit. Low and behold, tonight I was pacing an H2 from the I-90/I-294 interchange all the way to the Dempster exit just after the O’Hare toll plaza on I-294 northbound. Top speed, 57 mph! I don’t think this guy wanted to run over anybody and I wonder if an H2 is worth 16 mpg out on the highway when driven in hypermile format?

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___[email:bkr34efj][email protected][/email:bkr34efj]

 

[Rick]

Xcel, my parents have a 03 Yukon Denali, which has a similar engine to the Hummer... they both have the same vehicle chassis, probably weigh about as much and both are about as aerodynamic as a lunch box. I think the H2's have a little beefed up engine though. I'm not sure if the Hummers are full time all wheel drive like the Denali or not. Anyways, hidden deep under all the menu's the thing has there is a mpg display, both trip and instantaneous (which displays to the tenth of a mpg every second).

Driving it for mileage in the city and timing the lights so I rolled at about 43-45 mph I was able to get right at around 16 mpg out of it. Funny thing is while stopped at a stop light it drops a tenth of a mpg about every three seconds. I think absolute max you might might get 20mpg out of one on the highway. I got 15 mpg out of it doing 65 on a trip that I would get probably 55mpg in the Insight with (all up hill).

Anyways, seriously, back on topic now.

 

[johnc]

I think I'm going to pick up a disposable camera to keep in the glove box. One with a flash so they see what it is.

Too many aggressive jerks out there. Endangering your life goes well past that though. Glad to hear you're OK.

-jc

 

[AmyAlkon]

I live in Santa Monica. At 7am one morning, I went out to pick up a donut at my favorite donut place on Lincoln, in Venice. The roads were pretty bare, and I was going a normal speed, not especially slow or anything. Nevertheless, some creep in a red pickup with a contractor case built into the back tailgated me -- INCHES from my bumper. I, too, am a redheaded girl -- very girlie, too. Whatta man, frightening the girl in the tiny little hybrid. I was afraid to even change lanes because he was so close. Well, I'm no shrinking violet, and my boyfriend gave me a digital camera, so, when he turned left into a gas station, I went straight instead of turning right, and pulled in another entrance of the same station. There were a bunch of other men there, and I dress like a girlie girl, always useful in situations like this -- making the creep look an even bigger bully -- so I got out and said something to him about what a man he was for tailgating me. Next, I photo'd his license and called the cops. They're pretty lame here (I had to track down my own stolen Rambler, despite Nancy Drew-ing up everything but the thief's blood type) so, they probably didn't get him. But there's always that chance. I get my rage out at SUVs with my latest anti-SUV campaign: business cards I put under windshields of the huge, new ones that read, "How many dead Marines did it take to gas up your tank? Stylish, aren't you?"

 

[Delta Flyer]

Got a lot of people that think they have the right to rage on the roads, the net, and ball games (Pacers vs. Pistons).

Speaking of flaming, I've received a few that suggest I deserve to be locked up in the Super-Max prison for offending them - I'm sure some of you have received similar e-mails. You then wonder if people are getting worse, not better?

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Not to excuse the behavior but the "adrenaline" factor shouldn't be ignored.

Its a consequence of the "speed-up" factor that is pervasive in our lives these days. Thinking becomes muddy after too much adrenaline stimulation. Use _EXTREME_ caution when confronting others exhibiting adrenaline toxicity.

The Insight when driven as designed can do amazing things for your thinking once you let the adrenaline mentality fade into the past.

I used to commute 160 miles per day in a CRX HF. Did it for several years. When I look back at some of the risky speed related driving I was doing I can barely understand my motivations.

 

[Aaron Cake]

You people are too passive.

I have found the "brake and floor it" manouver very effective in the past. The trick is not not actually slow down an appreciable amount, just give the appearance of such. I have to believe that most Hummer (or other large SUV) drivers are likely very protective of their vehicle (we all are...) and would be very unlikely to engage in any activity which would damage it. Hence I am not too worried about being rear ended. Besides, around here, the driver behind you is ALWAYS at fault under the law. I have seen more then one person drop their cell phone, spill their coffee, etc. when faced wth the "brake and floor".

In the RX-7, I went one step further and wired a dash switch to the brake lights. I can light up the rear end without actually slowing down.

Of course, tailgaters are rare in the RX-7. Once you open up the exhaust, the rotary has a tendency to throw flames. Run the car up to redline, then upshift and more often then not you'll be popping dual flames out of the exhust, from a few inches long to up to 5 feet or so. You would be amazed how quickly a tailgater disappears when 10 foot flame travel up his/her hood!

The camera trick is also a good one. I used to keep a camera in the car for this purpose. It's amazing how much a simple picture bothers someone.

Regarding road rage, we don't seem to really have that problem here. I've found that in my experience, 99% of people will work very hard to avoid confrontation. When they're not inside their big-bad vehicles, they will back off very quickly. Of course, there's always one physco...but then, I generally look like a bigger physco anyway.

Don't get me wrong. I don't go around provoking other drivers, and normally I am in the right lane at the speed limit getting 85+ MPG. But every once and a while, it's nice to mess with someone. Show them that not everyone is passive when provoked. And of course, break the stereotype that the Insight generates.

I have actually met in person those who I have tormented on the highway, and no one has ever really been negative about it. I've received comments like "****, that thing really flies!" and such.

 

[Yves M.]

This reply is OT but it is on purpose.

Aaron, to have flames out of the exhaust that is already quite long, isn't there something weird like: much gas was not burned and got into the exhaust, to burn out of the engine.


I wrote OT and in this thread (the other threads are getting too ugly, no offense to anyone or to bug_girl), because I would very much like to see threads that are positive and/or about the Insight. Too many threads are about person to person problems and we are in the Christmas season...

Best Wishes for Christmas!!

Joyeux Noel !!

 

[Delta Flyer]

Got a lot of people that think they have the right to rage on the roads, the net, and ball games (Pacers vs. Pistons)....You then wonder if people are getting worse, not better?

I'll agree that it would be better to have more postive posts, but there is a reason for all the road incident posts. There are simply too many inconsiderate/aggressive/angry people on the roads. Rather than to post about it, I'd greatly prefer the law to start taking the licence away from a lot of these people. If it happened, most of them would start behaving.

I really like the idea of having a camera on-board - most people rage only when they think they are anonyous. They probably would not do it in front of people that know them.

If you can pick a time when there is less traffic, that helps. It's why I commute early in the morning (and better mpg)

That's all I have to add to this thread.