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This has been a lousy week of driving for me, and it sounds like I'm not the only one. My FE is doing just fine but my sanity isn't. I have had a couple of relatively tame incidents with impatient but obnoxious drivers and one really bad incident that nearly cost me all the body panels on the left side of my car. The one that philmcneal posted in another thread was even worse than that.

I really hate it. I am not a confrontational person and I don't handle it well when someone decides to make me the target of whatever aggression they have been building up for the last week. And what amazes me is how little it takes! Accelerating a little slower than you normally would, driving the speed limit and not above it, and coasting up to a light that is obviously red are extremely effective. Drive below the speed limit and it's as if I just killed someone's family member.

I think that the best thing to do is probably to ignore them. Drive like they aren't there and don't acknowledge that they exist. If I'm really on my game I will take a couple of deep breaths and force myself to relax. Let the other driver have the aneurism. I already do everything else I can to get out of the way, and I'm not trying to P&G or anything else that would freak people out.

Is it this bad everywhere? Do you guys have to deal with homicidal maniacs like this on a daily basis? What do you do to keep yourself sane and in one piece?

The only words I can offer you are "Life sucks. Get a helmet." ;)

I probably have the most road rage stories at GH and IC. Five years ago I got steamed all the time about this, and still do occasionally. Driving around rush hours and on the right most lane on the freeway has helped.

Brick, I'm betting you live near the Boston area. Over a year ago the rudest cities were:

NYC
Miami
Boston
Dallas
LADallas has more than it's share of trucks and SUV's hence that and the bad driving accounts for my loathing of them. Two stories that stick in my mind:

Once I had to speed to 75mph on the access road to get by a huge Escalade pickup truck blocking my way. He could have been in one of the other two lanes to the left. His Texas licence plate: "MF 4". :mad: :mad: :mad:
I was getting off the freeway on the one-lane exit ramp and a Dodge Ram blasted by and passed me.

I'm in Connecticut, just north of Hartford. But I did grow up in a Boston suburb. I would say the driving is about the same, give or take a few quirks. For example, "m*******s" are nuts but at least they are professional about it. Many of them (I should say "us") are at least capable of leaving room between vehicles while passing on the double yellow. Connecticut drivers seem to take the anger down half a notch but more than make up for it with sheer ineptitude. Bext example to date: about a year ago I was travelling east-bound on I-84 through Hartford. It's a 50 zone, I was doing ~60 in the right-most lane that was not an exit. I saw an old, rusting bimmer coming up behind me at about 90 and did my best to predict what he was going to do. I put the accelerator on the floor, giving him barely enough extra room to get around me to the right without swapping paint. He then swung back around and came within inches of clipping the next car before straightening out too quickly from too sharp an angle, nearly losing the rear end out from under him. He got lucky because I'm not convinced that he would have come out of it healthy if he had lost it. Of course, he probably thought he was "**** good."

I keep wishing I had a CCTV system to record this stuff. The videos would be priceless and I would feel quite calm during a road rage incident knowing that the files could be uploaded to the net in 15 minutes.

Its a mess now everywhere Ive been in the last 5 years.

My take on it is:

People have to be places they really dont want to be. They have structured there lives or allowed the American dream to do so to the point life just sucks anymore.

They have to get up. Go to the gym. Take little Lucy to school cause shes lazy and cant walk herself or its not safe for her to walk to school anymore or play in her front yard. ( we had a 10 year old girl murdered here tuesday ) Then off to the coffee shop and check the e-mail that was forgoten at the house. In to a job that demands more multitasking than a xeon quad can do. Then back in the fray to take little Johny to baseball practice and Lucy to dance class. The whole time on the cell chating about meaningless dribble concerning folks or systems you couldnt care about and planing your next move to brown nose the boss. Then to the house. A place that should be safe. But you cant really afford it. Debt mounts and the couple have really grown to hate each other. So they really dont want to be there and watch the 10k plasma tv cause the hate the person setting next to them. Real meals and family time are a thing of the pass. Johnny is on the computer learning how to make bombs and Lucy is trying to fig. out how to look like a 24 year old slut on the streets. The kids do nothing you tell them to and throw crap in your face the whole time there awake. You dont dare bust there dumb ass's cause they will get you thrown in jail. Then there goes the house, your bankrupt and fat cause you cant go to the gym. You are now a bitch.

This just a small sampleing of what I think is driving folks to levels of maddness never seen before in history.

We had a good drive in today. I managed to see and hold for afew miles @ 45 mpg in the Accord. A 20 mph tail wind was a welcome aid. Saw nobody rageing at all this am.

Im sure the day will go down hill at a lighting fast pace. I wont beable to do things at work fast enough. Folks think I should beable to go to the bathroom and crap them the parts they need or have answers to there problems at the drop of a question. A seemly simple phone call to cust could add up to several hours of work on my part and a complete redo to my plans for the day. Somebody ruined there day so off they go to ruin as many peoples day as they can.

The American dream is broken. :(

I keep wishing I had a CCTV system to record this stuff. The videos would be priceless and I would feel quite calm during a road rage incident knowing that the files could be uploaded to the net in 15 minutes.

I've managed to get a few pictures of guys that drive like....they are really special. Here they are (http://www.spencerthelion.com/fullofit.htm) Of course, a number of people got after me at GH for doing this, stating I was greatly risking my life taking those pictures. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Some of the negative reactions frankly are people that do the same stuff. My response is if you would look silly in a picture, don't drive like that. Irony is many of these bloated egos look foolish.

I have to say that things are a lot calmer in Pittsburgh. I travel I-79 during part of my commute and the speed limit is mostly 55MPH and a 45MPH Truck Limit for a small stretch because of curves. In general, the average speeds in this stretch of I-79 are 70MPH. So driving 55 does not cause as much havoc as it would evidently in other areas of the country. Only vary rarely do I get a honk, and never a finger. Sometimes I can lipread other comments.

I agree with Psy about how people are miserable. IMO it starts with insecurity which causes people to catch the keeping up with the Jones syndrome. At that point the idea of living within ones means goes out the window. That is when life becomes miserable.

Luckily I havent caught the keeping up with the Jones syndrome, nor my wife or children. What I have caught however is the keeping up with the Gerdes syndrome. :D That is what keeps me pushing the FE envelope. Although I will never catch up, at least I will not be far behind.:D

What I have caught however is the keeping up with the Gerdes syndrome.

That's the one thing I hate about GH/CMPG. My mileage will never be good enough :mad::D

That's the one thing I hate about GH/CMPG. My mileage will never be good enough :mad::D

True statement. I used to be amazed at seeing 35mpg and above for a tank. I'm still working on getting back up there but I won't really be satisfied until I figure out how to nail a couple of consecutive 40mpg tanks. (Have to do it twice in a row so you know that the gas pump isn't lying ;) ) And by that point I will be looking for even better FE. I don't think there's an end to it!

excellent thread, i think if we can get to the bottom of "why" we can figure out a way to prevent from being a victim ever again.

I like to go up to everyone and ask, "Why do you drive the way do you do? Who taught you to drive like this?"

But in the end, next time I'm just going to blast my music and ignore them to the best of my ability even if they are right at my bumper. If he hits me I'm making sure his insurance premiums jack up.

But if my son's on board then that's a different story... I doubt I'll let it happen.

For the most part tailgaters aren't out to damage your car. If I get a tailgater I don't even worry much about him being back there. I figure I'm not likely to need to slam on the brakes because I am concentrating on where I'm going and looking for potential hazards.

I guess I'm past the point where I'm intimidated and to the point where I just recognize them as fools. If they give me the finger when they pass (happend twice so far in about 2 1/2 years of driving this way (both time women for some reason)) I just smile politely and look at them and wave like I would if they were waving hello. It keeps me from getting upset and keeps me calm.

The thought crossed my mind last night. This morning this thread had the same thought from several members:

If everybody was basically content with themselves, the highways would be a much better place to drive.


You would not have people getting big, intimidating vehicles (particluarly Hummers, power trucks to simply commute, etc.). Courtsey would be common courtsey again. Less stress from jobs and family would get projected into agressive driving. Less substance abusers driving like the Tazmanian Devil.

I think krousbd was on the right track when he mentioned ‘insecurity’. I kind of equate it to the way I see wife abusers. They are insecure in there manhood and their actions and words ‘You had better do what I say or I will beat you to a pulp’ – are grounded in basically this is the way they 'Prove' to themselves 'I Am A Man'. They could never stand up to real man who is self-confident and doesn’t have to ‘Prove’ their manhood.

These are the same type that, ride your bumper, cut you off, give you the finger etc – They want to show YOU who is bigger and you had better get out of my way. They see the word or Hybrid logo and they just have to let you know that they are more of a man than the you by being aggressive. If they only knew the cars I have had in my past that would have blown their doors off – hey come to think of it my FEH could probably do the same if I wanted to.

As has been said here and other forums – driving a hybrid is a totally different experience. An experience in learning not just how to achieve greater MPG but learning to look at the road a little differently. Not just seeing what is 10 feet in front of you but what you are coming up on maybe even a half mile down the road – the traffic is stopped why not start slowing down now, no need to hurry up and wait plus (in a true Hybrid) regen the battery.

It makes you really more aware of how others drive – blast out from a light knowing that 200 yards away the traffic is stopped and going as fast as they can so they have to slam on the brakes just to get mad at having to stop.

Just the other day I had this guy lay on his horn just as the light changed – no one else had moved yet either – stayed on my bumper – even when he could go around to go on – giving me the finger – pulled up beside me, glared at me gave me the finger for about 100 yards then cut in front and slammed on his brakes all the time showing his IQ of one. After we had stopped at the next light – took me a while before I had caught up to him after he had rushed to the next stop light. He keep showing his IQ and you could tell he was getting hotter and hotter since I seemed to be totally oblivious of him and his antics. I couldn’t help but laugh at the whole situation – so just keep your cool and ignore them – that gets back at them more than stooping down to their level.

Well;

Heres my comments:

I think as more and more time goes by I personally prefer not to have all kinds of Conflict while driving. So I try not to hold up the drivers behind me and drive at or close to the Posted Speed Limit. I guess I just don't want to take the chance on someone slamming into my Brand New Hybrid because I was not going Fast enough.

I do want to point out a few things regarding my comments above. I am not going to take off from a Stop Light/Sign like I'm at the drag strip. I do stay in the Right Hand Lane of the Interstate and usually drive at 65 MPH. I know the speed limit is 70 MPH but I will allow myself this much lead way and I think if anyone wants to pass, go right ahead and that is what the Left Lane is for. I try my best to keep in mind because I want to get or at least try to get better FE, that the other people around me could care less and that has been mentioned here numerous times. Everyone is in a hurry and some in most cases are in a bigger hurry than the others.

I guess what I want to say is, I am not going to put myself, my car, in Danger just to add a few more MPG to a trip or tank of Fuel. To finish my thoughts on this subject. I am in No-Way telling anyone else here to drive a certain way, speed, or anything else concerning Members own Preferences to Driving Styles/Technique's. This is just my comments on how I have for the most part decided to get along with the Public and not to get in a Brawl/Shootout Etc. because someone out there had a really Bad-Day and I just was the Last Straw. Because I was driving slower than they liked on their way to getting that Beer. It would be Great if we all could drive the way we would like to and see how far we could raise our FE. However we are not the only ones on the Public Highways or Streets/Interstates and like it or not, there just might be that one person out there that would Shoot you or whatever because you held them up.

I think I have gotten Old and just don't Care for all the unnecessary Crap. Somethings I guess to me are just not worth all the Headache. I'll drive a little Faster than I might prefer to do and not have to constantly concern myself with the "Nuts/Crazy's" out there.

I took a long walk yesterday afternoon and had a few good thoughts on this topic. What I came up with really just re-iterates what many of you have already said, which is that solution is to ignore the nutjobs. My "revelation" was that the root of my problem is within me, not the other drivers on the road. When my blood boils at being flipped off, honked at, tailgated, blinded, or otherwise targeted it is because I choose to take it personally rather than let it go. No doubt that is my own insecurity at work, convincing me that I have been wronged and if I let them get away with it then I have placed myself below my aggressor. But acting on that by letting my blood pressure rise to dangerous levels harms me and probably amuses the other guy. The best thing for me is to dig deep for inner quiet and do precisely nothing about him. Mastering the emotional response would probably make other parts of my life easier, too.

So it turns out that hypermiling is at least as much spiritual challenge as intellectual challenge.

So it turns out that hypermiling is at least as much spiritual challenge as intellectual challenge.

I have never heard it put that way but yes, I would agree.:D

I did some soul serching lastnight also. I want to drop out. But the wife is really scared and as always dosent want to leave the crappy place called okie*******homa.

Ive spend the last 15 years realigning myself and becomeing a gentaler person with a more open mind to my fellow man. Just trying to mature.

What a waiste of time!!!! Pure Bull **** it is. So Im reverting back to my old ways. My life was much better when I was the Bull in the china cabnet. I was happy. So this weekend Im going to go out and look for a old full sized Chrysler, Chevy or Linclon of the late 60's or early 70's. I will not be burden with other people on the road. You want to pull out infront of me. So be it. Im going to cream your ass. You want to flip me off as you pass and lip off. Im going to change lanes into you. You want to ride my ass. You are going to eat it. They want to turn the roads into a daily war? Im suiting up.

Im done with Mr. Nice Guy. They want to explore THE UGLY SIDE. WELCOME TO HELL!!!!!

....what works best for me is to drive in situations I encounter fewer of these nutjobs. Drive on roads with fewer agressive drivers, drive around rush hour.... I'll admit that my dream car would have ordinacne that covertly shoots out the tires of reckless driver, etc....there have been a couple of times I've taken the risky chance of making sure they seem be laugh back at them.

I'd avoid looking for trouble - enough of it will come your way without trying....

sometimes I wish i had a suv so i can be king of the road haha.

I took a long walk yesterday afternoon and had a few good thoughts on this topic. What I came up with really just re-iterates what many of you have already said, which is that solution is to ignore the nutjobs. My "revelation" was that the root of my problem is within me, not the other drivers on the road. When my blood boils at being flipped off, honked at, tailgated, blinded, or otherwise targeted it is because I choose to take it personally rather than let it go. No doubt that is my own insecurity at work, convincing me that I have been wronged and if I let them get away with it then I have placed myself below my aggressor. But acting on that by letting my blood pressure rise to dangerous levels harms me and probably amuses the other guy. The best thing for me is to dig deep for inner quiet and do precisely nothing about him. Mastering the emotional response would probably make other parts of my life easier, too.

So it turns out that hypermiling is at least as much spiritual challenge as intellectual challenge.
Hi Brick;

Interesting view-point you have on the subject. :)