Prius driver rammed pickup in road rage attack

Chuck · #1 01-31-2009, 11:32 PM

The victim, a man who wasn't identified, told police that Cox followed him and intentionally sideswiped his Chevrolet pickup three times before both drivers stopped

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/road-rage.jpg

Lance Benzel - The Colorado Springs Gazette – Jan. 31, 2009

Mr. Cox is our JOTD for obvious reasons -- Ed.

The driver of a fuel-efficient Toyota Prius repeatedly rammed a pickup during a road-rage attack in Colorado Springs and then shoved the truck's 61-year-old driver when the men pulled over, police said.

Daniel Cox, 30, was jailed on suspicion of felony assault. The charge was upgraded to a felony because people over 60 are considered "at-risk adults" under Colorado law. There were no serious injuries.

Road-rage incidents often lead to tailgating, angry gestures and unanswered challenges, police said. It's rarer for them to end in physical fights - and rarer still that officers are summoned....[Read More]

Aether glider · #2 01-31-2009, 11:40 PM

I don't think he utilized any hypermiling techniques during this trip.

Chuck · #3 01-31-2009, 11:44 PM

I suspect the pickup driver drove more like us while the Prius driver was not.

This was near I25, so I guess he "had the need for speed"

mparrish · #4 02-01-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta Flyer

I suspect the pickup driver drove more like us while the Prius driver was not.

This is completely anecdotal, but not surprising.

My brother has left his Silverado with us for a few months, so we now have a Prius & a pickup. The annoyance with my slower speeds seems much higher when I'm in the Prius. When I'm in the truck, it's almost like everyone chuckles and says "look at this good ol' boy" while quietly passing.

Trucks get a pass down here.

Taliesin · #5 02-05-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mparrish

Trucks get a pass down here.

Here in Missouri trucks don't get a complete pass, but we are treated a bit better than other "slow" drivers. I think some of that may be due to the military presence here. Many of them are from cities and they aren't used to the "good-old-boys" out there in their farm vehicles. Add to it that we aren't really all that far from Kansas City.

JusBringIt · #6 01-31-2009, 11:47 PM

And the list of bad reasons for which to buy a prius starts here:

#1 Ramming other vehicles, specifically pick up trucks...

Chuck · #7 01-31-2009, 11:59 PM

Aside from the standard reasons road rage is stupid, the Prius is not exactly the vehicle of choice as a ramming vehicle - he should also be a candidate for Bonehead of the Year.

Chuck · #8 02-01-2009, 12:12 AM

Another thought: This story is probably going to be splashed globally on outlets like CNN, MSNBC, NYT, BBC News.

donee · #9 02-01-2009, 08:58 AM

Well,

Pickup drivers tend to be a little less acurate in their driving around here. Sooner or later such sloppyness is going to cause problems. Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign is what I see most, besides tailgating. And that is part of the marketing of those vehicles to older people. "Your getting older, and not as quick anymore, you need the extra metal between you and the accident your going to be in". When in reality, older drivers need cars that react qucker, as their reactions get slower.

If Mr. Cox took the pickup trucks drivers maneuvering as an apparent threat to his life, he probably thought his actions were reaction in kind. Who is to say if the 60 year old guy was threatening him first or not. The guy could have just been incompent at driving a pickup truck. Mr. Cox's reaction was apparently overwrought, in either case. His only hope to avoid many years of jail is to get witnesses of any apparently agreesive driving by the Pickup truck driver, if any.

It can be real adrenaline pumping when somebody in a Suburban of F150 tries to drive the door of their vehicle over the hood of your car. Its kinda like somebody taking a swing at you. Fight or Flight reaction is in full force.

And its not supprising this happened in Colorado to me, based on a the one time I have driven through that state. Lots of pedal happy people there.

mdensch@charter.net · #10 02-01-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donee

Well,

Pickup drivers tend to be a little less acurate in their driving around here. Sooner or later such sloppyness is going to cause problems. Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign is what I see most, besides tailgating. And that is part of the marketing of those vehicles to older people. "Your getting older, and not as quick anymore, you need the extra metal between you and the accident your going to be in". When in reality, older drivers need cars that react qucker, as their reactions get slower.

If Mr. Cox took the pickup trucks drivers maneuvering as an apparent threat to his life, he probably thought his actions were reaction in kind. Who is to say if the 60 year old guy was threatening him first or not. The guy could have just been incompent at driving a pickup truck. Mr. Cox's reaction was apparently overwrought, in either case. His only hope to avoid many years of jail is to get witnesses of any apparently agreesive driving by the Pickup truck driver, if any.

It can be real adrenaline pumping when somebody in a Suburban of F150 tries to drive the door of their vehicle over the hood of your car. Its kinda like somebody taking a swing at you. Fight or Flight reaction is in full force.

And its not supprising this happened in Colorado to me, based on a the one time I have driven through that state. Lots of pedal happy people there.

Donee, there is nothing in the news story which would lead to any of the suppositions that you postulate. It is also possible that the driver of the pickup was a capable and competent driver (60 y.o. ain't that old anymore), he might have been a contractor on his way to a job site, and the Prius driver might have been a deranged hot head who beats his wife and strangles kittens. It happens.