Calgary Road Rage

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You and I are looking at this so differently.

1. 1st driver does a u-turn. BFD. It's not like he cut the other guy off to be a loser intentionally. He was going the wrong way and had to turn around!
2. 2nd driver lays on the horn - whatever, that's fine. But then he rams the first guy. That's a total over reaction and borderline psycho.
3. 1st driver gets out of his car because he's just been rear-ended. I've never seen an accident where people didn't get out to look at the damage and exchange information. In fact, don't you have to do that? It's illegal to leave the scene of an accident.
4. 2nd driver that was the freak pulls out a hammer. That's nucking futs.

This specific incident is just a really insane version of the same recipe.

1. Stupid.
2. Reaction.
3. Freak Out.
4. Contest.

I agree that in this case, they likely (initially) got out of the cars to check for damage, but I'd suggest that's an exception to the general rule.

The point was.....cut out any of the first 3 steps (the earlier the better) and this stupidity disappears from the roadways.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

Dumb place to attempt a u-turn but look on google maps... there's 2 lanes each way. The old man could have avoided all this just by SWITCHING LANES and going around them.

But then he wouldn't be able to TEACH DEM KIDS A LESSON!

My creedo:
People do dumb crap on the roads. Just avoid them and hope they don't kill anyone when inevitably crash.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

Dumb place to attempt a u-turn but look on google maps... there's 2 lanes each way. The old man could have avoided all this just by SWITCHING LANES and going around them.

It could also be said that this could all have been avoided if the young fella(s) had spent an extra 45 seconds to make a couple of legal turns. I'm not suggesting that the old fella's response was acceptable, just playing Devil's Advocate here. In this specific incident, there are no victims, just idiots.

[Tron_fdc]

I'm pretty sure I know where this intersection is. You can either sit on SB Crowchild, waiting to get on to the on-ramp to EB Glenmore, or you can drive past Glenmore and do a u turn, then merge on to EB Glenmore. It saves about 10 minutes in traffic.

So I can see why the old guy might be steamed, because it was likely an intentional u turn to shortcut traffic. But who cares. Next time drive around them, don't do something stupid and you won't get your ass kicked. Leave it to the cops to do the policing.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

This specific incident is just a really insane version of the same recipe.

1. Stupid.
2. Reaction.
3. Freak Out.
4. Contest.

I agree that in this case, they likely (initially) got out of the cars to check for damage, but I'd suggest that's an exception to the general rule.

The point was.....cut out any of the first 3 steps (the earlier the better) and this stupidity disappears from the roadways.

Yeah I think your recipe is probably bang on in most cases.

[Fobby]

For someone who lived in Lakeview for over 10 years. The people that do the Uturn bugs me. Many times I am turning onto 63th Ave just to be met by someone doing a uturn at the very first intersection they see without regards of any traffic behind them.

City had put up numerous no Uturn signs, and cops are regularly patrolling the area, but people are still breaking the law.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Fobby

For someone who lived in Lakeview for over 10 years. The people that do the Uturn bugs me. Many times I am turning onto 63th Ave just to be met by someone doing a uturn at the very first intersection they see without regards of any traffic behind them.

City had put up numerous no Uturn signs, and cops are regularly patrolling the area, but people are still breaking the law.

They should invent a U turn camera and put it there. That'd probably make more money than all red light cameras combined.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Fobby

For someone who lived in Lakeview for over 10 years. The people that do the Uturn bugs me. Many times I am turning onto 63th Ave just to be met by someone doing a uturn at the very first intersection they see without regards of any traffic behind them.

City had put up numerous no Uturn signs, and cops are regularly patrolling the area, but people are still breaking the law.

Can you still get onto Glenmore by taking the exit next to Earl Grey golf course?

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Fobby

For someone who lived in Lakeview for over 10 years. The people that do the Uturn bugs me. Many times I am turning onto 63th Ave just to be met by someone doing a uturn at the very first intersection they see without regards of any traffic behind them.

City had put up numerous no Uturn signs, and cops are regularly patrolling the area, but people are still breaking the law.

My current neighborhood......it's been a problem for as long as I can remember. It always amazes me that the cops aren't there more often though - it would be the *ultimate* cash cow. Could likely (imo) write up between 30-50 tickets in a single afternoon. Not too mention the speeding and red light running of 63rd (?) avenue.

[simmer2]

I honked at a woman this morning who wasn't turning right on a red light even though there were no cars coming at all and she lost it. Gave me the finger and everything....do people not realize horns can also be used as a friendly reminder to get moving?

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Can you still get onto Glenmore by taking the exit next to Earl Grey golf course?

No, they closed that off.

[Locke]

Sorry, Cardinal rule, you never touch/damage another person's vehicle.

Gramps was just testy because them youngens were making him late for Matlock, but you NEVER ram your vehicle into someone else's.

You could say that what the kids did was illegal, fine, issue them a ticket or a traffic violation. What Captain Golden Years there did was insane.

[The Yen Man]

I must say, even though it annoys the crap out of me when people make illegal U turns, I'm going to have to side with the 3 young guys (and gal) in this situation. That's like some old guy bumping someone for speeding. Yes, it's illegal to do the U-Turn, but leave the policing to the police. I'd be super pissed too if some old fart rammed my car from behind trying to tell me I did something wrong. Leave it at the horn honk next time, old guy.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Disagree.

I don't see what the 20 year olds did that was that dumb. Basically all U-turns are illegal, but you still have to make them from time to time. If some guy hit my car just because he was upset at my minor traffic violation, damn right I'd get out. And if he was about to use a hammer on me I hope my friends would back me up and kick his ass (but they probably wouldn't ).

I totally agree. they did a U-turn, bad move but what evs, but the older guy had to hit them with his car? game on son. at the very least, that still counts as a traffic collision, you have to stop or else it's considered leaving the scene.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by simmer2

do people not realize horns can also be used as a friendly reminder to get moving?

From my travels, everywhere but North America realizes this. Hell in the Middle East and SE Asia horns are used as a "hey everyone I'm driving, don't hit me" device.

Some guy in an old pick up truck wasn't turning on a turn signal so I gave a short triple beep at him in what I thought was a "polite" reminder that green means go and at the next light he screamed at me until he was red in the face.

It was so absurd that all I could do was laugh and I think that got him even more angry.... it was ridiculous.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

From my travels, everywhere but North America realizes this. Hell in the Middle East and SE Asia horns are used as a "hey everyone I'm driving, don't hit me" device.

Some guy in an old pick up truck wasn't turning on a turn signal so I gave a short triple beep at him in what I thought was a "polite" reminder that green means go and at the next light he screamed at me until he was red in the face.

It was so absurd that all I could do was laugh and I think that got him even more angry.... it was ridiculous.

Same goes for the use of passing lights (flash to pass), it's a courtesy elsewhere in the world and a simple warning/notice, here, when you flash someone as you come up behind them they see that as a challenge and are instantly offended.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Sliver

3. 1st driver gets out of his car because he's just been rear-ended. I've never seen an accident where people didn't get out to look at the damage and exchange information. In fact, don't you have to do that? It's illegal to leave the scene of an accident.

The story said all three people in the first car got out, and described them as "enraged".

You better believe I'd be grabbing a hammer too if I was facing that.

Course, they had a pretty good reason to be pissed off.

[Fobby]

If there are 3 people coming out of the car, enraged, and walking towards my car.. I would totally lock the door... and start revving my engine.

[Pastiche]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

From my travels, everywhere but North America realizes this. Hell in the Middle East and SE Asia horns are used as a "hey everyone I'm driving, don't hit me" device.

Some guy in an old pick up truck wasn't turning on a turn signal so I gave a short triple beep at him in what I thought was a "polite" reminder that green means go and at the next light he screamed at me until he was red in the face.

It was so absurd that all I could do was laugh and I think that got him even more angry.... it was ridiculous.

The honking situation is made worse though by people only ever honking because they're angry. Most honks aren't the informative asian-variety toots of information of cars nearby. They're blaring exclaimations of a pissed off guy late for work. For every person that gets mad for being honked at there's another guy honking because he's mad.

[worth]

New Yorkers seem to be pretty good with the horn as well. When I came back here I tried to start using it, but as you guys say, people get easily offended.