What causes road rage?

[Locke]

Roads.

And anger.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Well if you drive 25 under the speed limit in the no passing zone and try to gun it to 20 over when its allowed, that's kind of ######y in my view. Especially since they tend to crank it up to 130 in passing lanes than as soon as it ends back to 75 when there's a double solid line.

But I'm sure many on this forum think that's perfectly acceptable. Now that I'm old...I really don't love trying to crank it up to 150 to pass these a-holes. I tend to find a spot to pull over and wait 10 minutes and hope to the next wave of traffic does not feature this type of driver.

Have you been riding their tail in your giant truck for 5 kms?
I don't agree with the action you've pointed out either, but they're probably already pissed at you for the aggressive past 10 minutes while you're running them down in your bull testicle pickup.
Now they don't want you to pass and it's become a game of double idiocy.

[STAMPEDRED]

I don’t road rage as it’s never worth it - never. But, definitely get annoyed!

It’s the drivers who think being in the left lane is fine and sit at the speed limit. There’s 3 lanes to be had, you have zero business parking on the left side and frustrating everyone else when you can easily be ‘in your lane’ with your like lol. Those are the drivers who cause the most issues as they are completely unaware to their surroundings. Just see a road with multiple lanes and pick the far left and plug traffic up. There’s a speed limit yes, but weird enough it’s typically the minimum that the right/middle lanes will drive at, or just under. Left lane is for passing, not Sunday cruise lane. That’s where the frustrations build for drivers, and you’ll see people done with tolerating it and passing on the right side (middle lane of Deerfoot, etc.) which now causes more traffic problems that can compound quickly.

I’m not one of those who pass on the right, but have been driving enough years now to see it regularly and recognize the reasoning behind it.

The other is too much ‘I’ in society where others don’t matter. Which you see in those passing fast, and in those parking their butts on the left side. Both are selfish, ignorant. The human element is too far removed in driving. All you see is vehicles, rarely the person behind the vehicle.

A good example is one fellow drives a ford beater, another drives a Lambo. They both get out at their destination and outside / apart from their vehicles you wouldn’t know who is who. No one is more human than the other / more important or less. Everyone ‘looks’ the same. It brings humanity back into life. Driving completely removes the human element and all you ‘see’ is a certain vehicle being an idiot - whichever your definition of idiot is: drives too fast, ignorant; drives to slow, ignorant etc.

[STAMPEDRED]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Have you been riding their tail in your giant truck for 5 kms?
I don't agree with the action you've pointed out either, but they're probably already pissed at you for the aggressive past 10 minutes while you're running them down in your bull testicle pickup.
Now they don't want you to pass and it's become a game of double idiocy.

Ah but were you considerate enough to think hey, I’ll just let him pass? It’s not worth the frustration on either part. It’s why it’s called sharing the road. Both drivers have a roll to play in it. Is it that difficult to allow another to pass, just like is it that difficult not ride the others guys bumper?

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Have you been riding their tail in your giant truck for 5 kms?
I don't agree with the action you've pointed out either, but they're probably already pissed at you for the aggressive past 10 minutes while you're running them down in your bull testicle pickup.
Now they don't want you to pass and it's become a game of double idiocy.

Thanks for the kind assumption!

In the no passing zone I leave room until I can see it's going to end and that the passing opportunity is safely there at which point I will try to build up momentum to pass when it's permitted and close that gap so I'm not spending too much time in the passing lane. Unless suddenly the guy who was going 65 is now up over 110 and gaining...Plus my 06 Chev Silverado and 2020 Accord are brutally intimidating vehicles.

Please do advise what proper 2 lane passing technique is.

But I get it no one should ever pass. It's an evil behavior.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So you're a new driver who can't keep up with posted speeds in curvy sections but when it's safe to pass you can handle 20% over or more in a passing lane? No way if you are that inexperienced than the speed limit is your limit.

Sorry thats effing weak.

I don’t know about the exact speeds. But when roads feel safer people drive faster. That’s a well known design feature on how to reduce speeds. And seeing it happen where you are driving one speed during the windy single lane and a 20km faster speed on the open sections is pretty much natural driving.

I mean I suspect when you are going 140 in the passing sections that you aren’t going 140 through the windy sections so naturally you are also driving to the design speed of the segment of the road you are on.

You probably should relax more when you are driving as your post sounds pretty stressed just thinking about it.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by GGG

I don’t know about the exact speeds. But when roads feel safer people drive faster. That’s a well known design feature on how to reduce speeds. And seeing it happen where you are driving one speed during the windy single lane and a 20km faster speed on the open sections is pretty much natural driving.

I mean I suspect when you are going 140 in the passing sections that you aren’t going 140 through the windy sections so naturally you are also driving to the design speed of the segment of the road you are on.

You probably should relax more when you are driving as your post sounds pretty stressed just thinking about it.

So you think a 50km an hour difference in speeds is acceptable driving behavior? I'm not talking about these extremes where you are going 30 or 40 around hairpin turns coming in and out of a valley. Once you get past those most turns are rated within 15 of the speed limit.

I grew up in the B.C. Interior so I have driven most of those roads. I can't see how that's normal safe driving behavior.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by STAMPEDRED

Ah but were you considerate enough to think hey, I’ll just let him pass? It’s not worth the frustration on either part. It’s why it’s called sharing the road. Both drivers have a roll to play in it. Is it that difficult to allow another to pass, just like is it that difficult not ride the others guys bumper?

Yup, that's why it said DOUBLE idiocy.
Both the aggressive driver and the driver trying to block them from passing are idiots.
I'm not advocating for doing either, or suggesting I do the blocking.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So you think a 50km an hour difference in speeds is acceptable driving behavior? I'm not talking about these extremes where you are going 30 or 40 around hairpin turns coming in and out of a valley. Once you get past those most turns are rated within 15 of the speed limit.

I grew up in the B.C. Interior so I have driven most of those roads. I can't see how that's normal safe driving behavior.

I think your 50km is a gross exaggeration and not what is actually happening in regular driving scenarios.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by GGG

I think your 50km is a gross exaggeration and not what is actually happening in regular driving scenarios.

So what I'm saying is if it's say 25 or 30, I'm okay with it. But I see this other scenario more than I should and not with Transport trucks or R.V's where I would expect it because of the extra weight they're hauling.

Also this is in good lit summer driving conditions too. If the weather is less than ideal I get why people would slow down. I don't want to pass people if it's snowy or icy it's usually far too dangerous.

[Sainters7]

Travelling around helped me realize how it just seems to be part of North American culture. The amount of wild stuff I've seen on the road in Europe and South America, and the party it happens to barely bats an eye. Then you see it happen over here, and the person it happened to acts like the offending party called their mother a terrible word in front of both them and their mom.

We just seem to take minor road offences SO personally...it's weird. Witnessing driving in other countries (outside of the U.S.) really helped me relax in this regard and not take it so personally, that stuff is embarrassing.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Travelling around helped me realize how it just seems to be part of North American culture. The amount of wild stuff I've seen on the road in Europe and South America, and the party it happens to barely bats an eye. Then you see it happen over here, and the person it happened to acts like the offending party called their mother a terrible word in front of both them and their mom.

We just seem to take minor road offences SO personally...it's weird. Witnessing driving in other countries (outside of the U.S.) really helped me relax in this regard and not take it so personally, that stuff is embarrassing.

One of my favourite cities is Paris. Go to the Arc de Triomphe.

Its a beautiful monument. That is surrounded by the most insane Traffic Circle on Earth.

Its like goddamned bumper cars out there. They swear, they shake their fists at each other and then they get on with their day and get a glass of wine and a baguette.

If your car is pristine? That defines you as a lame wussy. What? You dont have any 'battle wounds?' No scars to commemorate vehicular combat?

You do no deserve that Croissant!

And thats PARIS!

Go to Rome! Those people are genuinely nuts! They see a pedestrian or cyclist and they hit the gas!

And that is the social convention. The cyclist or pedestrian will just their hand up and wave..."mea culpa..." and everyone goes on with their day.

Its insane.

[Sylvanfan]

I remember reading in Lonely Planet how the average Brazillian driver sees pedestrians on the sidewalk as points to score in a video game. It's not quite that bad...but there were times walking in dodgy area's where I was trying to figure out when snd where to jump at the last minute as passing cars were weaving at the sidewalk.

[Sr. Mints]

I'm not sure how to say this without making this thread all about me or coming across as a total monster, but you know those clips of people flipping out on airplanes and then getting arrested upon landing? There's a very real possibility that's going to be me one day.

For me though, maybe I can play the brain injury card. Since my TBI I go from 0 to 100 in like 0.2 seconds. I could just be having a grand day walking from one room to the next and something totally innate sets me off and my blood boils and I get mad at everything.

I'm worried it'll happen when I'm driving, or in a grocery store or Walmart if I'm stupid enough to enter that absolute cluster#### of a store.

It hasn't happened yet though. Luckily I have what my doctors call "insight" into my own triggers and limits. I suspect there's a lot of people out there involved in road rage incidents who lack that.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Locke

Roads.

And anger.

Getting stuck behind a Tesla with a custom plate.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Getting stuck behind a Tesla with a custom plate.

If you have a Custom plate thats what I'm calling you.

I tend to keep my road-rage limited to comments within the car. I'm not going to do anything stupid or insane.

For instance, about a month ago I got rear-ended by a pickup truck. I was stopped and got shoved something like 50 metres with my foot on the brake.

The guy got out, we took photos, exchanged insurance information, he apologized and that was the end of it. I contacted my insurance, then the auto-body place and the rental car place, it was a hassle, but the guy who hit me?

One of the most civil interactions I've had. He was apologetic and polite.

Whereas I had a girl follow me one time. I merged onto Deerfoot...100km/h, and I'm getting off on Anderson...80km/h.

She merged in front of me and never broke 75km/h...I was trying to get around her but she wasnt having that, I did eventually get around her but she followed me.

"What is your goddamned problem??"

You. Do you have any concept of how dangerous it is to do 75km/h on Deerfoot?

"I was only going to be on it for a short bit tho..."

That is irrelevant. You still have to do the speed of traffic. I'm not saying crank it to 130 or whatever, but if you're doing 75 you are the dangerous object. You are the obstacle. You are the Hazard.

If you cant handle 100km/h on Deerfoot...take a different Route or the Bus.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Getting stuck behind a Tesla with a custom plate.

Hm...I wonder if we could a weapon that fires a localized EMP to knock out Teslas?

"Take that you Musky Bastard!"

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Locke

One of my favourite cities is Paris. Go to the Arc de Triomphe.



Its a beautiful monument. That is surrounded by the most insane Traffic Circle on Earth.



Its like goddamned bumper cars out there. They swear, they shake their fists at each other and then they get on with their day and get a glass of wine and a baguette.



If your car is pristine? That defines you as a lame wussy. What? You dont have any 'battle wounds?' No scars to commemorate vehicular combat?



You do no deserve that Croissant!



And thats PARIS!



Go to Rome! Those people are genuinely nuts! They see a pedestrian or cyclist and they hit the gas!



And that is the social convention. The cyclist or pedestrian will just their hand up and wave..."mea culpa..." and everyone goes on with their day.



Its insane.

Eating a baguette whilst driving is just civilized, and enhances the experience. Haha yeah cars vs. pedestrians is a whole other thing...I swear the Canadian prairies are the only place I've ever been where cars will stop for someone visibly waiting to jaywalk. Anywhere else and it's Frogger.

I believe it about some people losing it, I can even envision the fist shaking lol. But overall I was amazed at the calm driving I saw in Paris despite the old winding roads and crawling traffic. I (and your average North American driver) would be losing it, no thank you... Funny what opposite experiences we had in that city (there was something else a couple weeks ago I'm forgetting). La Ville de L'amour is a unique ride for everybody.

Never been to Italy, think it's next on the Europe list...minus the driving part. I'd rather keep what's left of my sanity, thank you.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Locke

If you have a Custom plate thats what I'm calling you.

I tend to keep my road-rage limited to comments within the car. I'm not going to do anything stupid or insane.

For instance, about a month ago I got rear-ended by a pickup truck. I was stopped and got shoved something like 50 metres with my foot on the brake.

The guy got out, we took photos, exchanged insurance information, he apologized and that was the end of it. I contacted my insurance, then the auto-body place and the rental car place, it was a hassle, but the guy who hit me?

One of the most civil interactions I've had. He was apologetic and polite.

Whereas I had a girl follow me one time. I merged onto Deerfoot...100km/h, and I'm getting off on Anderson...80km/h.

She merged in front of me and never broke 75km/h...I was trying to get around her but she wasnt having that, I did eventually get around her but she followed me.

"What is your goddamned problem??"

You. Do you have any concept of how dangerous it is to do 75km/h on Deerfoot?

"I was only going to be on it for a short bit tho..."

That is irrelevant. You still have to do the speed of traffic. I'm not saying crank it to 130 or whatever, but if you're doing 75 you are the dangerous object. You are the obstacle. You are the Hazard.

If you cant handle 100km/h on Deerfoot...take a different Route or the Bus.

I feel like gotten worse now since Covid. Feels like we suddenly added 300k new drivers on the road.

Can’t stand people who treat the speed limit like a suggestion. Oh I’ll just for 30 under the limit no big deal

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Can’t stand people who treat the speed limit like a suggestion. Oh I’ll just for 30 under the limit no big deal

It's felt like, since the 'end' of COVID, that the slogan is "20 Under is the New 10 Over". Drives me nuts.

From my anecdotal experience, it feels to me like it's (enraged) entitlement vs (righteous) indignation at a lack of 'following the rules like me' that fuels road rage.

Some "jerk" does something because "putz" isn't driving how Jerk likes, so Jerk does something, and Putz, who's just following the road rules gets upset because Jerk isn't following the road rules, and the next thing you know. rage is afoot.