Right approach to dangerous driver behavior?

Dan Cosley said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters
with motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However, it
also sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to just let
go. I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

-- Dan

Today, I started carrying a little notebook in my jersey pocket on my commute. It is a "wet notes"
book, which is a coated paper that is waterproof. You can get it at marine stores. I started
carrying it because the same car leaned on the horn and gave me the finger for the fourth time
(six-lane road, light traffic, I was in the right half of the right lane). I will now have a dated
log of such occurences. If it ever does get serious, which I doubt, the log will be important.

Today, I wrote down the first license plate number, a description of the car, and the driver's
actions. I've decided not to just shrug things off anymore, if I can tell people what they did
wrong, and why it is wrong, I will. If you address them by their license plate number, it has a
surprising calming effect. I bet that if you obviously write it down as well, it will be even more
effective. Unfortunately, this state doesn't require front license plates, so I can't always do it.

As far as having the larger-than-usual number of encounters lately, I find that I feel that way at
times, and it is probably just the statistics of small numbers. The events are rare anyway, only a
few times a year usually, so if I get a few in a month I notice. It is probably just chance.

Stergios

In article said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters with
motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However, it also
sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to just let go.
I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?

Not for every slight you receive on the road, but for anything serious, definitely.

Quoted message said:

2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

That depends on a judgement call - whether you think you can either reason with or intimidate the
driver. They wield the ultimate threat of force, which limits your options somewhat.

If you actually got hurt due to driver misbehavior and intend to do anything about it (and can
identify the car/driver) the next thing you'd want is a witness.

--Paul

"Dan Cosley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters
with motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However, it
also sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to just let
go. I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

Getting the license is good, in case there is a real incident.

I treat them the same way I treat the wild, uncontrolled kids of some mom's I see in (pick your)
public places. I do my best to put them in their place. In my opinion, it's my duty and
responsibility as a Citizen of the USA to police my own behavior and also of those around me. If
some [censored] is screwing up in my presence, I let 'em know that it's noticed, and that it's
disaproved of by me and others. In regards to bicycling, if a motorist tries to sqeeze me I'll yell
first and thump their car if I must. If I catch them at a stop I'll give them an earfull. There are
a lot of spoiled brats out there who've been coddled and believe that no-one can tell them what to
do or how to behave, or certainly not reprimand them for bad behavior. In fact, they were taught
that by permissive parents and a weak public school system.

Only once in 5 years with this behavior have I had to reach for my weapon. That's as far as it went.

As of recent, I've take to giving the bird to any [censored] with a super-thumper sound system. If I
get any flack, I ask them, "This is what you're saying to me and the rest of the world, isn't it?
Here's back at ya!"

Oh, no, we must be afraid of everyone and rely on the coppers to protect us! LOL!

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 09:38:08 -0400, Stergios Papadakis <[email hidden]> wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Today, I started carrying a little notebook in my jersey pocket on my commute. It is a "wet notes"
book, which is a coated paper that is waterproof. You can get it at marine stores. I started
carrying it because the same car leaned on the horn and gave me the finger for the fourth time
(six-lane road, light traffic, I was in the right half of the right lane). I will now have a dated
log of such occurences. If it ever does get serious, which I doubt, the log will be important.

If you have been harassed on the road four times by the same person, the situation already is
serious. Report this to the police now and again following any further incidents. Insist on a
report. The police will want to do as little as possible of course, but it is important that you
establish a real paper trail now rather than after the sociopath hits you.

By the way, the car didn't do anything, there is (purportedly) a human behind the wheel and they are
supposed to be responsible for their actions. Please don't absolve them of responsibility by saying
that their car is the one harassing you.

--
Chris Bird

I agree with much of what you say, including your opinion that we can't rely on the police for much.

However, I wouldn't recommend that others follow your example of giving the finger to people just
because their stereo is too loud or regularly carrying a weapon.

"Robin Hubert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dan Cosley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters
with motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However,
it also sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to
just let go. I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be
scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

Getting the license is good, in case there is a real incident.

I treat them the same way I treat the wild, uncontrolled kids of some

mom's

Quoted message said:

I see in (pick your) public places. I do my best to put them in their place. In my opinion, it's
my duty and responsibility as a Citizen of the USA to police my own behavior and also of those
around me. If some

[censored]

Quoted message said:

is screwing up in my presence, I let 'em know that it's noticed, and that it's disaproved of by me
and others. In regards to bicycling, if a

motorist

Quoted message said:

tries to sqeeze me I'll yell first and thump their car if I must. If I catch them at a stop I'll
give them an earfull. There are a lot of

spoiled

Quoted message said:

brats out there who've been coddled and believe that no-one can tell them what to do or how to
behave, or certainly not reprimand them for bad behavior. In fact, they were taught that by
permissive parents and a weak public school system.

Only once in 5 years with this behavior have I had to reach for my weapon. That's as far as
it went.

As of recent, I've take to giving the bird to any [censored] with a super-thumper sound system. If I
get any flack, I ask them, "This is what you're saying to me and the rest of the world, isn't it?
Here's back at ya!"

Oh, no, we must be afraid of everyone and rely on the coppers to protect

us!

Quoted message said:

LOL!

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]>

Dan Cosley said:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks? 2) What else (if anything) do you do about
bad driver behavior?

As has been mentioned, shrug off what you can. Too many complaints would indicate to the police or
whoever that the problem lies somehow with you. Most dangerous driving is a result of a driver
mistake -- not something deliberate. Have you never done something behind the wheel that has
resulted in a close call?

But what really works with trucks or busses, anything with a company name on the vehicle, is to not
call the police, but to call the company. They know who was driving that truck at that time, and you
can bet that, if the issue is serious, that driver will have himself a new attitude at the end of
his shift. I did this with a campus shuttle bus that buzzed by me with inadequate clearance. I
simply reminded the bus service that they have to give adequate clearance when passing any vehicle,
even a bike. Since then I have been given plenty of clearance by those busses.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Enron's slogan: Respect, Communication, Integrity, and _`\(,_ | Excellence. (_)/ (_) |

I have had some close calls myself lately, including one yesterday at, of all places, Stone Mountain
Park near Atlanta, where a driver attempted to turn right from the left lane and had to slam on the
brakes to not hit me.

Lately I have had the feeling that my luck is running out. I am afraid that eventually one of them
will get me.

"Dan Cosley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters
with motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However, it
also sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to just let
go. I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

-- Dan

--
Dan Cosley ([email hidden] * cs.umn.edu~cosleyOpen ↗) GroupLens Research Lab,
Univ of MN (movielens.umn.edumovielens.umn.eduOpen ↗ *

612.624.8372)

Quoted message said:

*** Just a foot soldier in the Army of Truth ***

the proper response to bad driver behavior is cool stoicism. Freaking out when drivers mess up or
act with deliberate malevolence is a sign that the rider holds unrealistic expectations about riding
in traffic. The proper time to freak out is when drivers start acting properly.

Robert

In article said:

Freaking out when drivers mess up or act with deliberate malevolence is a sign that the rider
holds unrealistic expectations about riding in traffic.

Spoken like a true bike courier ;-)

cheers, & time is money, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca

"Chris B." <[email protected]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 09:38:08 -0400, Stergios Papadakis <[email hidden]> wrote: If you
have been harassed on the road four times by the same person, the situation already is serious.
Report this to the police now and again following any further incidents. Insist on a report. The
police will want to do as little as possible of course, but it is important that you establish a
real paper trail now rather than after the sociopath hits you.

Absolutely, at four times by the same person, a call to the police is past due. Assuming of course
that you are by now sure it isn't someone you know pulling your leg or trying to say hello.

Some drivers have made up their own rules of the road and get quite put out that others haven't read
their minds. Chances are they're aggressively harassing others too. Do everyone, other drivers,
pedestrians, etc a favor and get that rolling time bomb off the road ASAP.

Doug Toronto

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dan Cosley
I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters with
motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However, it also
sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to just let go.
I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

-- Dan

--
Dan Cosley ([email hidden] * cs.umn.edu~cosleyOpen ↗) GroupLens Research
Lab, Univ of MN (movielens.umn.edumovielens.umn.eduOpen ↗ * 612.624.8372) *** Just a foot soldier in the Army
of Truth ***

1) Not usually.
2) Spark Plugs 😉

"Dan Cosley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters
with motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However, it
also sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to just let
go. I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

This happens to me on a frequent basis, even when I am in my 4x4 truck. People are constantly
cutting in front of me to take an exit, even when there is nobody for quite some distance behind me.
I drive in a fairly calm manner, at a steady speed to avoid this nonsense, and it still happens.

This is a primary reason why I avoid the streets during rush hour. We had a bicycle rider get run
over from behind yesterday morning, about 1 mile from where I work. There are a lot of drivers who
act like they have a death wish and they don't care who they take with them.

"Stergios Papadakis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Today, I started carrying a little notebook in my jersey pocket on my commute. It is a "wet notes"
book, which is a coated paper that is waterproof. You can get it at marine stores.

You should be able to find these at any store that sells surveying supplies.

"Dan Cosley" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters
with motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However, it
also sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to just let
go. I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

-- Dan

Along with the notepad, carry a cell phone. If you can give a calm, objective description of the
incident immediately after it happened, making it pretty obvious that some traffic law was violated,
you have a much better chance of persuading the police to act. Use some discretion here. If the
incident is over and done with and you are no longer in any danger, calling 911 will be
counterproductive. In this case, call the non-emergency phone number for your county's
police/fire/ambulance dispatch center. I have numbers in my cell phone directory for state, county,
and various local law enforcement agencies just for this kind of thing.

With commercial vehicles, a call to the business can be very effective. Vehicle numbers can be more
useful than license numbers if the business is big enough to own several vehicles. If you can't get
a vehicle number or license number, sometimes a description of the vehicle along with location of
the incident and time of day will let the employer deduce which driver was involved. If the company
takes this sort of thing seriously, they will call you back and ask questions trying to get a
clearer picture of what happened.
--
mark

"Boyd Speerschneider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dan Cosley <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]: The guy stops his
truck, reaches in the glove box, and pulls out a .45 The guy aims it at us and yells "You want
some of this!!!???"
ps. In all the excitement, we forgot to get the guys license plate number.

Nice job. A description would have been a start. I wonder how many people he's shot since you all
decided not to bother reporting it.

"Dan Cosley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters
with motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However, it
also sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to just let
go. I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

My state (MA) has an on-line complaint form that you can fill out. Supposedly, all complaints stay
on someone's record. You might see what your state offers.

x-no-archive: yes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've been having a larger-than-usual number of unpleasant-to- potentially-dangerous encounters
with motorists recently. This involves verbal stuff, which usually I can shrug off. However,
it also sometimes involves being cut off or squeezed off the road, and this I find harder to
just let go. I'm trying to train myself to get license/vehicle numbers rather than just be
scared, but:

1) Is it worth getting license numbers of cars? Trucks?
2) What else (if anything) do you do about bad driver behavior?

-- Dan

I just went through some unpleasantness with a neighbor who would stand outside and curse at me.
When talking about it to a police officer, he said, "Why didn't you call in a report for "disorderly
conduct"? I didn't know there was such a thing, but it would also seem to apply in your situation.
The officer said, "People can't just curse at you and create dangerous situations with impunity."
The Disorderly Conduct citation here in Texas is like a traffic ticket, kind of, but the first time
it costs $48. Then, the second time, the fine goes up to $200, he told me. So, it gets their
attention quick!

I suggest you call your local police and ask them if the same possibility is in place at
your location.

Pat in TX

Doug Purdy said:

"Boyd Speerschneider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dan Cosley <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]: The guy stops his
truck, reaches in the glove box, and pulls out a .45 The guy aims it at us and yells "You want
some of this!!!???"
ps. In all the excitement, we forgot to get the guys license plate number.

Nice job. A description would have been a start. I wonder how many people he's shot since you all
decided not to bother reporting it.

That would have made the perfect ending to the yarn.

Boyd Speerschneider said:

A big white truck F150 wiht tinted windows, a redneck driving it, and Bucs, confederate flag, and
Dale Ernheart "3" stickers on the back window.

"Out of respect for the memory of Dale Earnhart, I have decided to completely eliminate all vision
to the rear of my head. If I can't see it, it isn't happening".