I was out enjoying a sunny day driving on the interstate. The top was down, the humidity was low, and the Stereophonics blasting at 40 on the not-loud-enough stock radio. It's days like this I had in mind when I purchased the S2000.

I approach a part of the interstate that gets congested through design [ok, bad design.] It's the type of area where you speed goes from 65mph to 55mph by traffic not speed limit. I'm following a truck at about a two car distance. Frankly, closer than I want to be due to the potential for rock chips, etc. Behind me is a truckosaurus rex filling up my rear view mirror. To my right and left are also various cars. It's like all the cars are locked on one speed, and there's no opportunity to change position. Typical congestion.

I pass a merge area. I'm in the center lane of 3 lanes. On my right hand side I note a ugly green Tauraus with its left blinker on. It's parallel to the truck in front of me. I think to myself the guy must not know it's on after the merge.

The truck in front of me passes him completely, and he starts merging into my lane. There's no question I'm in his blind spot [and I'm Silverstone.] I jam on the horn and hit the brakes. He makes a mild swerve back into his lane. Meanwhile, the truck behind me had to have its brakes too. Hey, everyone makes mistakes on the road. Credit goes to the guy for realising his error, and not causing the accident.

I was not trying to block his switching lanes [not to say I would've let him in, either. I'm not in the habit of slowing down on the interstate to let people switch lanes. I'm also not one to accelerate to block someone.] I just didn't register he was trying to switch lanes.

Now, he sticks his head out the window, at 55 mph, turns his head away from traffic to me, and screams some threatening comments. He has volume as I can hear him over the road noise and Stereophonics.

I just ignored the dude. No hand gestures or facial expressions. It's time like this I hate being the "better person" and ignoring the situation. It's like I'm letting him win for being obnoxious.

What would you do?

 

You did the right thing.....let it go.

 

Let it go and enjoy the beautiful day. Do you honestly think you would have felt better if you had lowered yourself to a visceral response?

 

You did the right thing.

On the 350Z forum a week or two ago, a guy wrote a thread about the hazards of road rage, how he responded to some unkind comments, and became the victom of a whole family's pent up aggression. The short of it was that at a stop light, a whole family (8 year old child included), unloads from their van and proceeds to kick the $hit out of the dudes Z-Roadster. All he could do was run the red to get out of the situation.

It's never ever ever worth anything to become emotional on the road. All that can possibly happen is bad things.

 

I disagree.
He had his blinker on for some time and you thought he left it on after merging? Then after a spot opens next to him you are surprised that he moves over into it after flashing his intentions for some time? Pay attention to other traffic a little better will you......
For you to notice his left turn blinker on means that he was at least a car length ahead of you, therefore it would not have forced you to slow down (too much) to allow him to enter into your lane.
As for you not responding to his anger.......It probably only pissed him off more because you were the cause of it.
I love it when people like you think only of yourself and this nonexistent "high road" you think you ride on.
Sorry if you don't like my response but remember it the next time you need to squeeze left into a partially open lane and some jerk won't back off the gas for one moment to let you in.

 

I would give this thread a title that meant something.

 

I normally try to stay out of people's blind spots.