Road Rage scenario

[tfwag2003]

I have a friend have a scary situation yesterday and I'm curious what your options are if you were in this scenario?
She was driving home from work when she had someone tailgating her for no reason, and mind you this is after work traffic, so your lucky if can do 50mph without a car 20' in front of you. This guy wouldnt let up so she checked the breaks alittle and the guy got pissed. So he drove on to the shoulder so he could get next to her and pointed a handgun at her. This wasn't it, she tried changing lanes slowing down and speeding up trying to get away from him and what ever she did he just came back pointing his gun.

So what do you do?

Call the police and hope they can do something?

Do you have the right do defend yourself and your family from your car?

I honestly don't know what I would have done, your if it would have been the right choice. So i'm here looking for opinions and answers. Thank you

 

[mountainman308]

This is a nightmare scenario for many people, especially in urban areas where CCW may be illegal. In this case, calling the cops is the first thing you do, but they will take a while to get there, put them on speaker and drive with both hands. There is a legal precedent which states "that which is necessary is legal" so if she has to go over the speed limit in order to escape, then she should do so. If all other options have failed, and you are in fear for your life, and you can articulate to a jury that you will be seeing that the other person had the means, motive, and oprotunity to do you bodily harm, then you may take lethal action in self defense.

 

[Graham]

You have a right to self-defense. Whether or not you are in your car is a circumstance that speaks to necessity, but it doesn't alter the right.

What you are describing is an assault with a dangerous weapon. When you call 9-11 the police will come. When they stop him they will find the gun.

I'm not on board with the means, motive and opportunity analysis given above. Many people walk around all day with the means, a motive, and opportunity to harm someone but that doesn't justify the use of deadly force against them.

 

[Jerrrrstanley]

Could she articulate being in fear of her life? Yes. Did she have a way out? Maybe. Best thing to do is hit your brakes hard. It puts him in front. If he stops, you stop well behind him. If he keeps advancing and you can't back up for traffic you have to defend yourself.
This is a tricky one because of being in a vehicle and MAYBE having a means to escape. The devil is in the details on this one. Articulation of why you couldn't escape would be key to why you had to kill John Q Crackhead.
Glad she made it away OK. Hopefully she called the cops and they caught that bastard.

 

[Graham]

Articulation of why you couldn't escape would be key to why you had to kill John Q Crackhead.

........Why?

 

[pinsandpitons]

........Why?

Because not many states (i may have missed in which one this took place) have stand your ground laws. So I would want to be able to describe in detail why I couldn't get away (leave the situation). I don't know the legal name for that but most places I'm familiar with look at whether the victim had the opportunity to flee and if they did that's the first/best option. Might not be the macho-ist, toughest, manliest warrior thing to do, but deescalation is generally considered better than killing people... even people who deserve it.

What's the end of the story? Did she call the fuzz? Get away? Kiss and make up?

 

[Ledzep]

memorize the license plate #, call the cops, take video/pics.

I generally try to avoid shooting moving targets while I am a moving target in built up areas.

 

[diverdon]

She was driving home from work when she had someone tailgating her for no reason, and mind you this is after work traffic, so your lucky if can do 50mph without a car 20' in front of you. This guy wouldnt let up so she checked the breaks alittle and the guy got pissed.

Hmmm, How blameless is your friend really? She brake checked the guy? No Foolin. I understand the desire to brake check some tailgater, but that is a needless escalation of hostilities. Anymore today, if some one is in a hurry and tailgating me I signal, pull over and let them by. I don't know why that guy is in a hurry, perhaps his wife is having a baby in the passenger seat, or his dad is having a heart attack. Perhaps it is a doctor on his way to mass causality event. Perhaps it is just someone who had an argument with their spouse or lost their job. Perhaps it is some nut job looking for a reason to kill some one. In any event I can easily afford the 10 seconds it takes to let them go first.

Yes that guy was certainly wrong to display his weapon in a threatening manner. He was likely some kind of thug, and your friend should have summoned the police.

But, I hope she takes some time tonight to reflect on her own roll in this event.

 

[The Mechanic]

Pit maneuver.

 

[Slapchop]

I have a friend have a scary situation yesterday and I'm curious what your options are if you were in this scenario?
She was driving home from work when she had someone tailgating her for no reason, and mind you this is after work traffic, so your lucky if can do 50mph without a car 20' in front of you. This guy wouldnt let up so she checked the breaks alittle and the guy got pissed. So he drove on to the shoulder so he could get next to her and pointed a handgun at her. This wasn't it, she tried changing lanes slowing down and speeding up trying to get away from him and what ever she did he just came back pointing his gun.

So what do you do?

Call the police and hope they can do something?

Do you have the right do defend yourself and your family from your car?

I honestly don't know what I would have done, your if it would have been the right choice. So i'm here looking for opinions and answers. Thank you

Of course you call 911 for help. I'm not sure WHERE you live but here, a call of a menacing with a handgun in progress with the caller still on the line is going to generate a rapid response with numerous cars showing up. By rapid I mean that there will be cops showing up within 2-3 minutes.

Do you have the right to defend yourself? Absolutely! 2-3 minutes doesn't apply to everywhere in the country and in some instances it might be 2-3 minutes too long. So if your story went down the way you say, I'd say she has every right in the world to defend herself.

 

[pmclaine]

Seldom does issuing a brake check end well.

I'm not dismissing the response of the other guy but when tailgated really how much of an ass ache to just move to another lane?

 

[Changed]

First of all she should remain calm. Typically the people you see tailgating are hyper aggressive males, or incredibly passive-aggressive males. Who knows what happened in their day to piss them off. A brake check is a direct challenge to them. They can, and will react as such. (You have real problems when the two personality types meet.) He pulled the gun because she challenged him. If he was aggressively tailgating she should have called the police. When you call in and tell them what is going on they will take it seriously.

What should you do if someone pulls a gun on you while driving? Do everything in your power to get out of the way. Call the police. Drive to a near by police substation. Drive to a crowded area. In this case the guy was probably trying to display his "Power", and nothing more than that. The best advice is deescalate the situation. He has a gun, she doesn't, anything other than reducing the tension is not going to turn out well. If she had a gun, my advice would be the same... deescalate.

Now, had she tried to ram him, or spin him out, she would have had a real problem. While it sounds like a good idea, she would at best incapacitate his vehicle. Most likely she would incapacitate hers too. What do you think would happen if she hit him, and they both came to a stop?

Whats the worst thing you can say to a guy holding a gun on you? "You don't have the guts." That statement is a direct challenge to a gunman, and will get you shot.

Chip

 

[Jerrrrstanley]

........Why?

Like Pinsandpitons said it may not be the macho-ist thing to do but its the smartest. How fast can you draw your ccw seat belted in your car, aim one handed 90 degrees to your right or left, and get get off a controlled pair while driving and shooting into a moving vehicle where the jackass already has a gun pointed at you? Faster than you can hit the brakes and get out of his sight picture? Nope!
Plus, let's say your lightning fast and double tap him in the face and he coasts onto the shoulder and no one else gets hurt. His family sues you for wrongful death. What are your answers when the attorney is asking you why didn't you hit your brakes? I hope your answer works but I would like to say I tried and he slowed down with me. I changed lanes and accelerated and he followed. He displayed his gun a second time and I was afraid for my life because I couldn't get away so I eliminated the threat.

 

[Graham]

I don't know the legal name for that but most places I'm familiar with look at whether the victim had the opportunity to flee and if they did that's the first/best option.

It's called a duty to retreat. Some states have it, some states have it only in some places, and some states don't have it any place where you are lawfully present.

Seldom does issuing a brake check end well.

On the contrary: Usually it does end well, which is why so many idiots do it. If it had more consequences fewer people would try it.

Did she get a license plate number?

 

[HBAM1]

She should have shown her boobies...problem solved

 

[Maggot]

Frag grenade through the rear side window. Problem solved.

 

[High Binder]

Seldom does issuing a brake check end well.

^^ This. Brake checks are a sure-fire way to make an aggressive person even more aggressive. I hate to blame the victim here but hopefully this little drama will teach her to avoid escalating a situation, switch lanes or pull over and let the rager find somebody that wants to play, shouldn't take him long as there are plenty of people out there who love to do some road battling.

Be zen:

 

[Slapchop]

Amazing how some people are saying that the woman caused this or that it was somehow here fault. Wonder if it was your wife, daughter, mother you'd feel the same way. This was caused by some raging asshole who happens to be a coward. Terrorizing a female with a firearm. He's also a criminal who shouldn't have a gun in the first place. It's guys like this that do irresponsible/criminal shit with firearms that attract negative attention from the media/politicians. Cutting someone off, stopping short, brake checking them give no one the right to menace someone else with a firearm while driving like a jackass. Hopefully she was able to grab a plate, called the cops and pressed charges.

 

[turbo54]

Cutting someone off, stopping short, brake checking them give no one the right to menace someone else with a firearm.

That is a true statment.

Another true statement is:

Brake checking the tailgater behind you is usually a good way to piss them off and increase your chances of being involved in a road rage scenario.

 

[Slapchop]

That is a true statment.

Another true statement is:

Brake checking the tailgater behind you is usually a good way to piss them off and increase your chances of being involved in a road rage scenario.

You're absolutely right and its good practice for self preservation but its no excuse on the part of the agitator. In my opinion he's a coward and a criminal. Seems like this isn't his first time, one can only hope that one day he gets shot in the face for his troubles.

 

[Maggot]

^^ This. Brake checks are a sure-fire way to make an aggressive person even more aggressive. I hate to blame the victim here but hopefully this little drama will teach her to avoid escalating a situation, switch lanes or pull over and let the rager find somebody that wants to play, shouldn't take him long as there are plenty of people out there who love to do some road battling.

Be zen:

Not so sure if that's zen or if hes focused on not pissing himself?

 

[Punisher29073]

Not so sure if that's zen or if hes focused on not pissing himself?

He is concentrating on the car in front of him incase he get brake checked.

But seriously, another question would be "What would you do if you witness this happening and you are armed as many of us are?". How far would you allow it to go before you intervened?

Do you remember when your biggest problem was am I gonna watch the Cosby show or 21 jump street tonight? I am guessing this didn't happen on a dirt road. We need more dirt roads.

Ryan

 

[tfwag2003]

Thanks for all the replies. The opinions vary greatly but some good ones. Was she in the right to break check him in the first place hard to say. I'd say about 95% of us at least has break checked someone at some point. Could this have been avoided i'm sure but whats to say this wouldnt have happened to someone else down the road. I agree she should have called the police and let them handle it. That being said in her case and other people I know they panic at the situation and calling the police isnt a thought at the time. From what was told the gunman had a female passenger who was couriering in fear at what was going on. All said and down peoples responses to something like this vary. But one thing is clear the authorities should have been notified.

I think is scenario is hard for a lot of people, especially if he would have pulled the trigger. I can honestly say I'm not sure what I would have done. I'm sure we would all agree on the same response if someone threatened you while you were on foot but a moving vehicle is something to think about.

 

[KYpatriot]

You're absolutely right and its good practice for self preservation but its no excuse on the part of the agitator. In my opinion he's a coward and a criminal. Seems like this isn't his first time, one can only hope that one day he gets shot in the face for his troubles.

Hey we agree again! Thats twice in one week people are gonna talk...

 

[KYS]

Brake check all you want.... just make sure you have the bigger vehicle and a really nice sized trailer hitch on it. When you punch their radiator out they wont be able to catch up to you!

 

[pmclaine]

"Amazing how some people are saying that the woman caused this or that it was somehow here fault".

You never know who you are dealing with when you decide to engage on the highway

You could be the young guy that stopped to crap all over the old guy in the brake down lane for some perceived road insult and suddenly found himself trumped when the old guy pulled a cross bow out of his trunk and made the young guy the first human killed by bolt in Massachusetts since probably the Pilgrim days

or

Maybe you will be the bad ass kid that generates 911 calls about his operation as soon as he gets on the highway than decides he should flip off the guy that he felt was travelling too slow in the left lane. Shocker when after the guy ahead of him pulled to the right than decides to make a column left and ram the little fucker into the median barrier. It was realized the douche didnt understand the concept of "kill zone" despite presenting his awesome active duty airman credentials. All the witnesses on scene complained about the first prick. The rammer "Stated gee Trooper totally my fault I had a tire blow out" and the rammee sat there whining about his totaled ground effects, kazoo equipped, pimped out import. Rammer didnt seem too concerned about his shitbox escort station wagon nor apparently his daughter that was in the car with him. Both got citations so each can contribute to making the safe drivers insurance cheaper.

Discretion is the better part of valor when you decide to engage someone on the open road. I dont condone what crazy gun guy did but lesson for the future get the plate, call the cops, and notify the registry of the erratic operation. MA has a form to report to the RMV and the merit rating board will call in the maniac driver. I know time and manpower dont allow it to happen in every locale but you say "Driver displayed gun" in my area and you end up with a scene kind of like you viewed in Watertown on 4/19.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Not to highjack the thread but...
My wife had a similar experience coming home from work one afternoon. She was in the hammer lane on a four lane with turn lane. Guy in the passing lane started over without looking and ran her into the turn lane(very dangerous situation). She layed down on the horn and he backed off only to pull back up beside her and flash his piece. She then layed down on the brakes and he went flying by. "Did you get the license #?" No "What was the vehicle, make , model, color?" I think it was a pick-up.
We live in a small community so I think she was shook up and purposefully vague with me for a reason. She knew I would find him. She summed it all up by saying she didn't want to talk about it. I was pretty shook up about it, having my wife and kid muzzled by a local thug. Had I been in the car I would have gotten a discription for the police at least. I am sure she wanted it to go away because as much as she would like to be armed, she is a school teacher, and can't even have a weapon in her car. I think she feared retaliation later if the authorities caught up with him. She is an easy target thanks to "gun free zones". Water under the bridge now. The whole thing has made me play out a lot of what ifs in this unpolite society of ours.

I wouldn't turn a brake check into a scenario like Jodie Foster in "The Accused". There was no excuse for his reaction. If you pull a pistol you better damn well be ready to use it, I contend he wasn't, or he would have.
Things would be so much easier if the rules were different. "He pulled a gun on me, I shot him." Case closed. Oh that it were so simple.

PS: The wife had left her cellphone at home that morning...so she says. As I say. She is VERY proficient with any firearm I own but is unable to go armed.

 

[aagifford]

I had a guy tailgating me early in the morning once, a young cholo on a power trip. He was so close, even though I was driving a black car I could see him lit up real good because of his headlights reflecting off the back of my car. I never brake checked him cuz I figured he didn't have any insurance. So I led him into running into a massive pothole that I knew was there, and blew out all his tires. Quite a spectacular sight, I laugh about it even now, and that was more than 10 years ago.

Regarding OP's situation, I would PIT the guy inside a heartbeat. I've preprogrammed that scenario into my psyche. Problem is, a friend of mine was in Pomona, and a cholo flashed a gun at her when she was stuck in traffic at a stoplight. Nowhere to go. Things don't necessarily go like you might plan...

 

[SniperCJ]

Here's what you do: Dont brake check someone in rush hour traffic.

 

[Slapchop]

Hey we agree again! Thats twice in one week people are gonna talk...

Make sure to play the lottery this week.

 

[sqidd]

Had a guy point a pistol at me on the freeway in Detroit 6-7 years ago. Never thought about pulling my own. Ran him into the center divider instead. Barely scratched my truck.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Brake check all you want.... just make sure you have the bigger vehicle and a really nice sized trailer hitch on it. When you punch their radiator out they wont be able to catch up to you!

You may still get a little bit knocked up, even if you have a bigger vehicle. I had a mini van decide to come to a complete stop on the trailer hitch of my F350, my back was sore all week.

 

[Brian]

Never really had a problem with tailgaters..........

 

[Cserv]

Brake check all you want.... just make sure you have the bigger vehicle and a really nice sized trailer hitch on it. When you punch their radiator out they wont be able to catch up to you!

I like this, but I also drive a 93 Dodge W350 4x4 with a nice big trailer hitch.lol

 

[sniperdude]

In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Snipers hide underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.

 

[Graham]

In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Snipers hide underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.

LOL! But in 1972 a 'crack' commando unit meant something entirely different.

 

[KYS]

I had a guy tailgating me early in the morning once, a young cholo on a power trip. He was so close, even though I was driving a black car I could see him lit up real good because of his headlights reflecting off the back of my car. I never brake checked him cuz I figured he didn't have any insurance. So I led him into running into a massive pothole that I knew was there, and blew out all his tires. Quite a spectacular sight, I laugh about it even now, and that was more than 10 years ago.

Regarding OP's situation, I would PIT the guy inside a heartbeat. I've preprogrammed that scenario into my psyche. Problem is, a friend of mine was in Pomona, and a cholo flashed a gun at her when she was stuck in traffic at a stoplight. Nowhere to go. Things don't necessarily go like you might plan...

You ran a guy into one pothole that blew out all of his tires? Either that pothole was 6ft wide or this guy just sucks at life.

 

[Graham]

So I led him into running into a massive pothole that I knew was there, and blew out all his tires.

I don't believe that either.

 

[aagifford]

You ran a guy into one pothole that blew out all of his tires? Either that pothole was 6ft wide or this guy just sucks at life.

Both!

If you don't believe me that's fine but here is what happened, it's my best driving story.

About 12 years ago or so now, I was working in the San Diego area and commuted in from Lake Elsinore in a vanpool. Vanpool left no later than 5:30am, preferred time was 5:25am, so I left the house no later than 5:05 am to get to the van at a mall in Temecula. 5 years of this... Early morning, always dark, and in winter, really dark.

Some background... Was a rainy non-typical California winter, and as a friend from back east said, our roads are water soluble. Lots of potholes. I noticed a pattern to the potholes, first day would be cracked pavement, second day a small pothole with cracked pavement around it, third day a deep pothole, fourth day morning (like this morning) a much bigger deep pothole, and when I drove back it was daytime and I could see that it would be fixed. I even saw where the pavement goes one day, a car went through a pothole and the pavement chunk popped out. It didn't even rotate, just jumped out. Size of a softball or so. Turns out other cars hit the chunks and turn them into dust, that's why you don't see any remnants. Anyway, they were all so big and deep that I made point of memorizing them in order to avoid.

Back to the story though, so left the house at the usual time, 5:00am, driving down Grand Ave towards Temecula. Go past Ortega highway down Grand, and just after I see a little white and primer gray ricer waiting at a small intersection. As I pass, it takes off and starts tailgating me. Close. Reeeaaalllly close. He was so close that I was in a black Saturn, and his headlights reflecting off the back of my car lit his face up and I could see him pretty well. Small hispanic kid making his best mean face. Brake checking him (or anyone) isn't my goto option, and I just kept going.

He honked a few times...

And flashed his lights a few times...

And switched back and forth to center up on my middle rear view mirror or my left side mirror, and always scowling a couple of times...

I was getting ticked.

He aligned up to look right down my left side mirror again when I remembered that there was a massive, and I mean really big pothole coming up. At the intersection of Grand and Blackwell. Grand is the left-right road. Pothole was between the crosswalk lines on the left. That section in the middle is concrete. Blackwell turns into a drainage channel whenever there is a lot of rain, and the pothole was coming up and against the concrete.
<a href="http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/aagifford/media/Snipers%20Hide%20Pics/BlackwellandGrand_zps4cd8d074.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa339/aagifford/Snipers%20Hide%20Pics/BlackwellandGrand_zps4cd8d074.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo BlackwellandGrand_zps4cd8d074.jpg"/></a>

Awesome, I thought. While he is aligned with my left mirror, I would straddle the pothole now in it's fourth and probably last day of existence, and see what happens! He he he he.

I make eye contact with the cholo kid in my left mirror, he gets more bold.

I act a little scared, and speed up!

Pothole is coming up, pothole is coming up, and

Oh shit, it's huge! I can't straddle it! Cut hard left and swing around it.

He hits it perfectly! Awesome! Sparks go flying, car bouncing up and down so hard each bounce leaves more sparks. He trails behind and stopped and I kept going.

 

[Jmartin2076]

I would not say that she caused it by brake checking but that tactic will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (did I say never) deescalate a driving situation and I will tell that to anyone that tries it whether they are my family or not. But if a gun is pulled get away fast! Changing lanes, braking (controlled) and getting way behind the idiot is probably safer than trying to outrun him. Guy was an A hole but I really do not see the problem with people moving to the right if someone is going faster than them. I don't care if I am hitting 70 in a 55 zone, you gain ground on me and I move over as soon as SAFELY possible. Just means you get the ticket for me

 

[super_poot]

I'm just glad I live in Wyoming... Where there is no such thing a heavy traffic.

Some of you mentioned how the best thing to do is pull over and let them go by. True... but if feels so good to give them a little brake check
I do agree with what diverdon said, how you really don't know why the person is tailgating, could be an urgent situation, but as far as threatening with a gun goes... wow, that guy needs to pay some consequences for that. That is just straight craziness.

 

[grayghost]

Back in the 70'sI had a guy that would tail gate me every day on the way home from work then pass and cut back real close trying to clip my front wheel or get me to slam on my brakes, he was in a big pick up and I was on a chopped triumph. Called the local pd and they said no harm no foul. My solution was a hand full of bike chain tossed back wards. No more wind shield and as luck would have it no more problem.

 

[dbateman]

Pit maneuver.

This......

 

[19Scout77]

She obviously lived to tell the story...whatever she did was the right thing to do. Pick your battles wisely.

 

[david walter]

The second time he pointed the gun at me I would have seriously considered firing on him.

 

[jashmore1234]

Evade, evade, evade. Attempt to remain in his driver side blind spot until an escape route presents itself. While simultaneously calling LE.

 

[The Mechanic]

I can attest to this. SoCal has some of the worst maintained roads in the country. San Diego can have some car eating holes without a doubt.

Both!

If you don't believe me that's fine but here is what happened, it's my best driving story.

About 12 years ago or so now, I was working in the San Diego area and commuted in from Lake Elsinore in a vanpool. Vanpool left no later than 5:30am, preferred time was 5:25am, so I left the house no later than 5:05 am to get to the van at a mall in Temecula. 5 years of this... Early morning, always dark, and in winter, really dark.

Some background... Was a rainy non-typical California winter, and as a friend from back east said, our roads are water soluble. Lots of potholes. I noticed a pattern to the potholes, first day would be cracked pavement, second day a small pothole with cracked pavement around it, third day a deep pothole, fourth day morning (like this morning) a much bigger deep pothole, and when I drove back it was daytime and I could see that it would be fixed. I even saw where the pavement goes one day, a car went through a pothole and the pavement chunk popped out. It didn't even rotate, just jumped out. Size of a softball or so. Turns out other cars hit the chunks and turn them into dust, that's why you don't see any remnants. Anyway, they were all so big and deep that I made point of memorizing them in order to avoid.

Back to the story though, so left the house at the usual time, 5:00am, driving down Grand Ave towards Temecula. Go past Ortega highway down Grand, and just after I see a little white and primer gray ricer waiting at a small intersection. As I pass, it takes off and starts tailgating me. Close. Reeeaaalllly close. He was so close that I was in a black Saturn, and his headlights reflecting off the back of my car lit his face up and I could see him pretty well. Small hispanic kid making his best mean face. Brake checking him (or anyone) isn't my goto option, and I just kept going.

He honked a few times...

And flashed his lights a few times...

And switched back and forth to center up on my middle rear view mirror or my left side mirror, and always scowling a couple of times...

I was getting ticked.

He aligned up to look right down my left side mirror again when I remembered that there was a massive, and I mean really big pothole coming up. At the intersection of Grand and Blackwell. Grand is the left-right road. Pothole was between the crosswalk lines on the left. That section in the middle is concrete. Blackwell turns into a drainage channel whenever there is a lot of rain, and the pothole was coming up and against the concrete.


Awesome, I thought. While he is aligned with my left mirror, I would straddle the pothole now in it's fourth and probably last day of existence, and see what happens! He he he he.

I make eye contact with the cholo kid in my left mirror, he gets more bold.

I act a little scared, and speed up!

Pothole is coming up, pothole is coming up, and

Oh shit, it's huge! I can't straddle it! Cut hard left and swing around it.

He hits it perfectly! Awesome! Sparks go flying, car bouncing up and down so hard each bounce leaves more sparks. He trails behind and stopped and I kept going.

 

[enigmamdw]

^^ This. Brake checks are a sure-fire way to make an aggressive person even more aggressive. I hate to blame the victim here but hopefully this little drama will teach her to avoid escalating a situation, switch lanes or pull over and let the rager find somebody that wants to play, shouldn't take him long as there are plenty of people out there who love to do some road battling.

Be zen:
***ZAP***

Really? I use this method all the time to wake up complacent drivers, and to 'let the guy know' that I don't appreciate the lack of space he/she is giving me on the roadway. I'm not slamming on the brakes and further complicating a dangerous situation, I tap the brakes enough to change the attitude of the vehicle and light up the brake lights. In the dozens of scenarios I can recall offhand the result is...car backs off, no guns, knives or threats of violence. The woman you are blaming for this situation just got VERY unlucky.

 

[timjoebobbradley]

Amazing how some people are saying that the woman caused this or that it was somehow here fault. Wonder if it was your wife, daughter, mother you'd feel the same way. This was caused by some raging asshole who happens to be a coward. Terrorizing a female with a firearm. He's also a criminal who shouldn't have a gun in the first place. It's guys like this that do irresponsible/criminal shit with firearms that attract negative attention from the media/politicians. Cutting someone off, stopping short, brake checking them give no one the right to menace someone else with a firearm while driving like a jackass. Hopefully she was able to grab a plate, called the cops and pressed charges.

It isn't her fault the other guy is someone with a temper problem. She certainly could have done something other than brake checking to solve the situation- change lanes at the first sign, get license plate number and call the police the first time you see behavior that warrants a call. I've done it myself and usually if someone does something stupid behind you, you let them pass and they continue with stupid behavior. If you have a car camera even better.

 

[MontanaKid]

She should have shown her boobies...problem solved

Haha! Awesome.