Do you want to pay for my new bumper?

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

So I'm leaving for work this morning, preparing to pull out of my apartment complex. There's a good amount of space between the car that just zoomed passed and the next car in succession, so I go. Apparently this guy didn't like that I took up one of the 30 or so car lengths in between him and the car in front, so he speeds up and fixes himself about 2 feet from my back bumper. Most of the time I try not to pay attention to these types of asshats, but this guy starts beeping his horn, yelling something, waving his arms (shaking a closed fist which is how I know it wasn't an emergency type of "get out of my way") and the like, all in general annoyance. I look down and realize that I'm already going about 7 miles over the speed limit, and I wasn't comfortable with going any faster, in addition to the fact that I really didn't feel like dealing with this prick this morning on the whole 2 miles of road that we had to travel before reaching the main intersection, so I tap my brakes once or twice to give him the hint that he needs to back off. He didn't like that too much, and proceeds to lay on his horn for a good 20 seconds. :wtf: Ok. Now you're getting on my nerves.

I slow down a little. Now I'm going the speed limit. He really gets pissed. He gets even closer to my bumper (I didn't think that was possible), turns his high beams on (hello dude, it's daylight... it doesn't have the same effect) and lays on the horn again. If there was a place that I could have let him pass, I would have done so, but there isn't, so I'm stuck. "Alright" I think to myself, "now you've pissed me off". I roll down the window, flick him off, and slow down to about 15 miles under the speed limit (didn't break mind you because I drive a stick, so there were no break lights to indicate my reduction in speed). I figure there's no way I could get a ticket for going too slow-we're nearing the intersection, he can't call the cops to get there in time, and what's to stop me, really? There's no other cars behind this guy, so I'm not inconveniencing anyone else besides him (yay me) and then I get the brilliant idea to blast the radio so I can't hear him as he's now screaming out his window at me-yes, readers, his head was OUT OF HIS WINDOW. I tap the breaks some more, at this point praying to whatever diety you like that he hits me-I could use the money and this scat muncher seems like he needs someone to piss in his cheerios today. I see him lean back in to his car and reach over as if to get something out of his glove box. This red flags the possibility that he's yanking out a mag-light (or worse) to assult my car at the light coming up. Lucky for me I had to turn in to the shopping center before the light anyway, because I had the sinking feeling this guy is nuts, but seriously... is this guy looking to get a ticket for tailgating? I would win, cuz remember, I drive a stick.

I would love to file that report!
"But officer, this squirrel (even better, a rabbit, since I have two) looked like it was going to dart out into the road, so I braked to avoid hitting it and this jerk-wad must have been following too closely... Ow ow ow, my neck, my back."

A lesson-If you're in a hurry, next time leave 10 minutes earlier and save yourself an accident, a claim on your insurance, a repair to your car, and higher rates on your premiums. Lack of planning on your part does NOT constitute an emergency on mine.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Yeah, I'm thinking gun. Probably should have called the cops and reported that he threatened you with something, possibly a firearm.:angel:

[Greenday]

As I was reading, I was thinking to myself that you shoulda flipped him off, but then as I kept reading, I saw you did. Good job showing him who's boss. In NJ, you could be on a major highway, and the guy can slam on his breaks at any time, and if you tap him, it's your fault, even though he had no reason to stop. Some weird laws out there.

[Ryu]

i noticed you live in maryland
be very careful about hoping someone rear ends you
if your AT ALL partially responsible, which includes tapping your brake to try to get hit or even having your radio loud possibly, you cannot recover a penny from them
marylands one of the few states left with contributory negligence laws still in effect
just a bit of info which might be helpful that i learned in my intro to law class, taught by a practicing prosecutor

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

i noticed you live in maryland
be very careful about hoping someone rear ends you
if your AT ALL partially responsible, which includes tapping your brake to try to get hit or even having your radio loud possibly, you cannot recover a penny from them
marylands one of the few states left with contributory negligence laws still in effect
just a bit of info which might be helpful that i learned in my intro to law class, taught by a practicing prosecutor

Although I would think it would be hard to prove that I was in any way at fault considering we were the only two cars in the vicinity (and with him being as close as he was), I do find this to be an interesting piece of information. I'll have to look more closely into this one...

[protege]

In NJ, you could be on a major highway, and the guy can slam on his breaks at any time, and if you tap him, it's your fault, even though he had no reason to stop. Some weird laws out there.

PA is like that too. It doesn't matter if someone stops suddenly...and you hit them. It's automatically your fault. You can be cited for following too closely, "failure to control your vehicle," or possibly "going too fast for conditions."

How do I know this? I got cited for 2 of those things, plus "reckless driving" after an accident I had in '93. I was behind another car at a light. Light turned green. He went, I went. Midway through the intersection, he hit the brakes. The road was slick, and even at 10-20mph I couldn't stop...and slid right into him :eek: When I tried to tell the cops what happened, they *refused* to listen to me--they wrote down what *they* felt happened, and ignored what I, and the other guy told him. End result was I got cited, and got a few points on my license...which were later tossed out by the magistrate.

Roughly a year later, some idiot hit *me* while I was stationary. My engine had blown up, and I was about to push the car. I don't know how fast the guy was going...but he hit me pretty hard. IIRC, he got nailed for speeding--the shift at the bottling plant across the way had *just* let out, so at least 100 people saw all of it. Cops came, took down everything, then I left for the hospital--my head hurt like hell, and I wasn't taking any chances.

Third time was about 6 years later. I was sitting in traffic on my way to work when I got hit. That one was easy--we exchanged info, then let the insurance sort it out. I didn't call the cops, since he had to deal with someone worse...his wife! It was *her* brand-new Lexus he'd just wrecked :lol:

I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't do a "brake check" in front of someone. Sure, you'll nail them in the short run...but is the pain, and possibly losing your vehicle *really* worth it? I have to say no!

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

A car is essentially a 2000+ pound killing machine and should be respected-what's that rule they teach you in driving school? One car length for every 10 mph? Yes, I think that's it.

For this guy, I'd put my car in the shop for a week or two, and I could sure use the money from a civil suit-I got some debt I could pay off real quick. He totally would have deserved it for being such an arse. Some people just need to learn a lesson, and obviously this guy hadn't done so yet...

[blas]

He'll learn a lesson when he gets behind someone like my father who isn't gracious enough to give brake-tap "warnings".

He could also learn a lesson during the winter when the roads are glare ice. From your story, he seems like a total moron, so it's unlikely he'd drive safely in inclimate weather. Wait until one of those pesky yellow lights hits him (the ones where you don't have enough time to go through and you practically slam your brakes). If not then, he will learn when a traffic jam comes out of nowhere and the peson he is tailgating has to slam their brakes.

As much as you and all of the rest of us would love to teach tailgaters like that a lesson, we're better off just imagining what will happen when he gets his karma back.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I had a car totaled from being rear ended. I was waiting to make a left turn into my street (3 houses away from home!) and the guy behind me zipped around me on the shoulder and the guy behind him slammed right into me at 50+ mph. I spent the next 4+ hours in the ER. Getting cited for "following too closely, "failure to control your vehicle," or possibly "going too fast for conditions." were the least of his problems...driving without a licence and his inability to find the insurance card in the car (that he borrowed from someone) meant he spent the evening in the police station if not the night in jail. I don't know if the van he was driving was totaled, but my trunk was accordioned to half its original size :eek: my tire was punctured, and the rear bumper was only attached on one end.

Suffice to say, it was 4 1/2 years ago and I still do not leave anyone room to get around me when I have to stop and wait to make that turn.

(And talk about "ow, my neck, my back" - I couldn't sit up in bed the next morning...had to roll myself out over the side. :lol:)

yeah, it's funny now...sorta :rolleyes:

[MadMike]

Getting cited for "following too closely, "failure to control your vehicle," or possibly "going too fast for conditions." were the least of his problems...driving without a licence and his inability to find the insurance card in the car (that he borrowed from someone) meant he spent the evening in the police station if not the night in jail.

Something like that happened right in front of the building where I work a few years back. I didn't see it happen, but I saw the aftermath. This really scared-looking girl was sitting in the one car, and two of my co-workers, who are married to each other, were in the other car.

I later found out that the girl in the other car had come flying down the street, swerving all over the road, was up on the sidewalk briefly, and then got back on the road and hit them.

I would not have wanted to be in her shoes, as it turned at that she was only 16, didn't have a license, and "didn't know whose car it was."

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

I swear... What is it with people thinking that just because they're in a car that somehow they aren't ever in any danger, or are invincible, or some other equally deluded fantasy world?

I just don't understand it. I think when you get your drivers license renewed you should have to re-take at least a portion of the driving test (especially the written portion) and watch videos of what happens when you're stupid... Hell, you already sit in the DMV office for hours, so why not re-educate the public on the fact that driving is a privelege, not a right. I think the visual would help too... kinda put some things in perspective-maybe not for everyone, but if it even gets one person to slow down then it's worth it.

[Tanasi]

My brother was rear-ended a few years ago by a Mercury Couger. He said the guy was still accelerating when he hit him and this dog-knotted them together. The Couger driver got out and ran off leaving my brother standing there in the middle of a very busy highway. My brother called the law and while waiting he thought the couger was on fire and since they were knotted he put his truck in 4WD and unknotted them by pulling most of the front end off the car. It turned out the car wasn't on fire but he didn't know that at the time. As far as I know the driver was never caught and the owner got the bill.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I would not have wanted to be in her shoes, as it turned at that she was only 16, didn't have a license, and "didn't know whose car it was."

Ouch. This guy's license came up as suspended, but I found out later (when we went to court - on my 27th birthday! yeah, party!!) that he was not able to get a license in the first place. I think it had something to do with immigration; he sounded like he was from Eastern Europe somewhere. I wonder what happened to the owner's insurance rates after that one (he did have it, the guy just couldn't find it)!

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

The Couger driver got out and ran off leaving my brother standing there in the middle of a very busy highway. <snip> As far as I know the driver was never caught and the owner got the bill.

Now that's a big ol' bowl of suck.

[myswtghst]

I was in my first accident when I was about 17. It was in the winter, with nasty road conditions, I was slowing down in the turn lane and got cut off. I was unable to stop and ended up rearending the guy who cut me off. The cop issued no citations, due to the weather, but my insurance company later determined it was not my fault. Unfortunately, when they pursued it, the guy had fled the state. :( That sucked.

[Giggle Goose]

Hell, you already sit in the DMV office for hours

It's not called the DMV in Maryland, silly! :p

But all kidding aside, I hope that guy gets what's coming to him. I just hope that he doesn't use the whole flicking-off thing against you since that might be considered aggressive driving. As long as a cop didn't see it, I think you're fine. Take it from me, the state ordered me to take a driving improvement course. Yeah, good times. :angel:

[FormerCallingCardRep]

We are right now teaching our oldest daughter to drive. (She is doing very well even if I have to say so) Tonight I was letting her drive home from the store when a car pulled out in front of her. She was able to get stopped in time. The car belonged to....... a member of the US House of Represenitives. His plates on his car said so.

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

It's not called the DMV in Maryland, silly!

Eh, MVA, whatever... A rose is still a rose...

The car belonged to....... a member of the US House of Represenitives. His plates on his car said so.

:no: This makes me sad... I once saw a dateline story on traffic judges caught speeding. It made me weep for humanity.

[protege]

:no: This makes me sad... I once saw a dateline story on traffic judges caught speeding. It made me weep for humanity.

Somewhat similar... our local coroner used his influence to get out of charges from an accident *he* caused on the Parkway a few years back. He got what was coming though--he lost the election for county executive, and was indicted on corruption charges. Karma's a bitch like that :p

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

Somewhat similar... our local coroner used his influence to get out of charges from an accident *he* caused on the Parkway a few years back. He got what was coming though--he lost the election for county executive, and was indicted on corruption charges. Karma's a bitch like that :p

I didn't realize a coroner had such pull. I could understand if he was the mayor or something... but a coroner? He deals with dead people. WTF?

[Crazyredhead]

I was rear ended by some dude talking on a cell phone many years ago. Didn't even have the decency to get off afterwards. I was 5 months pregnant and had to get out and go to his truck. I wanted so bad to grab that cell phone and throw it out in the middle of the highway here(41A).

I have a trailer hitch on the back of my van and when he hit me he punched a hole into his front bumper, while my van sustained no damage.

I would have slowed down to about 5 under the speed limit and put it in cruise. I would have then turned up the radio so I couldn't hear him. He could have yelled him hoarse and it wouldn't have bothered me. I try not to pay attention to what is behind me unless I am making a lane change, or a movement that requires me to see what is coming in from behind/side.