What to do about Road Rage...Nothing!!

I was talking to a friend and fellow rider this morning and he described to me an incident that he witnessed that occurs all too often. He told me that he was stopped at a red light the other day just as a white van was pulling up next to him. Like most of us he did not really make any eye contact with the driver and was content to wait for the light to change and not risk the dirty looks we often get from drivers who have to suffer the loss of precious seconds from their commute as they wait for the opportunity to get past us.

But before the light changed another biker rolled up next to him and proceeded to bang on the window of the van yelling obscenities at the driver telling him that he "passed too close back there." The driver rolled down the window and asked the guy to please not hit his car like that. But, undeterred the biker kept yelling how he was entitled to be on the road also and the guy was a complete ass for passing him so close. Shortly thereafter a female rider arrived at the scene and joined in harassing the driver. Both were yelling into the vehicle which sped away as soon as the light changed.

My friend tried to remain focused on the light and when the car was gone the other rider apologized for loosing his temper and said he was sorry to put my friend in the middle like that. My friend said nothing, nodded to the biker and continued on his way.

So let us now explore what the irate biker was hoping to accomplish with his outburst. Do any of you really think the driver will think twice about running another biker off the road after being insulted and screamed at by more than one of us at a stoplight (my poor friend being guilty by association.) Do any of you really think that this sort of behavior will increase the wheeled cage's tolerance for us on the highway?

I have seen the worst behavior from motorists. I have been run off the road, I have been hit with bottles thrown from car windows, I have been cussed at, cut off, and actually bumped by a truck. I have had people pull around me and jump out of their cars with tire irons in hand. Once I even had to explain to a sherrif's deputy that I actually did have a legal right to ride my bike on a state road and directed him to read the the state statute if he did not believe me.

Trust me folks I have had my fair share of road rage. And in all of this I have never once, not for a second believed, that attacking someone's car, yelling back at a drunk driver, or throwing my water bottle would do any good to improve the situation. I am convinced that most times retaliation only makes the situation worse. It is the psychology involved. The angry driver is looking for a reason to lash out at us. We are "wasting valuable seconds of their time!" And the moment you flip them off or yell at them then that is all the justification to run you out of the road they need.

So what do I suggest you do? Simple. Do nothing. Ride on like you did not even notice. I guarantee nine times out of ten this tactic will get you home with no bruises from a tire iron. Since I have adopted this stance I have never had a problem. In fact I spend a lot of time trying to be courteous to drivers. I always make it a point to wave when someone lets me go in front of them at a light. When someone has to follow me for a short time before they pass me I often wave and say thanks as they go by. I am more than sure they were angry waiting to go around me but when I extend just the slightest courtesy they often wave back. As if they meant to be courteous in the fist place. Yea like they were really looking out for me back there as opposed to fuming at me for being in the way.

Now there are sometimes when it does not matter how much you ignore road rage. You still may find yourself being directly confronted. If this is the case remain in control of your emotions and dial 911 immediately to report the driver. Get a good description of the car, the driver, and try to get the tag number. If someone is going out of their way to mess with you it is likely you are not the first one and the police might be looking for them anyway. Besides calling the police is enough to get most jerks to shove off in and of itself.

There is no question that it is annoying to be confronted by an irate driver on the road when you are just as legally entitled to be there as they are. But there is no point is trying to take on a moron in a 5000 pound vehicle. You and your 16 pound bike will loose every time. Quite simply, your life is in their hands. The best policy is to ignore what you can and call the police if the incident gets out of hand. Road riding has undergone a sort of renaissance in this country in the last few years. There are a lot more of us on the road now and drivers are just going to have to accept it. But lets do what we can to make the adjustment easier for both of us.