I sometimes let other drivers get the best of me. I’m not proud of it but I’ve gotten into arguments while driving before. Not frequently, but more than I probably should’ve. Well, all these years of being short-tempered finally caught up to me. Recently, a vehicle cut me off on the highway and I almost went off the road. When I regained control, I instantly rolled down my window and flipped them off before speeding off. I didn’t even think about it. I just did it.
About 45 minutes later I stopped at a gas station to use the restroom. While standing at the urinal I didn’t even hear anybody come in. All I heard was someone who was instantly behind me yell out “GOTCHA!!” almost directly in my ear. I quickly zipped up and turned around to see a short, bald man with a disturbing scowl and a hand in his hoodie pocket, as if he had a weapon. My heart nearly stopped cold. “Just know I could’ve got you if I wanted to. You could’ve been in the valley of the shadow of death and wouldn’t have even know it.” I was frozen solid in terror with my heart beating out of my chest. I wanted to holler for help but just knew this man was crazy by the look on his face. I didn’t even realize this was the guy I flipped off earlier until he said “Stop f**kin’ with people on the highway. Everybody ain’t playing. Enjoy these additional days of life.” Then he walked out.
The whole incident probably took less than 20 seconds. I nearly collapsed afterwards. It took what seemed like several minutes to get my breath back and calm down. By the time I staggered out the restroom in disbelief, he was gone. I’m not sure if he had a weapon or if he was just trying to scare me but it worked. That day will be the last time I ever engage with another driver on the road in anger. Message received. Lesson learned.
TL;DR: I road raged, was unknowingly followed to a gas station, and got the confrontational scare of my life. Please stay safe on the road.
Comments
ChatGPT on whether this is AI generated: “plausible either way, but leans slightly toward AI-generated or highly embellished.”
Yup. You’re not anonymous or untouchable in your car and there are crazy fucking people in this world that give less of a shit than you. It’s not worth it. Don’t even react, don’t engage. Drive defensively and get to your destination safely.
It’s not worth it. Like I tell my son just stay back and in the right lane. Let the crazies drive right by.
Someone in my state was shot last month in a road rage incident. Guy blocked him in and shot him in the head.
People are crazy.
I have even had people try and follow me home.
I worked with a buy that had anger issues and road rage. He got in spat with a guy on the highway, lost control of his car and hit a wall nearly killing him. He was lucky to walk away and after that he never let it get the better of him.
Just goes to show you, its always best to stay calm. I used to be very aggressive road rager as well. But I also learned my lesson. your story is terrifying , i hope that man doesn’t hurt anyone else.
Why is this written like a middle school essay
I just tell myself they probably have diarrhea and are in a rush to the bathroom. Makes letting go much easier.
I lightly beeped at someone sitting at a green light and dude got out of his car, took off his shirt, got back in the car, and carried on his road rage of my horn beep for a solid 2 miles, swerving on the road, leaning out of his vehicle to engage with me . He got out again at the next light. He pulled up on the curb and attempted to wait for me to get behind me. I didn’t move. I held up traffic and sat there, letting him look like a fool. After about two mins, me ready to call the cops, he got in his truck and drove away. I didn’t move until I couldn’t see his truck anymore.
A LIGHT BEEP. I wasn’t angry, it was just like a short, barely there beep and dude lost all shit. I had my kid in the car. I don’t use my horn anymore.
So months after that incident happened. I was sitting in construction traffic. Stopped at a stop sign held up by a worker. The guy behind me was losing his mind and honking his horn for people to move lol. Well the construction crew thought that it was me honking my horn, so all of these men started running towards my car, could have been carriying pitchforks lol and screaming at me, calling me a bitch. When it wasn’t even me, it was the man in the truck behind me.
So many horrifying incidents on the road, I have actual road PTSD.
I used to be the guy flipping the bird too, then one day as a pedestrian I almost hit ran over legally crossing when it was my turn. I was soooo pissed I flipped him off called him an a-hole and went on my way. He was INCENSED that I would be mad about almost getting killed and decided to pull over, get out and chase after me, CHASE AFTER ME. I’m a Middle Ages white dude, not in the best shape and not a fighter. It was a very tense interaction with ME apologizing to him and escaping without and ass kicking, I cried like I was back in junior high getting bullied as I walked my sorry ass the rest of the way home, needless to say I try to keep my temper in check and I try my best not to react in traffic and no more middle finger. People are crazy nowadays. Used to be both people would flick off and shout some swears and go in their way. Now they follow you home…..
I used to be an angry driver but it just isn’t worth the risk of running into someone like this, who is actually batsh!t crazy.
Openly expressing my anger at someone who cut me off isn’t worth dying for.
So dude followed you and whispered in your ear like he’s trying to cut the same tree as you on runescape?
Any real threat would of just acted without saying a word. The fact he “talked” about it tells me the guy is all talk, he wanted to intimidate you and it worked.
Puppies bark the loudest,
Look, people are unhinged nowadays, if you plan on road raging and triggering the wrong drivers, then prepare to defend your life with whatever it takes.
Great example of how a Beta Male acts. What a puss. Talking about you OP
Why does that guy talk like a bad mashup of Jules Winfield and Tyler Durden?
Unless you’re ready to fight, don’t do stupid shit behind the wheel (flip people off, drive like a moron) it could get you killed, that’s the world we live in now. Be careful out there!
Every single post I’ve seen on this sub over the past two days has been AI generated.
What is going on?
Wave and smile at most. If you don’t have a dash cam pull out your phone and record them and make sure they see they are being recorded.
Truly, he could’ve been a little gentler, but that man did you a great service.
It’s easy when we are in cars unable to see the living, breathing with hopes-and-dreams humans in them to dehumanize and rage against a metal box.
We are all people, we all make mistakes driving and it’s important to try to have each other’s backs rather than assume ill intent. Even when it seems intentional, we don’t know what they’re going through in those moments. Maybe they’re super late for a job interview or who knows.
Thank you for sharing the story. I do stupid things driving sometimes too, perhaps not as aggressive as you have been . Your story is a good reminder to chill the fuck out.