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How should you defuse a potential road rage situation?

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Lock your brakes up, then right before he's about to rear end you gun it and take off. Or at least that's what we do in Jersey.
 
Open window and hand them some freshly baked cookies.

Or you can put hand to head, like a gun, and shoot yourself, as if to say your an idiot, and should be shot, therefore giving him the go ahead to pull out his 9 and pop a few caps into you.

Honestly I dont think there is a hand thing you could really do that a person that is that far off the deep end wouldn't take as a "f-u buddy" kinda thing, and just make them even more pissed at you.

I think you would need to get one of those scrolling signs to put in your back window so you can type out that it was your fault, and you are sorry. Other then that, not doing anything pisses them of, and doing something would only be taken the wrong way, pissing them off, so kinda a catch 22. Just hope you dont do it to one thats at the end of their string with a gun, base ball bat, 9 iron, by their side waiting for that one person to push them over the edge.
 
Hey don't worry man, a guy slammed into me on the highway yesterday and tried to just drive off. Well he did, but he sure as hell didn't leave without a pursuit ensuing. He bent my rear bumper (I drive a truck), but the whole front of his car was jacked! Hood bent up, radiator smoking. And he STILL tried to run. Got his plates though, and I would have continued tailing him but I was distracted by the 911 operator (I called 911 as soon as I saw he was running). Anyway, I lost site of him, and when I looked over to my right, he already exited the highway and was turned around. Anyway, the cop came by, got a full police report and hopefully they'll show up at the guy's house soon.
 
At least you noticed what you did and felt bad about it. Most drivers around here can't be distracted from their cell phone conversations long enough to realize that they almost caused an accident.
 
Originally posted by: JackBurton
Hey don't worry man, a guy slammed into me on the highway yesterday and tried to just drive off. Well he did, but he sure as hell didn't leave without a pursuit ensuing. He bent my rear bumper (I drive a truck), but the whole front of his car was jacked! Hood bent up, radiator smoking. And he STILL tried to run. Got his plates though, and I would have continued tailing him but I was distracted by the 911 operator (I called 911 as soon as I saw he was running). Anyway, I lost site of him, and when I looked over to my right, he already exited the highway and was turned around. Anyway, the cop came by, got a full police report and hopefully they'll show up at the guy's house soon.
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Keep us updated. I'd love to hear if he gets arrested for hit and run.
 
Originally posted by: yowolabi
This thread is great.
I do think the one hand up move is usually accepted as an apology.
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I normally read that as a thank you, but I can't think of any better way of signaling to the person behind you that you're sorry. Peace sign would be the next best, but that seems a bit hippyish ...
 
I managed to disfuse one.

Coming at a lighted intersection I slowed down in the middle lane (going straight). Well, I finally realized I should be in the left turning lane. Checking my mirror I see one car coming up in that lane. I'd figured he'd slowed down because it's red light. I did a quick turn into the left lane. Because he was going so fast I pretty much cut him off. Of course he went off with the horn. The "lady" in the passenger seat rolled her window down, stuck her head out, and yelled obscenities at me. In my mind I ask myself why would anyone go that fast to stop at a red light. Regardless, I was in the wrong. I rolled my window down, peered my head out, and yelled "I'm sorry" really loud. The "lady" immediately quieted.
 
Originally posted by: Allanv
Normally i just put my hand up palm facing them and mouth sorry, then continue on my way
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:thumbsup:

I did something very similar to what OP did a couple of years ago. I badly cut off a guy on the Belt Parkway, who I honestly just did not see. He managed to slow down in time, but then moved to the next lane to pass and pulled even with my car, matching my speed. For a brief moment, I half expected him to level a gun at me, but when I looked over he was violently screaming at me and making some obscene gestures. I just waved and mouthed, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you". At that point, he just gave me a last glare and drove off. I'm sure he probably wanted to go on some more, but when I just apologized, it seemed to defuse the whole thing.

EDIT: Having thought about it, I think most people just want the acknowledgement that YOU did something wrong. If there's a refusal to acknowledge who's in the wrong, then it will escalate. If you're willing to accept blame, MOST people are willing to let it go. 😛
 
i had some ass cut me off twice, one time made me swerve into the grass going 75mph on the highway.... the dumbass had his real estate office magnetic sign on the side of his car so i called his office and told his manager what I thought about his wonderful employee..
 
The responses in this thread have been good either because it is what you are supposed to, or they have proven funny.

Inverse Bird? that's my apology sign.
 
Handful of nails out the window. If I cut him off that means he was too damn close to me to begin with. I demand 2 car lengths in all directions.
 
Somebody actually came up with a sign. I read about it years ago and haven't heard anything about it since. It's a peace sign with your thumb sticking out also. Probably not a good idea to use it, though, since I think hardly anyone has heard of it and they'll think you're using ninja magic on them.
 
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