Road Rage

On my way to work this morning I was cruising along the 133, and for reasons that are not apparent the little car in front of me started braking in the middle of the road. The 7-series behind me was getting a little close, so I checked my blindspot, saw that I had clearance to move over to the right, signalled, and proceeded to move over. It would seem that the driver of the Honda that had previously been driving in the right lane a little behind the 7-series was opposed to my lane change, because he immediately hit the gas, raced up behind me and laid on the horn. Lucky for us both I was taking full advantage of the subwoofers in my car this morning, so the sound of his horn was barely audible over GNR. This prevented me from being startled by this driver and doing something like slamming on my brakes or swerving back into the left lane and into the side of the 7-series. Instead I was able to remain calm, although I did call him a moron.

The Honda started tailgating me but, his car is a lot newer than mine, so had he rearended me, I'm certain that it would have been more costly for him than for me. Keeping that in mind I continued driving on at 75 (which incidently is speeding on that road), and did not concern myself with the guy behind me. I guess that was a problem for him because I noticed that he started swerving back and forth back there like he was going to attempt to pass me by either squeezing between me and the 7-series, or on the shoulder. I kept driving in my lane and figured if he wanted to try something idiotic like that there was really very little I could do about it. In hindsight I think he was hoping that I would swerve over one way or the other to prevent him from passing and he could dart around me on the other side. Whatever he was attempting back there it wasn't working because I could see him in my rearview mirror turning red with rage and yelling. The turn to get off the 133 is kind of sharp so I had to slow down quite a bit, at which point the 7-series passed me and the Honda was able to switch lanes, and in a vain attempt to cut me off swerved into my lane and slammed on his brakes a few feet in front of me, just as I turned off onto my exit ramp. There is no doubt in my mind that his inability to make me pay for getting in the lane in front of him only made him more angry, but my guardian angel must have been watching out for me, because myself and my car escaped unscathed from an incident that could have seriously gone south in a hurry.

I spent the last mile or so of my drive wondering who it was that ate all of his Cheerios this morning. I hope his day gets better, for his own sake, and the sake of everyone on the road during his commute home.