Hey Dumbass, Why So Angry?
Idiocy Meter
Asshole Meter
Do you know what I can’t stand more than angry, aggressive drivers? Angry, aggressive drivers who are dumb as sh*t and don’t know anything about traffic laws and common courtesy. I was in a friend’s car looking at some houses and condos for sale when this guy who looked like a hick in his 50′s came up behind us on Santa Monica somewhere in West Hollywood. Traffic was typical for a Saturday mid-afternoon–average, not too heavy. Yet, it was cloudy and intermittently rainy, so naturally there were quite a few Angelenos who weren’t in the best of moods. So I wasn’t surprised when this jackass in a white GMC started aggressively tailgating us, disregarding the fact that tailgating when the road is slippery in stop-and-go unpredictable traffic in West Hollywood (too many traffic lights and pedestrian crosswalks) isn’t the smartest thing to do. However, when we came upon a crowded intersection and stopped behind the limit line to avoid blocking the intersection, while also allowing cars traveling in the opposite direction to make left turns off of Santa Monica, this stupid prick starts to honk and wave his fat arms angrily at us. Um, I do believe your vehicle is high enough to see over a Volvo….so….did you know that you’re supposed to keep all intersections clear, even if you have a green light? So naturally, I turned around and snapped this photo while he was steaming because someone else was preventing him from exercising his right to drive like a blue-balled dick. When the cars ahead of us cleared, we proceeded forward, as did this guy who proceeded to tailgate us even harder to show his displeasure at us obeying traffic regulations. Mind, you this guy didn’t lose any time on his commute. And so what if he had to wait for one more red light….is 30 seconds of his life worth the heart attack that will inevitably come if he continues with this belligerent lifestyle? I would love to see guys like this get out of the confines of their vehicles and see how tough they really are. Do they have to balls to be just as rude and arrogant when they’re not driving these gas-guzzling hunks of metal? As a segue, it’s also a small pet peeve of mine when I see cars making right turns on red lights in front of cars that clearly haven’t moved forward because they were keeping the intersection clear. If these guys aren’t moving forward to avoid “blocking the box”, shouldn’t you be doing the same thing? Remember that making a right on red isn’t a right that has to be exercised, lest you become an inferior human being. If there’s no clearance, wait your turn…the light for your direction of travel will turn green soon enough, I promise. Seriously, why do so many of us devolve into 6 year-olds when we step behind the wheel of our cars? It’s like that old Goofy cartoon where he has split personalities….do you guys know what I’m talking about?
Filed under: aggressive, clueless, tailgating
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When someone does that to me, I usually just slow down.
Some guy decided to tailgate me on the 101 once. I just let off of the gas pedal, didn’t hit the brakes, and just coasted down. Idiot finally passed me when I hit 50mph. That’s the thing that the California driver’s guide suggests you do as well.
I’m not suggesting a brake check, just remove their incentive to do it.
That’s a great post. Taking the angry dudes pic must have just made him happier. Whatever. I tend to let them be idiots and blow them a kiss as they pass giving me the finger. I’m not going to sit and break the law by speeding, “checking brakes”.
I do however know that when I am tailgated I increase my following distance so I don’t have to slam the breaks if something ahead happens. Lessens my chance of getting rearended, or at least not get pushed into the car in front.
I tend to do the same thing….cars that are overly aggressive usually have drivers that think they’re better drivers than they really are. I, too, increase the distance between my vehicle and the car in front to reduce the chance of having to brake suddenly. Once, a kid ran out into a pedestrian crosswalk right in front of my car….I slammed on the brakes and would’ve hit the kid if someone tailgating me rear-ended me in turn for not braking in time.