Road Rage

Do you experience road rage?

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Buddhacide

Buddhacide

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I get it mostly in the city. Bad. I feel like not a day goes by when I dont end up yelling at, or otherwise getting really upset at, drivers that are clearly in the wrong, and who I see as a danger to me. I know full well this is a losing battle, and I am constantly working on my fortitude and trying to be better about it. Sometimes things build up and I really lose it on drivers that really dont do anything that bad. I just have no patience for people that dont seem to realize they are operating big dangerous machines while taking liberties with my safety, seemingly without a care in the world. I know no good can come of this, and I'm actually concerned I will end up hitting someone, mouth off to the wrong person, or vandalize a vehicle in the heat of the moment. So I try to be vigilant and keep my cool. I'm not generally a hot head, or in any way violent. Its just city driving seems to bring out the worst in me.

Anyway, yes I have some issues, and I'm not looking for advice or justification. But I am curious if anyone else experiences this. There is alot of bravado on this forum about what people have done to cagers in traffic (ballberings etc...), but I'm curious as to what percentage of bikers actually feel the need to react offensively when they experience those moments in traffic that we all share. Does anyone feel that reacting aggressively is ever warranted, even if not totally justified? Just curious.
 
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I use to feel like that 10 years ago. now it is totally diffrent. I anticipate a lot knowing that it is the way of the road. Stupid drivers are always gonna be on the road. Sometimes we are too without even realizing. 95% i ride with ease. Riding is something relaxing for me more than the stress of others stupidity. My reflexes has become one with the way the road has been. It is hard to enjoy riding when you worry about how bad other drivers are. Surely maybe one day ill get hurt or worse. But the rest of the days i have kept myself cool and accept that it is what it is. Frogger game, i am that frog in a busy street.
 
I must confess, I had a moment today where I wanted to give a driver "the finger". Not very ladylike, I know. I was doing the speed limit on a one-lane road, and she overtook me on my right. There was absolutely no need for her to do that, as far as I was concerned. Traffic wasn't moving faster than what I was riding. I honked my horn. But like I said, I really wanted to do something else. Honestly, these days, I trust no one. People just go off for the simplest things. You just never know who you're coming up against. Better to keep on riding/driving, I think.
 
I experience road rage constantly.. my biggest complaint are those that don't leave a gap in intersections when the lane is full on the other side, and the end up blocking the intersection when the light changes.. if I miss a turn because of these ******** i loose my ****.. on the bike I just crack the throttle and find an opening to claim my rightfull position whilst giving them the finger.. my car is graphic wrapped with my logo... it takes everything I have to retain my composure as I can't be seen by clients honking my horn and flipping people off in traffic..
 
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I'm not officially a rider yet, but I'm getting there. I've cooled down a lot as I became wiser. I'm pretty easy going now. Traffic is becoming a big problem and I've learned to just go with the flow. I think that once I start riding and getting comfortable and confident enough in my abilities that I'll be even more patient and exercise more restraint.
 
I don't get ragey on the road, I just stew about things for hours afterwards, although it doesn't happen that often.
 
More than id like to admit!
 
Perhaps if people could post how long they've been riding/driving for as well. I am a relatively new driver that has only ridden a bike (6th season), and never a car. Maybe this has something to do with it. Although, I almost shudder to think I could somehow acclimatize to the insanity that is Toronto traffic. I do get a sense from the more seasoned riders that this sort of frustration is something they have at one point or another overcome.
 
I yell at drivers that throw cigarette butts at me and would like to break their knee caps. If I just get cut off, I call them a bad name in my head.

I really don't know why cigarette butts set me off so much, but at the time, I really want to do bodily harm to the person.
 
can't say that someone has "intentionally" thrown cigarette butts at me, i'm pretty sure that would send me off the deep end...but riding in the city, you either hate it or deal with it, it's just the way people are...you've gotta keep an eye on so much stuff...but since i'm never the slowest vehicle, i don't worry too much...
 
yea just today i was at an intersection and this guy litterally made a left infront of me when the light turned green , and all i could say to myself was is this guy stupid?? but meh what an u do... just gotta aniticipate dumb ppl
 
I never get road rage, never in the 15 years of driving that I've done, or the few years of motorcycle riding.

"Rage" denotes losing emotional control, if you're behind the wheel it is not in anyone's interest to lose any sort of control because some dumb ***** cuts you off or is pulling illegal stuff or lacking road etiquette.

Plus what are you gonna do? Stop your car and get out? Beat up the old grandma who didn't even know any better? Slam on your brakes and cause an accident? Does this faceless person behind the wheel of another vehicle you'll never again see deserve your time and anger?

Learn to eliminate your rage and focus on staying alive and being a courteous driver instead.
 
mindactivated said:
I never get road rage, never in the 15 years of driving that I've done, or the few years of motorcycle riding.

"Rage" denotes losing emotional control, if you're behind the wheel it is not in anyone's interest to lose any sort of control because some dumb ***** cuts you off or is pulling illegal stuff or lacking road etiquette.

Plus what are you gonna do? Stop your car and get out? Beat up the old grandma who didn't even know any better? Slam on your brakes and cause an accident? Does this faceless person behind the wheel of another vehicle you'll never again see deserve your time and anger?

Learn to eliminate your rage and focus on staying alive and being a courteous driver instead.
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+1

Its always going to be like that, bad drivers/riders are just around every corner, pulling out of the next drive way, or lane changing without looking. As mad as you get at them, and as right as you will be, if they take you down, your the one who suffers, no matter whos fault it is. I will let out a quick curse at most, but thats it, I move on knowing thats just the way it is. Keep aware, know your surroundings and avoid.
 
15 years driving a car and 2nd season with the bike. The rage I experience is the same either way, but I show it a lot more in the cage than on the bike. I am not confident enough in my bike handling to deal with someone that might try something outrageous. Oh, and I drive in Toronto.

Mind you, I'm a pretty angry pedestrian as well. Those of you with buddhist calm while driving or riding, please show me the way.
 
smiilz said:
Mind you, I'm a pretty angry pedestrian as well. Those of you with buddhist calm while driving or riding, please show me the way.
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For me its just knowing "it is what it is" and deal with it. Getting angry is not going to help, and I am pretty sure you are not going to make your lifes goal to educate all drivers so they know better. Its reality, you cannot change it, its out of your control, so make the best of it and move along without giving it a second thought.
 
smiilz said:
15 years driving a car and 2nd season with the bike. The rage I experience is the same either way, but I show it a lot more in the cage than on the bike. I am not confident enough in my bike handling to deal with someone that might try something outrageous. Oh, and I drive in Toronto.

Mind you, I'm a pretty angry pedestrian as well. Those of you with buddhist calm while driving or riding, please show me the way.
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I usually just take a deep breath, exhale slowly, count to 10 and then ask myself "Is this person's mistake/carelessness/whatever really worth any more of my time?" It's quite therapeutic, try it!
 
I understand all the "be zen and dont worry about it" element here. And I ultimately agree with it but, seriously, some ****** almost clips your knee while making eye contact with you trying to pass you in your own lane, or a minivan forces you into uncoming traffic becuse they dont want to acknowdge your right of way. This just makes you roll your eyes, nothing more? Cest la vie? Really? Its criminal negect in my books.

Lets have a thought experiment. All the people that have claimed to be so easy going with these lunatics let me ask you.

What if it werent in traffic? What if someone almost kills you firing a gun in random directions outside your window? Cest la vie? Cant do anyithing? Zen? No way, you would feel threatened and emotional. I dont see what makes one situation different than another. What If I posted in the other forum that this was happening outside my window. Would everyone be telling me to relax because there is nothing is that can be done?. People would be telling me to deal with it immediately, and half of you would say violence is appropriate.

While I understand the futility of rage in traffic, I also feel that its justified and normal. I think it takes some serious mental gymnastics to be "at ease" with how motorcycles especially get treated in this city by mindless drivers.

The fact that people are so "habituated" to the danger in traffic is disturbing to be honest.

PS: I'm just palying Devil's advocate here. I agree its better to keep a calm head. I'm just interested in how people think about these things.
 
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My road rage has gone up proportional to people's sense of entitlement in society.

It is very high.
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