Pickup truck road rage

[Mikepol2]

This is not new... I remember similar things happening with my past Mustangs as well. For some reason, pickup trucks in particular seem to want to try to bully us (me?), and as a pickup truck owner, I don't get it.

Today's event was on the way to work... single lane 45 mph twisty road down a mountain, 5:30AM, small car doing 40, another car on his tail, Ram with duals and a bed toolbox keeping their speed at a distance. Seemed like he was just a calm guy in no hurry. I caught them quickly but didn't feel I was tailgating.

At the bottom of the hill, the road opens to 2 lanes across a bridge. Right lane turns right at the end of the bridge, left goes straight, the way I need to go. The 3 of them get in the left lane so I go right to pass the slow guy up front. The Ram swerves to cut me off... didn't expect that. So I go left and he cuts me off again. OK, I'll punch it right, passed all 3 just before catching up to a garbage truck in the right lane, and made it back over to the left.

No idea how he did it, but next thing I know he is in my back seat. He swerves right to pass me and I let him go but as he pulled even he ran out of bridge. Swerves back left behind me as the road goes back to single lane and is high beaming from my bumper, can't believe he never hit me. Swerved right like he was going to pass on the shoulder and came back left. I waved like OK dude I give up, and he suddenly slams on his brakes and hangs back 10 car lengths till I turn off and he keeps going. For some reason, trying to pass a car in a passing zone sent him into orbit.

You can't even just be cool and stay in the slow lane. Last summer at a light I'm in the slow lane with my window down and a coal roller pulls up next to me and stops, blasts me with soot into the window, then pulls up to the cars stopped ahead of him.

Some people just behave or react in ways that completely catch you off guard, but there is definitely some kind of pickup truck angst thing going on, at least in western PA.

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[wingnutt]

Happens all the time, fortunately the 350 has more than enough oomph to leave em in the dust.

I really love it when they are going 55 on a two lane road, then when it opens up to a passing lane they suddenly need to go 80 to prevent passing…and how DARE you pass on the right, might as well offend the Pope while you’re at it

 

[Skye]

Ram truck owners tend to be aggressive. Not all the time or every one, but a great number of them here drive fast, cut people off, "coal" drivers, etc.

Other vehicle owners, cars or trucks, are just naturally aggressive and don't like it when someone passes, regardless of speed or how well done. Most times, I glide past. No sudden movements, acceleration or any of that. And it's often a non-issue. Occasionally though, someone just cannot stand it. They accelerate, move over, brake check, etc. For these drivers, like the ones you encountered, I back off and stay well-behind.

If it gives these people the satisfaction they "won", showed me up, or expressed displeasure at my car, fine. If it prevents an accident, road rage situation or other random act of violence, great.

YMMV.

 

[cerbomark]

I drive a Ram too. I don t get it?

 

[Mikepol2]

I drive a Ram too. I don t get it?

Right?? Me as well. But it's any pickup, usually with loud exhaust, probably lifted, and God forbid if they have the balls hanging from the trailer hitch.

 

[joe603]

I cant stand pickups...From their light bars to lifted and lighted rims. I don't like to speed much past 10% or so and these guys want to do 60 in a 35. I drive mostly back-roads, so if they pass all good.

Not just pickups...bad/angry drivers in anything. I had a Prius freak out on me in a 50 zone. There's a right turn with a keep moving sign to help with traffic and of course prius stopped. Light horn blow and guy lost it. Now if I rear ended him, it would be his fault...So he eventually goes and the main road is a 3 lane, but the right-most is blocked off for people to merge (where i was). Anyway, he darts as fast as that little prius would go and I follow, a little agitated at this point. So i go around him with his high beams flashing and swerving. I had all I could do to not slam on my brakes...but i've matured in my mid 40s and just kept going. Maybe he was mad that I wasn't in a hybrid or EV?

 

[cerbomark]

I d have to die laughing at a Prius driver with road rage, LOL.

 

[First Stang]

I drive a truck too and it is my daily. Prior to getting my Mustang, I can see myself getting riled by the “agressive look and exhaust” of a mustang flying past me but not to the extent that I would go road rage mode like described. Times are tough, people are easily triggered.

 

[Johnny maverick]

Road rage infects all kinds of people. We all deal with them. See you on the road guys.

 

[MAGS1]

From their light bars to lifted and lighted rims.

Not to mention the ones that have their wheels sticking out so far they’re not even under the fenders anymore. To the point they’re basically on top of the center line. Drives me crazy.

 

[MAGS1]

Agree with everyone else. For some reason the pickup truck folks here seem to take exception to most any car that tries to pass them in another lane. I haven’t encountered road rage as much as they think it’s an invitation to race. If I pass a truck on a 4 lane road, it’s almost inevitable that they slam on the gas to get ahead of me, then slow down to get even with me after they notice I don’t take the bait to race. Not going to race on a public road and I have zero to prove against a pickup truck anyway.

 

[Mikepol2]

Agree with everyone else. For some reason the pickup truck folks here seem to take exception to most any car that tries to pass them in another lane. I haven’t encountered road rage as much as they think it’s an invitation to race. If I pass a truck on a 4 lane road, it’s almost inevitable that they slam on the gas to get ahead of me, then slow down to get even with me after they notice I don’t take the bait to race. Not going to race on a public road and I have zero to prove against a pickup truck anyway.

That really is a confusing part, it might be more understandable if we are talking Camaros or Challengers here, but pickup trucks are a totally different class of vehicle and you would think they would all understand that.

 

[K4fxd]

I recently got a plate that says "friends of coal" "Coal keeps the lights on"

The plate triggers some into all kinds of dangerous driving behavior. I wondered why I was being targeted by ragers so often when before it was not very often. Then one day some jerk was being an asshat and passed me and was yelling coal kills the planet and other choice words. Then I put it together.

Today when I was on the way back home when stopped at a light the car in front of me had the friends of coal plate with everything except the plate numbers blacked out. The plate is black. They must have got tired of the jerks.

 

[Cobra Jet]

this:

I caught them quickly but didn't feel I was tailgating.

At the bottom of the hill, the road opens to 2 lanes across a bridge. Right lane turns right at the end of the bridge, left goes straight, the way I need to go. The 3 of them get in the left lane so I go right to pass the slow guy up front. The Ram swerves to cut me off... didn't expect that

is where I see could be the issue.

1) How “quick” did you “catch up”…. I mean this is totally subjective, but I see this all the time - where “quick” isn’t “catching up” due to adhering to the speed limit or traffic flow. I see drivers do this all the time - as in “open in front, gonna WOT it to close the gap”…. I’m not saying you did or didn’t do this….

2) You’re transitioning from a left lane to pass (3) cars on the RIGHT and also are now in a “right lane” that will terminate for a “right only” exit.

By doing the pass on the right - that alone annoys the F outta me…. Especially when the driver KNOWS it’s a “right only” lane for a turn off or exit - and then they get in it to blow by the left lane traffic so they can cut back over in the left lane ahead of that traffic. It’s a dangerous move to cut right, try to make it past traffic in the left fully knowing the right lane will end and you HAVE to cut back over into the left.

To me - just from what was posted - you caused the events and subsequent action of the RAM driver - whether intentionally or not. You were passing traffic on the right, knowing it was a right lane that was going to terminate and were going to cut back in front of the left lane traffic.

Maybe the guy travels that route daily and he’s had enough with people doing the same thing you were attempting? Maybe?

I’m not here to judge - but think about your actions just for a few secs and re-read what you posted.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Road rage is all ego and no self control for the easily triggered. People feel safe to act out behind the wheel (same with a keyboard), most of the time they don't even think they're doing anything wrong.

I had a few run ins too. One time I called the cops on a car who wouldn't leave me alone and they ended up being arrested by Phoenix PD (probably had a warrent).

I do find most aggressive drivers are full size trucks in my neck of the woods. It kinda validates the big truck, small pee pee theory.

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