My road rage incident from Thursday night

@TheHorse (238306)
Walnut Creek, California
October 29, 2016 11:43am CST
I was driving home in the dark the other night after seeing a kid client. The rain was falling. There are no street lights on the road on which I was traveling. I was going maybe five miles per hour under the speed limit, due to the rain. About 40 yards ahead of me, I spied what appeared to be a couple, stepping into the road directly in front of my car. I slowed to a stop, and the couple passed, well in front of my car. But the man wasn't waving thanks--he was giving a "why?" sort of gesture with his hands. They had passed left to right, so I rolled down my opposite side window and said, "Hey, I just wanted to let you know you're hard to see in those dark clothes." They were a civilized looking couple of about 63. Suddenly, the woman was screaming at me, something about why did I almost run them over. I said, "I was well beneath the speed limit--that's why I was able to stop and let you pass. But..." She was screaming again. "No you weren't! Mwa mwa mwa!" She was fairly close to my "shotgun" window. By this time, the man was backing off toward the far side of the street, waving a muted "thanks." In my mind, I was lecturing them about how cones (color vision photo-receptors) see yellowish green best, and rods (black and white vision photo-receptors) see white best, but I was beyond wardrobe suggestions at that point. I just wanted to get home. Toward the man (I could no longer hear the woman by this time--she seemed angry at life and was still yelling) I started to say, "You're welcome," but that didn't sound right, so I said "Be safe" and drove off. As I was driving the last 200 yards to my house, I wondered what their conversation would be like once they got home. Would he be calming her? Would he agree with her that I was a speed merchant, bent on running people over? Have you ever been yelled at by someone who just seemed like they wanted to yell at someone?
17 people like this
17 responses
• Bournemouth, England
29 Oct 16
The streets are full of shouty people like that. All things considered, I think your response to the situation showed grace.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 16
Thanks. I like the word "grace."
2 people like this
• Bournemouth, England
29 Oct 16
@TheHorse A favourite of mine. I wish I could live up to it more!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Oct 16
@asfarasiknow Perhaps it's like the horizon--something we all move toward but never reach.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Oct 16
i get that quite oft 'n ne'er've the need to leave the comforts 'f home fer such. perhaps she suffers from mental illness?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Oct 16
I don't think so. I just think she was a little bit over-reactive to a situation that resolved itself as it should of (thanks to my good reaction time).
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Oct 16
@cacay1 true, hon, but sometimes folks with mental health issues jest don't do what'd be proper :(
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Oct 16
@TheHorse not e'en a bit'f 'benefit 'f doubt'?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189833)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Oct 16
Who knows! Some couples/friends just try to placate the other person and they don't want an argument. I used to live with a man who did just that when he got drunk. I know how it is.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189833)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Oct 16
@TheHorse .....I didn't say they were. You asked a question and I answered it.
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Oct 16
Did which? Got pissy with people? My impression was that this was a respectable couple and that neither was drunk.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
29 Oct 16
Roads just seem to bring out the mean in some people... your approach and reaction was very considerate.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 16
I see driving (or maybe being a pedestrian) as a sort of "projective test."
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
29 Oct 16
@TheHorse If only everyone could attest to that in a civil manner.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 16
@pgntwo Alas, I don't think people are going to change.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
30 Oct 16
Those idiots could have been killed had it been anybody else @TheHorse .
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Oct 16
That's actually true, though I prefer to wear my pyramid hat and think of them as decent people who made a bad decision. I have kids in my car a lot, so I'm a conservative driver. I don't text, was wearing my glasses, have a fast reaction time due to years of sports, and had recently put new tires on my truck, anticipating the rainy season. So they were actually kind of lucky it was me.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
31 Oct 16
@TheHorse Yeah, no kidding. People just don't use their 'noodles' anymore.
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
29 Oct 16
At my age I'm sure I have been many times. I'm sorry you went through that. Is that snow in your picture?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Oct 16
It is. My friend and I drove on the Autobahn from Austria to Germany a couple of years ago on wet pavement. It was the most "appropos" photo I could find in my collection.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Nov 16
@cacay1 It was a long time ago and a faded memory now.
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
30 Oct 16
I was given a finger by another driver who cut me off just because he thought I was driving too slow... I wouldn't mind if he just passed me or even cut me off to 'remind' me to go faster, but the finger was uncalled for and he's just a rude jerk!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Oct 16
Now THERE'S a person I'll just call an idiot.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
29 Oct 16
@TheHorse Things like this do happen.Till some years ago,I would have tried to get the record straight.But these,days,I let it pass.I do not want to get my BP higher .
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 16
Yeah, I've learned not to react to yelling people if I'm not in physical danger.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
29 Oct 16
No yelling for me.Just ignored it.I have my weapon in the car(kidding)you are letting this person get to you.That is not a good sign. Keep on driving or let her pass.That is up to you
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 16
No, I'm pretty good at not letting angry people get to me. I did want them to be safe, though.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
30 Oct 16
Seems like a bit of an over reaction, Perhaps she was covering up her embarrassment by shouting at you.... you were polite... although as you say ..a different conversation was going on in your head.... I have been shouted at a few times.... and have remained polite and professional..., as I was at work..... but, I too was having a different conversation in my head...
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Oct 16
Heh heh. I hope they learned from the incident. I already slow down at some intersections, knowing that people bake bad decisions.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
30 Oct 16
Sounds like she had a snoot full of happy juice that went sour... He probably put her to bed and then turned on the TV...
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Oct 16
Ah, happy juice. I hadn't thought of that!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Nov 16
Maybe you should have backed up and had another go at them - given her something to scream about.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Nov 16
Why didn't I think of that!
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
29 Oct 16
Just once in a bad way. I was on my motorbike going round a roundabout and anyone already on a big roundabout automatically has priority over entering traffic. A guy pulled out in front of me and I had to brake and swerve round him. At the next lights he started abusing me. This was a few years ago when I had anger issues so I just gave his car a good kicking and rode off...and I'm not sorry
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 16
Sounds...satisfying.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
29 Oct 16
It has happened to me a few times. Usually for no reason other then like you said they wanted to yell at someone and I was there. I am sure he was still wound up by the time e she got home. He would probably just ignore her and let her rant because if he said anything she would be all over him.sounds like she was just having one of those not so good days.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 16
Yeah, I was trying to be polite but not smug. I hope life is treating her better today.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
29 Oct 16
Yes, it has happened to me a few times.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 16
Do you think some people are just angry and looking for someone to get mad at?
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
31 Oct 16
you scared her, and scared people get angry, but the fact you saw and were in the process of warning means you saw, she was out of line and should have simply thanked you
@RitzzView (3041)
• India
1 Nov 16
Women are mostly like this.. They just focus on "would have" and not exactly what happened.. Its okay. Don't take those screams seriously.! Have a nice day!