My road rage incident from Thursday night
By The Horse
@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
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• 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
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• 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

@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• 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
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• 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
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• 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.


@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.
@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! 
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
@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
@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... 
.. but, I too was having a different conversation in my head... 
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
@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
...and I'm not sorry
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
@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!
They just focus on "would have" and not exactly what happened..
Its okay. Don't take those screams seriously.!
Have a nice day!

















