Some pretty serious road rage

[VaFish]

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/04/06/m...74479834061086

[SLOWn60]

I see serious stupid ...on the riders part. He's wearing a helmet and has video! STOP!!! Call the cops!!! Bust his ass!!! You obviously can't out run him but even if you could it's not a great plan.
You ride like that from road rage: you're number will be up soon.
Not to say the driver isn't a lunatic and should have his licence revoked.

[allanoue]

Link to original page on YouTube.

[akima]

I'm going to try my best to avoid this kind of situation, but I already have a plan for how to deal with it if it happens: at the first opportunity I get to stop the bike without being rear ended, I will take it: jump off the bike as quick as possible, get clear of anywhere the car can be used to ram me and keep all my gear on while I focus on getting help.

The rider posted this under the youtube video:

Please understand everyone, that I'm not an experienced rider, I will admit when I am wrong. all of this stuff wasn't on purpose but an attempt to get away, I didn't chose to get on to on coming traffic, he blocked my path on both lanes, I didn't want to harm myself or other people, which is exactly what happened, no one got hurt, everyone, even the guy goes home. a police report is the most I will do. no one got hurt everyone goes home. that's the end goal. if I was more experienced then yes it could have been differently. but I was in fear of my life, and panicking.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by akima

I'm going to try my best to avoid this kind of situation, but I already have a plan for how to deal with it if it happens: at the first opportunity I get to stop the bike without being rear ended, I will take it: jump off the bike as quick as possible, get clear of anywhere the car can be used to ram me and keep all my gear on while I focus on getting help.

Absolutely a better choice than what he did.

Riding in the oncoming lane at high speed could have easily ended his life. Take the first opportunity to safely turn off and park - there were numerous chances. The gas station would have cameras and witnesses, so that would probably be the place to go. Going 90 to outrun a threatening driver is rarely a good choice. Things just get more out of hand.

[CaliGrrl]

That was my thought, too- stop at anyplace where there are people, jump off, and start yelling for the employees to call the cops. Get inside, get with other people, and try to stay away from the crazy person.

[choneofakind]

Same user claims this is how it all started:

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by akima

I'm going to try my best to avoid this kind of situation, but I already have a plan for how to deal with it if it happens: at the first opportunity I get to stop the bike without being rear ended, I will take it: jump off the bike as quick as possible, get clear of anywhere the car can be used to ram me and keep all my gear on while I focus on getting help.

The rider posted this under the youtube video:

Avoiding being sucked into situations like this one is very much like the process of avoiding a traffic accident: to be aware to sense the first steps of the development and to take evasive actions (not the panic-endangering reaction of this inexperienced rider).

You are in control, you must be in control of any traffic situation, simply because you are the most vulnerable..... and because you should not allow any driver to mentally control you to the point of make you snap into a panic mode.

This happened in Homestead, Florida.
This is just an example of the crazy drivers I have to deal with every day.
I could interact with those like this driver did, but the problem is that they are too many.

At my old age, I have nothing else to prove: they can go first or faster, they can feel superior, no problem.
Actively and persistently, I allow nobody to make me deviate from my main target: to very much enjoy each ride and to arrive alive and smiling to my destination.

[xorbe]

Wow an Autoblog article with 413 comments.

[csmith12]

[Alex]

Both the rider and the driver have been arrested.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/04/06...tiple-arrests/

Link to original page on YouTube.

[MrAtom]

I've been in a few situations where cars were either following me to yell at/intimidate me, or actively trying to kill me. Nothing has ever escalated to this point, however. This is why I don't flip anyone off or anything like that anymore. It's easier and healthier to just keep my composure and give them a little extra space because they're a little extra stupid.

I see a few folks saying that running wasn't the right choice. Going into oncoming traffic was the wrong choice, sure. Running away in a straight line, absolutely the wrong choice. I've resolved all of my situations by either 1: lane splitting, 2: moving out of the way QUICK, braking HARD, and doing a U-Turn, or 3: taking a lot of turns/going on a road I know is very twisty, and any combination of those 3 methods. I stand by my decisions and believe they were the best course of action for the situations I've been in, but they do require a level of familiarity and comfort with the bike. For him, I think the best course of action would be to ride to the nearest police station. Probably not a bad idea for any situation like this, anyway.

But, as we all know, the best course of action is to be kinder than those you share the road with. The moment the Ford Focus's primal "dick-mode" instinct was activated was likely the moment that rider slapped his mirror.

[VaFish]

I think the quick brake and a u turn would have been the best option.

I don't like the pull over and stop, most road ragers consider that an invitation to a fight.

[95PGTTech]

Originally Posted by VaFish

I think the quick brake and a u turn would have been the best option.

I don't like the pull over and stop, most road ragers consider that an invitation to a fight.

Sounds like a great way to get T'd off on if he truly intends to hit you. My issue with his decision making is the half-assness of it all - if you make the choice to run, pin that throttle back, tuck, and get into the next ZIP code. Zero reason why a Fusion should have kept up.

[choneofakind]

Both guys were hot headed and wrong. Rider should never have breached the sanctity of keeping his hands to himself, Fusion driver should not have attempted to run rider over.

Since it did get started in the first place, one of them should have diffused the situation by either a) not reacting and giving chase or b) stopping at a public place with cameras and witnesses asap. This all could have been avoided by keeping our hands to ourselves.


This is why I no longer show my anger in traffic or parking lots. Likely to end up with dead me and/or damage to one of my favorite vehicles.

[DEFY]

Both should lose their license

[Suki2003]

Yes he made some bad choices... but he got scared and wasn't thinking straight, which happens, luckily he didn't hurt anyone.

I don't know how I would act if this happened to me, so I won't judge this guy. Though I know riding into oncoming traffic isn't an option.

[Panda]

The rider and driver are both idiots.

[Brother Michigan]

Originally Posted by Alex

Both the rider and the driver have been arrested.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/04/06...tiple-arrests/

Link to original page on YouTube.

GoPro video captured from the helmet of Rone Gonzalez, 44, while riding his motorcycle, showed the moment that sparked the aggressive actions between him and another driver, Kristiian Rosa, 30.

Wait, THIS guy is 44?



Someone should tell him that looking like an 18 year old doesn't give him a free pass to act like one.

[LittleRedNinjette]

He should have just backed off when the car gunned it past him... If that's how it started. Being 1st isn't worth your life... i'm not sure what the lane splitting laws are there but still, lots of bad decisions there...

[choneofakind]

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Suki2003

Yes he made some bad choices... but he got scared and wasn't thinking straight, which happens, luckily he didn't hurt anyone.

I don't know how I would act if this happened to me, so I won't judge this guy. Though I know riding into oncoming traffic isn't an option.

Once you lose your cool and self-control, you have reached the psychological point of no return.
The main problem is that rider kept going while his mind was in survival mode.

First thing is stopping breathing properly and thinking rationally.
A big discharge of adrenaline into your blood stream and tunnel vision immediately follow.

Most survival reactions, that we normally try to avoid in order to ride well and safe, surely jumped into the confusion altogether:
1. Rolling off the gas.
2. Tightening on the bars.
3. Narrowed and frantically hunting field of view.
4. Fixed attention (on something).
5. Steering in the direction of the fixed attention.
6. No steering (frozen) or ineffective (not quick enough or too early) steering.
7. Braking errors (both over-and under-braking).

Originally Posted by Brother Michigan

Wait, THIS guy is 44?.......

He is only 24: just an inexperienced baby rider.

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

..... i'm not sure what the lane splitting laws are there but still, lots of bad decisions there...

It may be hard to understand for Californian riders.
I believe that his lane splitting was the trigger of the whole episode.
Lane splitting is illegal here in Florida; hence, most riders don't do it.

Even when most drivers don't even know about that law, I have witnessed crazy reactions from many of them when a motorcycle has split lanes next to them while waiting for a red light.
Anything from blocking the path, opening doors to simply screaming and/or gesturing obscenities.

I don't know what it is; maybe a sense of personal space invasion or of being cut in line or of my car/mirror almost got scratched.
It seems that the crazy driver took a personal offense and decided to prove the point of "I am the first in line here" by accelerating hard.
That was the point of let go by the rider: who cares who is first or faster or has more testosterone?

Both were very fortunate of not causing any accident, injuries or deaths.

[allanoue]

Ok everyone, sing with me!

Link to original page on YouTube.

[VaFish]

Originally Posted by 95PGTTech

Sounds like a great way to get T'd off on if he truly intends to hit you. My issue with his decision making is the half-assness of it all - if you make the choice to run, pin that throttle back, tuck, and get into the next ZIP code. Zero reason why a Fusion should have kept up.

If the driver is behind you the U-turn may not be a good idea, but there were many times when the driver came up alongside the rider on the right. Hit the brakes, U-Turn and be gone.

[Brother Michigan]

Originally Posted by Motofool

He is only 24: just an inexperienced baby rider.

Maybe a typo in the news post.

[Dave Wolfe]

The car driver attempted MURDER several times on video and thought he was in the right? Unbelievable.

My standard retort for cagers who cant stand lanesplitters: get a freakin motorcycle and quit complaining.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Originally Posted by Motofool

I don't know what it is; maybe a sense of personal space invasion or of being cut in line or of my car/mirror almost got scratched.
It seems that the crazy driver took a personal offense and decided to prove the point of "I am the first in line here" by accelerating hard.
That was the point of let go by the rider: who cares who is first or faster or has more testosterone

This is why i would never do it here in NJ. Lots of angry drivers already. "cut in line" and instant rage.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

This is why i would never do it here in NJ. Lots of angry drivers already. "cut in line" and instant rage.

Same when I lived in the Chicago area. That type of stuff is best done in an Escalade.

Here in WI people are much less impatient. Probably because of all the farm equipment on the backroads - and even the highways.

[CaliGrrl]

Originally Posted by Motofool

At my old age, I have nothing else to prove: they can go first or faster, they can feel superior, no problem.

Well, I'm not terribly old, I guess, but I absolutely feel the same way. You want to feel you've won something? Fine. You can accelerate all you want and get the heck away from me. Bye.

Originally Posted by MrAtom

It's easier and healthier to just keep my composure and give them a little extra space because they're a little extra stupid.

::snip::
For him, I think the best course of action would be to ride to the nearest police station. Probably not a bad idea for any situation like this, anyway.

Yep. Exactly. I'd say stop at the nearest place where there are people working- a gas station, a restaurant, anything at all. That guy in the car? Who knows what he's going to do? I want people around.

Originally Posted by Motofool

I don't know what it is; maybe a sense of personal space invasion or of being cut in line or of my car/mirror almost got scratched.
It seems that the crazy driver took a personal offense and decided to prove the point of "I am the first in line here" by accelerating hard.
That was the point of let go by the rider: who cares who is first or faster or has more testosterone?

Even in California, where people split lanes fairly commonly, you get the "how dare you" reactions. People are weird.

Originally Posted by jkv45

Here in WI people are much less impatient. Probably because of all the farm equipment on the backroads - and even the highways.

I've found drivers in the Midwest, in general, are a bit more laid back. Used to be, when I lived there, anyway.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by 95PGTTech

Sounds like a great way to get T'd off on if he truly intends to hit you. My issue with his decision making is the half-assness of it all - if you make the choice to run, pin that throttle back, tuck, and get into the next ZIP code. Zero reason why a Fusion should have kept up.

Motorcycles can both turn faster and brake faster than cars if the rider is comfortable with the bike. That's why you do it fast.

[Sarge1992]

Living in Florida myself, I can tell you assholes like that fusion driver are like 1 out of 5 here. I've had on many occasions people pull up to me while I'm stopped in a left turn lane in 5 o clock traffic and ask to get in front of me. When I tell them no, they get pissed and act like I'm an asshole for not letting them cut in front of 30 other cars. On one occasion they forced their way in anyways and nearly knocked me off the bike (cop was one lane over from her so he handled it but still). Biker was stupid for lane splitting in the first place, then trying to get ahead of the car who just did that to him. Also did anyone notice the cop in the video who made the left turn right in front of him while he did that?

Anyways, closest thing to lane splitting I do is when traffic is stopped and I need a turn lane ahead, occasionally I'll go up the bicycle lane or the edge of the median to get in it. No one here pays attention, the driving test at the DMV is a joke, and everyone gets pissed at the stupidest little things. I find it sad that the first thing I thought while watching that video was "yea, looks about right for Florida".

[Racer x]

I have been in this simulation. I started it because it was five o'clock and the guy was sitting with his left turn signal on and backing up traffic for two blocks. I pulled up folded his merror forward told him to f himself and rode off. He tried to kill me. But I went up a one way street the wrong way. He almost hit an angry man in another car.
I was on a scooter and should not have done that. I was wrong and almost got run over.

The u turn is the best option. Run away to ride another day. Be patient and above all. Don't fight with cars.

[Suki2003]

Great points Motofool. I rescind my previous statements, a rider must be more responsible.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Suki2003

Great points Motofool. I rescind my previous statements, a rider must be more responsible.

There is always the unavoidable accident, but normal dangerous situations do not need to be irreversible or fatal.

Recent and sad example of unavoidable (by the rider) accident, also in South Florida:
http://www.wpbf.com/news/car-mechani...drive/38917150

The blaming game may bring satisfaction to some riders, but it consumes precious amounts of attention, time and energy.

Traffic cannot be cured, but it can be intelligently managed during many years of crash-free street riding.

[RacinNinja]

I posted a video of a lady almost changing lanes into me a while back. People asked why I didn't flip her off or do some other motion other than look.

This is a prime example of why you should just move on with your ride. It's simply not worth it.

[jkv45]

I think this is the latest -

http://www.local10.com/web/wplg/news...t-off-the-road

[Panda]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

Motorcycles can both turn faster and brake faster than cars if the rider is comfortable with the bike.

I don't know if that's accurate.

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by Panda

I don't know if that's accurate.

It is not.

Turn, yes, unless full blown race car.

Brake, not so much. Even with ABS, motorcycles have a hard time outbraking cars.

4 wheels = more braking than 2.

[csmith12]

Many "performance" based cars rolling off the production line will undo a bike in every way except 1 and only one. Acceleration... Even a stock geo metro will do a buck 35, and that is very near the top speed of a gsxr 600 with -1 +2 sprocket mod. :\

Also, a Tesla will give most stock 600s a run for their money in acceleration. If you put the Tesla in "acceleration mode" it will even beat the 600s in acceleration and start giving liter bikes a run for their money.

EDIT: Furthermore... I remember a video of a 4x4 truck with a 4wheeler in the back doing a fair job of keeping up with 2 talented riders. Words to live by, "don't fuss with an angry cagers behind the wheel, it's bad for your health."

[xorbe]

Originally Posted by RacinNinja

Brake, not so much. Even with ABS, motorcycles have a hard time outbraking cars.

4 wheels = more braking than 2.

And those 4 tires have more contact patch, and the car isn't going to do a stoppie either ...

Originally Posted by jkv45

I think this is the latest -

http://www.local10.com/web/wplg/news...t-off-the-road

Sounds like the powers-that-be are handling the situation in a non-hyped, logical way. However the rider contacted the police, and they blew him off the first time, so that should count for something. They aren't "buying his story", but people who feel guilty don't tend to reach out to law enforcement first ...