[January]

Today I was driving on the interstate and came to a point where two interstates merge. (Bebop knows that place well.) It's tricky, and I try to be very careful when I go through there.

I had a car to my left, one behind me and one in front of me. A woman to my right was talking on a cell phone and did not look to see if anyone was in my spot in my lane. She started to hit me in the side and I blew my horn to get her attention so she wouldn't hit me.

She jerked her car back to her lane, then crossed over to my left and proceeded to hold up traffic and drive head to head with me. I slowed down thinking she would pass, she didn't. I tried very hard not to look at her but after a half mile of this, I decided I'd better glance and see if she had a gun. She started pointed her finger at me and cursing me. I tried to speed up to get away from her but I drive a small car and she had a big SUV so that didn't work. She pulled in behind me almost touching my bumper, put on her emergency blinkers and stalked me up the interstate.

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed 911. I was trying to ask the operater what to do and lost signal. The woman must have noticed I was talking on the phone and deduced that I called 911 because she took the closest exit ramp without giving a signal.

Later today I was waiting at a red light and the moment it changed to green the driver behind me sped around me and took off. That happened twice today. I didn't have time to take my foot off the brake to hit the gas before they broke every law around and took off around me.

The woman on the interstate was insane with road rage. I thank God that she apparently didn't have a weapon. (Don't get me wrong, I was raised with fire arms and love to use them, but you don't shoot someone whom you just tried to run over with your SUV.) The two people in the cars that went around me weren't the brightest light bulbs because what they did was so dangerous.

I will never feel safe in my car again.

Jan

[Rhapsody]

<font color="purple"> ((((((( HUGS ))))))) ~ ~ ~ ~ ((((((( HUGS ))))))) </font>

I hate when this happens and I am sorry that you had to experience it today.... I some times slap my husband up side the back of his head when he becomes angry at other drivers and then feels like cutting them off or driving slow in front of them - for I tell him if they have a gun it will probably be me that takes the bullet.

LoVe,
Rhapsody - (( hugs ))

[Frozen_Heart]

Personally, I try to stay out of the 'wolf' pack. When driving, if cars around me inch up, I back off and give all them S.O.B's clearance. I'm in no hurry. Not to say that anything you did was wrong. I'm simply trying to say, 'they' are all around and I feel it's my responsibility to avoid 'them' at all cost.

((January)) Those sort of incidents are so upsetting! I'm glad you are safe.

[(JD)]

I'm glad you are ok! I think you did everything right.


Merging is a tough driving skill... and most ppl don't do it well, and those who are already on the main road don't bother to think about if any cars need to merge into their lanes, etc. I personally believe talking on the cell phone, whether holding it in the hand or not, should be illegal.


Every, and I mean EVERY near accident that someone involves me in, involves a party talking on the cell phone.

Don't worry about driving. You were very careful, and nothing bad happened. I know it's scary, but this is the price we pay for being able to drive. I would send a letter to your congressman urging the use of monies for ad campaigns against phone using and driving, if that's the way you also feel about it. We need to educate ppl in how it takes their mind from their driving. And, as you saw and told us, many ppl need all their mind they do have, just to drive!

[Peanuts]

wow - you did the right thing by calling 911. It doesn't matter what you did or didn't do on the highway - that other driver was 100 percent in the wrong. And she knew it too, otherwise she wouldn't have run off when she noticed you on your cell.

Some people take to bullying in their car as if they are the only ones out there on the road. It is scary to come across someone like that.

Thank goodness you are safe.

[Sabrina]

Sounds like something my ex-husband would do!

I'm sorry you had to experience this!

[Raynaadi]

(((((( Jan ))))))

So glad you weren't harmed with these people's reckless driving. It really is pretty rediculous these days. The world moves so fast....everyone's in a hurry. And there's never a cop when you need one.

[bebop]

Jan you did the right thing hon. keep that cell handy

[LMo]

ugh - so sorry, Jan...

I find that I can go months without any kind of incident like that, but there are just some days when you have a 'bad driving day'.. where just everything seems to go wrong. Sounds like it was one of those days for you

[January]

((((((((((((( Friends )))))))))))))))

I mentioned it to a couple of my friends irl and they said it was "typical Friday driving"!!!!!! I admit I am seldom on the interstate on Fridays, but if that's the way it is, I'm going to take the backstreets from now on.

Hugs,

Jan

[jlove973]

((((((((((((((((((Jan)))))))))))))))))))))

The whole thing is people don't have PATIENCE(I am one of them, but I don't drive)
There is a DX for this it's called: Intermittent explosive disorder

See link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13152708/

I didn't believe it when I first saw it on MSNBC.