Flipping off other people on the road

[index]

In what situations do you do this/have recently done this?

I've never had to flip anybody off while driving, fortunately (and I've only ever had to honk once in the three and a half years I've been driving), however, as a pedestrian, I have...Plenty of times...

If I'm crossing on a white hand or a countdown and I get almost ran over, or someone chooses to run a pedestrian/HAWK signal, (especially as I'm stepping on to the crosswalk) automatic middle finger. I've had the privilege of being able to do this a few times. I think it's the least I can be compensated, for nearly being turned into a flesh pancake. I am not two tons of metal and I don't have a crumple zone. People ought to watch for pedestrians, especially when they have the right of way.

[JayhawkCO]

I try not to.  Too many crazy people with guns seemingly unafraid to use them for minor things nowadays.

Chris

[Rothman]

I actually find myself a little ashamed of the once or twice I've done so.

That said, my mother was honked at in a Price Chopper parking lot and even she reflexively flipped the guy off, so...could happen to anyone.

[SkyPesos]

Ask Lord Carhorn this. Bet he'll have some interesting stories.

[Scott5114]

I try not to.  Too many crazy people with guns seemingly unafraid to use them for minor things nowadays.

Chris

This. Flipping someone off doesn't really benefit me in any way, makes me take my hand off the wheel (which makes it harder for me to react to whatever shitty thing they did), and risks pissing them off to the point that they intentionally do something dangerous. There was an incident on I-35 up in Edmond not too long ago where a driver of a pickup got pissed at another driver and intentionally ran both of them into the Jersey barrier. I don't want to get involved in that kind of stupidity.

Usually if I'm upset at a driver and I want to vent, I'll just yell, since there's no way they'll hear me.

[index]

I try not to.  Too many crazy people with guns seemingly unafraid to use them for minor things nowadays.

Chris

This. Flipping someone off doesn't really benefit me in any way, makes me take my hand off the wheel (which makes it harder for me to react to whatever shitty thing they did), and risks pissing them off to the point that they intentionally do something dangerous. There was an incident on I-35 up in Edmond not too long ago where a driver of a pickup got pissed at another driver and intentionally ran both of them into the Jersey barrier. I don't want to get involved in that kind of stupidity.

Usually if I'm upset at a driver and I want to vent, I'll just yell, since there's no way they'll hear me.

I am a fairly passive driver when it comes to mistakes. People have done plenty of stupid things in front of me, as the nature of driving goes, and none of us are perfect, so I'm not the arbiter of good driving. That stuff doesn't get to me and I don't let it.

But I've only ever (edited my original post to say it) used my horn once, and that was for when a lady pulled out like 10 feet in front of me as I was driving on a local road. Plenty of visibility. She glared at me. If she didn't act like it was my fault I wouldn't have even been mad, it's not like I was gonna be killed. I use my horn as a warning device, rather than an anger device (looking at Pennsylvania drivers). It's for "hey, watch out" rather than "you didn't slam the gas as soon as the light went green" or "you're a dick". So I wasn't mad she did that, I was mad she was angry at me for responding to it.

As a pedestrian, though, I don't hold back. I can get killed by dumb mistakes like that, so I will yell if the driver is close enough and/or flip them off. Too many drivers seem to treat pedestrians like targets they can score points by hitting, and not the ones on your license. The amount of times I've nearly been ran over is ridiculous, especially when it's super clear you need to stop, like a red light on a pedestrian signal or HAWK signal. I resort to looking behind myself whenever I use a crosswalk to make sure right turners don't hit me.

[Rothman]

Oh, I am all about honking, much to the chagrin of my wife and son.

[1995hoo]

I have tried very hard to break myself of the bad habit of giving the finger because some people go berserk over it. A guy in a pickup once severely cut me off; he had a big decal on his rear window of a middle-finger gesture, so I returned the gesture as I went around him. He then started chasing me for a while (I lost him quickly enough). Apparently he was the sort of pussy who likes to dish it out but is unwilling to take it when it's directed back at him.

I will refrain from making the other observations I wish to make on this topic because it'll just start trouble.

[Max Rockatansky]

Ask this guy his thoughts:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13802

[ilpt4u]

I prefer the random brake-checks on tailgaters, but if they then pass after 10-20 miles of riding tailgate, I'll fly the bird in the general direction

Honking is just a normal part of driving

[Max Rockatansky]

I prefer the random brake-checks on tailgaters, but if they then pass after 10-20 miles of riding tailgate, I'll fly the bird in the general direction

Honking is just a normal part of driving

I don't remember it being so prevalent when I was living in Chicago.  I feel like I missed out on something.   

[JayhawkCO]

Honking is just a normal part of driving

In Canada, you can get a ticket for honking for anything other than alerting a car to a danger. 

Chris

[triplemultiplex]

In Canada, you can get a ticket for honking for anything other than altering a car to a danger. 

That sounds so Canadian, it has to be true.  Like they have an article in their constitution penalizing those who are impolite.

I like to flip off cop cars sitting on their donut-munching asses in median of rural freeways looking for some revenue generating opportunities.  But since I'm also a coward, I do it so they can't see me.

[J N Winkler]

I've used hand gestures (not necessarily the bird) to express annoyance with other drivers, though typically in a way that is not visible outside the car--it's just not worth the risk of escalation into a road-rage incident.  I also try not to use the horn out of anger, though I've not always been successful.  I have never intentionally brake-checked anybody.

I last used my horn on Wednesday, October 20, at one of the tee intersections where my street ends.  I had waited at the end of my driveway while backing out to yield to another car, so I ended up following it down the road.  The driver then came to a stop at the stem of the tee (which is uncontrolled) and just sat there without moving for close to a full minute--there was no traffic coming in either direction.  I eventually pressed the horn pad, at which point the other driver turned right and I turned left.

Instead of using my horn, I could have backed up and done a driveway turn-around, and I would have done so if the road were straight with good visibility.  Doing so in this case would have meant reversing toward a blind curve; also, there are only three driveways along this length and they are typically full of parked cars.  (One of the houses belongs to a car fancier with a double-depth garage to protect the bona fide classics from the weather.)

[Flint1979]

I just did it earlier today. I was traveling 45 mph on a street in the left lane and had the right of way and from a side street comes this van that didn't stop for the stop sign and pulls out in front of me. I got in the other lane and flicked the driver off as I was going by.

[ilpt4u]

I just did it earlier today. I was traveling 45 mph on a street in the left lane and had the right of way and from a side street comes this van that didn't stop for the stop sign and pulls out in front of me. I got in the other lane and flicked the driver off as I was going by.

As you should

[1995hoo]

Regarding horn usage, I most recently used my horn on Saturday on the way to get my COVID booster shot. I was making the right turn seen in this Street View image and the woman in front of me braked almost to a complete stop, despite traffic going straight having a green light and there not being anyone coming from the left to whom she needed to yield. I didn't blast the horn at her–I was far enough back that I gave it a bunch of beeps instead, though I still wound up having to shift down to second gear because she was so slow to get moving.

However, since I haven't driven anywhere since Saturday night, not having used my horn since then is not remarkable.

[ran4sh]

The usual situation in which I do this is when drivers remain in the left lane (except for preparing to turn left or take a left exit) and either aren't passing, or are preventing drivers behind them from passing.

[Brandon]

I live near and drive in Chicago.  You figure it out.

[abefroman329]

No, and I'm trying to use my horn far less frequently than I do now.

I live near and drive in Chicago.  You figure it out.

You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem.

[thspfc]

No, and I'm trying to use my horn far less frequently than I do now.

I live near and drive in Chicago.  You figure it out.

You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem.

By virtue of driving on Chicago freeways he's automatically part of the problem.

[Georgia]

I've used hand gestures (not necessarily the bird) to express annoyance with other drivers, though typically in a way that is not visible outside the car--it's just not worth the risk of escalation into a road-rage incident.  I also try not to use the horn out of anger, though I've not always been successful.  I have never intentionally brake-checked anybody.

I last used my horn on Wednesday, October 20, at one of the tee intersections where my street ends.  I had waited at the end of my driveway while backing out to yield to another car, so I ended up following it down the road.  The driver then came to a stop at the stem of the tee (which is uncontrolled) and just sat there without moving for close to a full minute--there was no traffic coming in either direction.  I eventually pressed the horn pad, at which point the other driver turned right and I turned left.

Instead of using my horn, I could have backed up and done a driveway turn-around, and I would have done so if the road were straight with good visibility.  Doing so in this case would have meant reversing toward a blind curve; also, there are only three driveways along this length and they are typically full of parked cars.  (One of the houses belongs to a car fancier with a double-depth garage to protect the bona fide classics from the weather.)

given your non kansas location, do you flick them the V?
that is what i do now if i get really aggravated.

[hotdogPi]

Doesn't quite belong in the changing one letter thread, but too good to pass up:

Flipping over other people on the road

[NWI_Irish96]

In what situations do you do this/have recently done this?

I've never had to flip anybody off while driving, fortunately (and I've only ever had to honk once in the three and a half years I've been driving), however, as a pedestrian, I have...Plenty of times...

If I'm crossing on a white hand or a countdown and I get almost ran over, or someone chooses to run a pedestrian/HAWK signal, (especially as I'm stepping on to the crosswalk) automatic middle finger. I've had the privilege of being able to do this a few times. I think it's the least I can be compensated, for nearly being turned into a flesh pancake. I am not two tons of metal and I don't have a crumple zone. People ought to watch for pedestrians, especially when they have the right of way.

The best way to deal with every driver that irritates you is make a youtube video out of your dashcam and then post it here.

[plain]

I try not to.  Too many crazy people with guns seemingly unafraid to use them for minor things nowadays.

Chris

Virginia.