cut-off artist question

[fast1]

   Not even 10 minutes after hearing Han's story about his a--hole of the day I found my own. Almost home traveling in the left lane down Ospika just before Massey A shiny new red Chrysler comes off a side street and cuts right over into my lane, forcing me to brake to avoid a collision. Now, having mellowed over the years I did not kick in the fender or throw a handful of ball bearings over my shoulder. Sometimes I will just catch them at the next light and say excuse me, did you even see me?? This one peed me off so dropped 2 gears and went bye his front fender about six grand three inches away , then gave the one finger salute! My question is what do the rest of you do when such an encounter occurs?

[fj1200]

Take several deep breaths and try to relax. Stupid people are stupid people so doing anything probably won't register anyway.
And I too have been guilty of doing some stupid things. Yes I know......I find it hard to believe as well.

[Hans]

if a boot is needed, a boot is gotten.  In this last case, this guy just needed his licence revoked.  No turn signal, no shoulder check, no mirror check, just roll over into my lane, brakes, boot and horn, he looks in the mirror, and COMPLETES his lane change at the same rate.  Then he continues into the turn lane without a signal.  I went by him in my original lane, just shaking my head.  I've given up on the bird, but a large expression of disappointment is usually in order... or a shook fist, and a blast if throttle.

[stevecrout]

Not sure if I'd be the right guy to ask about this sort of stuff. To me it's all a matter of relativity.  I compare where I am to the "normal" driving conditions and go accordingly. For example, in Dili East Timor it's not uncommon for the scooter riders to breeze in between your car and the guy beside you with less than a hair's width to spare then proceed to cut you off by swinging in front and slamming on the brakes (all of this with one or two babies on board). In Denpasar, Bali you never stop, you just carry on at the same pace as all the others and magically a spot appears for you and you merge in.  In Ramallah I'm finding the level of aggressive behaviour in traffic is alarming and even the women are challenging you to catapult away from the stop lights or they will cut in front without so much as a smile or a wave. I find I cannot even use the radio or any other distraction while driving here as I need all my skills just to make it home in one piece.

In all three of these examples and many more that I've seen  there is no expectation of courtesy or moderation in traffic and it is every person for themselves. Seems to me we are somewhat spoiled in Canada to thinking the other guy should be watching out for us and playing fair on the roadways. I wonder if we need to set this notion aside as motorcycle drivers and just rely on our own wits and skills to make it in one piece?

Anger is a great tool when channelled effectively but I've never been able to really make it work for me that well after an altercation with a 2,000 Kilo vehicle.      Our energies might be better spent on education and awareness campaigns?

Although, knocking the seldom used side view mirror off the offending idiot's car does feel good doesn't it?

[Dennis]

I don't remember the last time I even had a close call.  When I am riding, my "spidey senses" just seem to see bad drivers before they appear.  Knock on wood.  In general I do not respond angrily at any motorist.  At most I just shake my head.

Peace & Grease, Dennis

[Shep]

While reading through a book "Proficient Motorcycling" I came across this advice:
"And when you are confronted by an aggressive driver, remember that your job is to get out of the way and get over it."
However, my hackles have been raised numerous times in my life  during driving incidents  and it is usually my wife who calmly tells me to drop the aggressive Moncton Response (I learned this during my impressionable years as a youth).
Shep

[PeggySue]

Pretty scary thought, after the most recent fallen rider story.
I haven't had a close call recently (knock on wood), but have been guilty in the past of calmly following said idiot-vehicle (while my little rabbit-heart recovers from nearly exploding) until they are forced to stop by a light, and then knocking on their window to ask if they were trying to kill me 'on purpose' or if they need their eyes checked... and then waiting for the apology.

Usually they're so stunned to see a 'girl' confronting them that they get all apologetic... and hopefully remember for next time. I do try to make an impression.
HOWEVER, now I have the loudest pipes I could find, and what with the tuning still a little rough, they couldn't miss hearing the bike even if they don't see it. It sounds atrocious... but they know I'm there.
I worry more about getting rear-ended by someone who doesn't realize what kind of agility a bike has.

Still thinking I might get a sticker made up for the back of my helmet:

"I STOP FASTER THAN YOU"

[MaximX]

As a friend once said to me:  "Ride as if you were invisible"  That is probably a good way to think, pretend they will not see you and be ready for anything.  Not to the point of being paranoid, just careful.  Yesterday I was in my car on Ospika heading south to where it changes from 70 to 60km.  I was in the left lane and I slowed to just over 60km.  Some idiot kids came up on my rear bumper and you would think by their expressions I was going 30 in an 80 zone.  They had plenty of room to get by me if they had the brains to move into the other lane before getting to me and choosing to not slow down.  If they do not choose to go the speed limit so be it.  They eventually blew by me as best their gutless beater could and giving the finger while doing it.
The best thing I could have done was to get into the right lane before they got to me....however who can know every time when that is necessary?  I don't always know the mentality of those who are approaching from the rear.  It just goes to show that there are some real idiots out there with very short fuses,  beware of them also.

PS there is something wrong with the clock of this site...I posted this at around 8:30am