BajaNomad - Do you get ROAD RAGE more in the US or in BAJA?

Do you get ROAD RAGE more in the US or in BAJA?

bajalearner - 4-21-2014 at 07:52 AM

I think the driving in Tijuana is a organized free for all but for me, it seems to flow okay. I don't remember feeling rage in Tijuana or in the rural areas of Baja.

I've had rage at times while driving in California but I've driven many more years in CA so maybe it's a proportional thing.

I think there is something about the Mexico state of mind vs. the American attitude that makes for different fuse lengths.

What causes the difference?

Ateo - 4-21-2014 at 08:37 AM

I have gotten upset in TJ a few times, most recently while trying to find the Sentri lane. Just an overall anger at there never being any signs and the cluster&*% that is the border crossing.

Yesterday, after taking the Blvd 2000 to go to Otay for the Sentri crossing, I entered the wrong line behind the car wash and found myself in the regular lanes, on a holiday weekend. Fortunately it was 11AM and there were only 6 cars.

Now, in the USA, I will get angry when people are in the fast lane going 60 MPH.

[Edited on 4-21-2014 by Ateo]

DENNIS - 4-21-2014 at 08:49 AM

Road Rage is bad.

Otay SENTRI

bajaguy - 4-21-2014 at 09:07 AM

For best results turn before the car wash, not after...... :lol:

Quote:

Originally posted by Ateo
I have raged in TJ a few times, most recently while trying to find the Sentri lane. Just an overall anger at there never being any signs and the cluster&*% that is the border crossing. It's my fault for not knowing every street in TJ. I don't blame Mexico, it's their country.

Yesterday, after taking the Blvd 2000 to go to Otay for the Sentri crossing, I entered the wrong line behind the car wash and found myself in the regular lanes, on a holiday weekend. Fortunately it was 11AM and there were only 6 cars.

Now, in the USA, I will get angry when people are in the fast lane going 65 MPH.

Mega road rage

durrelllrobert - 4-21-2014 at 09:12 AM

Back in the 80s I flew into LAX on the red eye from DC, picked up a rental car and headed out to my meeting in San Bernardino.

Coming out of the airport there are 2 left turn lanes onto Century Blvd and 1 straight ahead lane. I was in the number 2 left turn lane and a guy in a Mazda truck was next to me in the go straight lane.

When the light turned green he punched it and chopped in front of me. Without thinking I honked the horn and flipped him off. So he slammed on his brakes, opened his door and got out with a baseball bat in his hands.

There was no one in the number one lane next to me so I punched it to go around him. He saw me coming and jumped back in the truck but left the door open. As I passed him I caught the door and knocked it completely off the hinges. I watched to door skidding down the road in my rear view mirror and just kept going.

When I returned the rental car the next day there was minor damage to the front bumper and right fender but nobody said anything and I was never billed for the damage. However I worried for weeks that someone had taken down my plate number and that the police would track me down and charge me with hit and run.

J.P. - 4-21-2014 at 09:18 AM

Never road rage but in the U.S. drivers tend to pee me off more often. I think it's because bad on no driving skills are expected down here and in the U.S. I know they know better. :yes:

Martyman - 4-21-2014 at 09:29 AM

More road anger in the US. I guess because I feel at home. In Mex I'm on vacation and it's not my country. I try to be a good visitor. At home...I'm a crappy host.

Udo - 4-21-2014 at 09:29 AM

I think JP has the right description.
However, every time I head south, some new move by a Mexican driver appears in front of me.

I fail to be surprised any more.

My attitude is "ONLY IN MEXICO"

In some instances, I am now imitating them.

DavidE - 4-21-2014 at 09:37 AM

How can a person get road rage in a country that has thousands of cars knocking and smoking and chugging at 15 mph? Mexico and Type A don't mix too good. Best for hotheads to stay in Cantcun or Cabo San Loco and rave at Juan, the bartender, fugitive from Santa Ana.

bajalearner - 4-21-2014 at 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Back in the 80s I flew into LAX on the red eye from DC, picked up a rental car and headed out to my meeting in San Bernardino.

Coming out of the airport there are 2 left turn lanes onto Century Blvd and 1 straight ahead lane. I was in the number 2 left turn lane and a guy in a Mazda truck was next to me in the go straight lane.

When the light turned green he punched it and chopped in front of me. Without thinking I honked the horn and flipped him off. So he slammed on his brakes, opened his door and got out with a baseball bat in his hands.

There was no one in the number one lane next to me so I punched it to go around him. He saw me coming and jumped back in the truck but left the door open. As I passed him I caught the door and knocked it completely off the hinges. I watched to door skidding down the road in my rear view mirror and just kept going.

When I returned the rental car the next day there was minor damage to the front bumper and right fender but nobody said anything and I was never billed for the damage. However I worried for weeks that someone had taken down my plate number and that the police would track me down and charge me with hit and run.

I try to control my road rage but how come I love this story. The idea of the door sliding down the road makes me smile. I think it is called "justice".

chuckie - 4-21-2014 at 10:04 AM

Jimmy Buffett

J.P. - 4-21-2014 at 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo
I think JP has the right description.
However, every time I head south, some new move by a Mexican driver appears in front of me.

I fail to be surprised any more.

My attitude is "ONLY IN MEXICO"

In some instances, I am now imitating them.

I under stand the move that I admire most is the one where when the light changes the guy or more often gal in the far right lane charges ahead and turns left in front of everyone. I just cant work up the courage to try that one.

DENNIS - 4-21-2014 at 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo

In some instances, I am now imitating them.

Yeah...that happens. Seems like you'll never reach your destination unless you drive like a selfish me-me-me-first a-hole.

Ohhh well...when in Mexico..............!

mtgoat666 - 4-21-2014 at 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalearner

Quote:

I try to control my road rage but how come I love this story. The idea of the door sliding down the road makes me smile. I think it is called "justice".

you call that justice?

i think that's a tale about 2 hotheads, one buttcrack got punishment, one buttcrack got away.

the one that got away never learned his lesson, as he still thinks it's funny he flipped the bird, initiated a fight and then hit-and-run his opponent.

sancho - 4-21-2014 at 10:37 AM

Not road rage, but when I enter Mex, my ears get
big, head on a swivel, radar on, etc., perhaps needless anxiety.
Hwy driving SOB doesn't effect me that way. I only feel at ease only when I get to turn off the igintion

DENNIS - 4-21-2014 at 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
you call that justice?

i think that's a tale about 2 hotheads, one buttcrack got punishment, one buttcrack got away.

the one that got away never learned his lesson, as he still thinks it's funny he flipped the bird, initiated a fight and then hit-and-run his opponent.

You fail to comprehend the essence of "Stand your ground." The a-hole's lucky he didn't gain a few grains of weight in the process. :cool:

dasubergeek - 4-21-2014 at 11:44 AM

The only time I get road rage in MX is driving in the fustercluck that is the DF... particularly once you pass the exit for the Circuito Exterior headed west in Edomex. Everywhere else, including GDL, I'm pretty laid back, and in Baja I just let it all roll by me, even in Tijuana.

I "chat" constantly with the other drivers in California though. They're all named Stu... Stu Pididiot.

mtgoat666 - 4-21-2014 at 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

You fail to comprehend the essence of "Stand your ground." The a-hole's lucky he didn't gain a few grains of weight in the process. :cool:

which a-hole? there were 2.

bajajudy - 4-21-2014 at 12:07 PM

My favorite maneuver is what we call the third world, third lane, left hand turn. The car is in the shoulder on the right side of the road but just before the light turns green, the driver races into the intersection to turn left in front of all the people who are actually in lanes. In some case there is a left turn lane, you know the one on the left side of the lanes.

I forgot...no rage involved, amazement maybe but no rage!

[Edited on 4-21-2014 by bajajudy]

vandenberg - 4-21-2014 at 12:08 PM

According to a cousin visiting me a few years ago, American drivers are very polite compared to their European counterparts.

He said a 4 way stop, so common here, would never work in Europe and would result in one giant fustercluck, since everyone would try to beat the other guy to the intersection.

And road rage is very common, with lots of incidents.

And no ALTO "suggestions" :biggrin:

bajalearner - 4-21-2014 at 12:18 PM

What's strange to me is that I rarely get aggressive toword someone in person. I don't yell FU to their face or get rage'd off. I just turn the other cheek and think the person's culture or personality sucks.

It's only in the large metal extension of my "space" that I am compelled to lash out at another person.

Why is that???

Maybe it is that the metal protects me from getting my a*# kicked.

Udo - 4-21-2014 at 12:20 PM

That's not a move, JP...

That is Mexican law!

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.

Quote:

Udo - 4-21-2014 at 12:27 PM

My experience of driving in Europe, is also of no amazement, no matter what anyone does.

Although the best maneuver I have seen by European drivers is the one when I was on a two-lane highway...a car oncoming...and the driver behind me passes me! The driver coming from the opposite lane just moved over to his right and let the guy pass!

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
According to a cousin visiting me a few years ago, American drivers are very polite compared to their European counterparts.

He said a 4 way stop, so common here, would never work in Europe and would result in one giant fustercluck, since everyone would try to beat the other guy to the intersection.

And road rage is very common, with lots of incidents.

And no ALTO "suggestions" :biggrin:

DavidE - 4-21-2014 at 02:27 PM

All the Italian drivers I saw in Roma must have all been from North Dakota and Minnesota...

Flailing hand gestures and

"Upper U.S.! Upper U.S.!"

mtgoat666 - 4-21-2014 at 02:54 PM

all you stressed, uptight drivers and road ragers would do well to heed my instructions:

slow down
and
share the road

p.s. what's the rush? if you are late, so be it (next time you will know to leave earlier).

dasubergeek - 4-21-2014 at 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy
My favorite maneuver is what we call the third world, third lane, left hand turn. The car is in the shoulder on the right side of the road but just before the light turns green, the driver races into the intersection to turn left in front of all the people who are actually in lanes. In some case there is a left turn lane, you know the one on the left side of the lanes.

I forgot...no rage involved, amazement maybe but no rage!

[Edited on 4-21-2014 by bajajudy]

Do that from the actual left lane and you've just described the reason why New Jersey had to install jughandles—even my driving examiner at the DMV made sure to tell me not to stomp the gas at the green light—otherwise I'd get broad-sided by the people turning left ahead of the crowd.

Oh, and in France, there's a rule called "priorité à droite", which means that unless a tiny yellow sign tells you otherwise, someone coming from a road joining from the right has the right-of-way. So imagine you're headed down a busy road and there's a dirt road on your right. The person coming off that dirt road and turning right onto the main road has priority, and you, the driver on the main road going straight, have to stop. This is why it takes forever to get around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris: there are twelve roads joining that circle. You get to jet onto the circle from whatever road you're on, then stop dead at the next road while traffic from that road piles on.

My personal favorite in Mexico is the 135D toll road from Orizaba to Oaxaca. It's a two-lane, undivided road, but everyone makes it a three-lane road and sometimes four.

[Edited on 4-21-2014 by dasubergeek]

dougf69 - 4-21-2014 at 09:30 PM

Quote:

bajalearner - 4-22-2014 at 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
All the Italian drivers I saw in Roma must have all been from North Dakota and Minnesota...

Flailing hand gestures and

"Upper U.S.! Upper U.S.!"

Yeah, keep thinking that. hahaha, very good

Skipjack Joe - 4-22-2014 at 07:00 AM

I no longer have road rage in neither the US or Mexico. It's one of the advantages of aging. You no longer have road rage, but you cause it.

bajalearner - 4-22-2014 at 07:44 AM

What is the deal with the drivers in the border crossing lines on the MX side? They don't give an inch. They are ruthless and won't let anyone change lanes. Turn signals don't mean a thing most of the time.

Mexitron - 4-22-2014 at 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
I no longer have road rage in neither the US or Mexico. It's one of the advantages of aging. You no longer have road rage, but you cause it.

I cured my occasional rage after dating a lovely woman for several years----she was the slowest driver and not really very good at driving overall...after that whenever I saw someone not driving well I just imagined it was her, doing her best.

Pompano - 4-22-2014 at 08:27 AM

I certainly agree, Road Rage seems to be worldwide. I've driven through all categories of it... whether in Italy, Baja, the USA, or Canada. But I've always found that a good sense of humor will get you through most situations.

- An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up!

He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him.

"I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk.

Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car."

p.s. I'll be pulling a long fifth wheel with a pickup truck through Portland later today and will try not to become either a victim or the cause of any Road Rage. I've always thought Portland traffic is plumb crazy...but it's the only way to reach my destination.

[Edited on 4-22-2014 by Pompano]

2009 6-11 PORTLAND AND COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE (2).JPG - 32kB

Barry A. - 4-22-2014 at 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano

p.s. I'll be pulling a long fifth wheel with a pickup truck through Portland later today and will try not to become either a victim or the cause of any Road Rage. I've always thought Portland traffic is plumb crazy...but it's the only way to reach my destination.

[Edited on 4-22-2014 by Pompano]

I normally think that Salt Lake City traffic is even crazier, but it's all relative I suppose. :tumble:

Barry

bajalearner - 4-22-2014 at 09:32 AM

10 years ago, I was stopped on the offramp from n/b I5 to e/b SR-79 in Temecula (toward the mall). The guy on my left side was also in a right turn lane but edged his r/f fender into my lane inches in front of my bumper.

Green light and we both started to move which caused his entire right side to be gouged by my left front end of my bumper as he tried to get in front of me.

We stopped and he was rage'ed that I did not stop to let him in. We exchanged info and I contacted his ins. co. to learn he told them I turned left into his lane and hit him. It seemed to be a draw as far as fault.

After thinking about several days, I submitted a foto of my rig with the left front bumper bent forward at about a 45 degree angle. I told his ins. co. that if I turned into him my bumper would have bent in to my front end.

His ins. accepted my facts and charged him with the fault. I did not have a claim because I inched up to a concrete light pole foundation and pushed the bumper back in place. But he had severe damage and his ins. probably increased in $$$. His claim to my ins. was thrown out.

I should have stopped and let the goofball go ahead but I didn't. But in this case he paid for his actions.