Is it me, or is road rage on the rise?

[lapislzi]

I like to think of myself as a pretty chill driver. I use my turn signals; I don't usually make dick moves (and when I do, I apologize). I don't tailgate or drive crazy fast or weave around the highway.

And yet, every day when I was out and about over the weekend, some other driver would lose his mind over perfectly ordinary, or maybe mildly annoying driving behavior.

Like driving in the middle lane--I was going several miles over the speed limit and the left lane was clear. But Zeb in the World's Oldest Pickup with Gadsden Flag emblazoned on it, had to first perform a colonoscopy on my exhaust, and then pass me on the right, screaming curses and flipping birds. Off he went, zooming ahead to harass another driver.

In the grocery store parking lot. It's really hard to be in a bad mood after a trip to Stew Leonard's. It's a chain in the northeast. Very hokey, with animatronic animals and displays, a petting zoo, people dressed in character costumes, and free samples everywhere. It's a fun place to go. So I can't really tell you what was eating Zeke when I opened my driver's side door and momentarily blocked his egress from his vehicle. I immediately apologized, and he screamed "you fucking jackoff!" I was like "what did you just call me?" because I sort of didn't believe what I'd just heard. The stream of invective continued as I hastily drove away.

Only to be hassled at an intersection by another Gadsden flag-waver for taking slightly longer than a nanosecond to react to a green light. He had to make a show of pulling out around me (into oncoming traffic).

What is with people lately? Anybody else seeing this uptick in road rage? And yes, in two of the three instances, I was technically in the wrong, but in my opinion the reactions were way out of proportion to what I'd done.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. The whole country is full of rage right now.

Lots of angry, ignorant people who have firearms.

[ExciteBike66]

2. Happens a lot down here in central FL...

lots of people on the roads.

I laugh all the time because there is always some yahoo who passes by me in a huff and then immediately has to slow down because there is another car up in front of me. In traffic here in FL, there is rarely any benefit to passing someone, since there is always someone else beyond them.

[NCTraveler]

7. Sometimes in my area of Florida...

I'll be driving home and watch someone change lanes six times to get ahead of a total of three cars. Then I pass them as they are stuck at a light and I'm making a right turn.

Don't people get that just changing lanes unnecessarily increases the chance of an accident?

[genxlib]

3. There seems to be a common theme emerging

Jackasses seem to take that stupid flag literally. They act like snakes in public. Always getting their hackles up and ready to strike.

[NCTraveler]

4. Outside of staying safe,....

I no longer allow others to influence my driving habits or personal mood. It's something I have had to work on.

I haven't had a moving violation in over twenty-five years. When I look at my speedometer I am almost always a couple over. It's rare you will find me in the left lane for reasons outside of passing. Etc....

It no longer bothers me when people ride my bumper. It's not in my control and I have found reacting to it is not the best recourse. It's good to know that they are there but there is zero reason to get upset or change your driving because of it.

When I make a mistake I no longer go any further than an extremely small wave and safely get out of peoples way. We all make mistakes. Few things are more annoying than someone who makes a mistake and then feels the need to hang out in the middle of the intersection until everyone has seen that they are sorry.

Outside of necessary actions to keep yourself safe, ignore the road rage or increase in anger you are noticing. They want to be noticed. The greater the distance between the two of you the better.

[lapislzi]

9. You're so right.

I was sure parking lot guy was ready to shoot me. I couldn't get out of there fast enough! Wasn't hanging around to see if he was packing.

[CanonRay]

5. These people have been in a rage for 10 years

they were in a rage over Obama, then voted in Trump and are in an even bigger rage, because they know they got bullshitted. I think everyone know the country is fucked up and are in a state of high anxiety.

[global1]

6. Totally Agree With You....

I run into another phenomenon. On weekends there is a group of young guys with hot two seater cars. They follow each other down the expressway going at maximum speeds and weaving in and out of traffic from the right lane to the left lane and back. It looks like the lead car is purposely trying to put his follows in situations where they can't make the cut to the next lane to follow him. This goes on week after week and there is never a cop there to catch them.

I've run into situations like you cited. Motorcycles bug the hell out of me too. They are not supposed to cut in between cars and lanes - and they sneak up on you and wizz by. I can't tell you how many times I've had the hell scared out of me because of their antics.

The other day my lady friend said a motorcyclist cut in front of her to get into the far left lane. She blew the horn at him and he proceeded to then taunt her the rest of her ride. He drove right up beside her car at a stoplight and put his head right on her window. She pulled out her phone and took a picture of him. That sufficiently scared him off and he went on his merry way.

Yes - overall - drivers seem to be getting worse and worse. No patience. And driving like they are the only one on the road.

I'm surprised there aren't more accidents.

Texting or phoning while driving also scares me. People are completely oblivious to the world around them when they are on the phone while driving. They drive slower and erratic. So many times I'm behind someone that drives like that and every time when I go to pass them they are on the phone.

[lapislzi]

10. Yeah, I get those guys too

I drive a straight, flat, 30-mile stretch of highway to and from work. Along come the young men in their blacked out Civics with their sideways ball caps...seemingly trying to cause mayhem.

I cut the bikers a little more slack, because they do have to try to stay upright in traffic. But there's no excuse for rudeness or harassment.

[a kennedy]

12. "No patience.". This is exactly the problem.....

NO PATIENCE......and it all started with the TV remote control, but it has exploded to any situation!!!!!

[Totally Tunsie]

8. We're being shown by the Orange Buffoon that rage is acceptable.

As leader of this country, he sets the worst role model, and we're witnesses to it daily as he spouts his vitriol and ridicules our citizens.

The fish rots from the head.

[hexola]

11. Individual rights...

mantra of the right

[Aristus]

13. When you don't have a heart, a soul, any human compassion,

Or any measurable human intelligence, rage is your default setting.

[mercuryblues]

14. I have noticed it

I am by no means a slow driver. I am going 55 in a 45 zone and getting passed in a no passing zone, with the driver flipping me off. She was so busy flipping me off she didn't notice the pothole. I laughed.

[MiniMe]

15. Not that it should make any difference, but what bumper stickers do you have on your car?

I don't have bumper stickers on my car for that reason