Answers Need To Change....

Aggressive Drivers

I thought twice about saying anything about this, but it's an important part of driving, so I think I'll pipe up.

I was taking a test either here or on a different site and one of the answer to, ' How to deal with an aggressive driver ' was Slow down. And unfortunately, this is the answer I chose. I didn't choose it to be just another aggressive driver. I chose it because my thought was to, slow down and let them pass. It certainly wasn't to further upset anyone. Anyway, maybe an answer like this one is on the actual DMV test and maybe not, I don't know. But, I believe that slowing down, as long as it's no more than 15mph below the speed limit (which is I believe the legal limit), would be a good thing to do so that someone could pass more easily. This would say, come in handy when trucks have *nowhere to go*. Which brings me to my next paragraph.

The correct answer to, ' How to deal with an aggressive driver ' is, (and I'll quote this from the actual Drivers Handbook) First and foremost, make every attempt to get out of their way. Now this might be prudent, if you were a 4 wheeler, and actually had many chances to get out of someones way. To a trucker, you may as well say, ' First and foremost, make every attempt to *put this square into this circle hole*. Because a majority of the time, Truckers have nowhere to go.

*Avoid eye contact*

Personally, I think this answer to the situation is mm, well, ________. I mean, yes, if you're planning on giving the aggressive driver an angry, arrogant, or condescending look, then yeh, this may apply. But, I think a concerned look may actually divert an aggressive driver from their attitude. I've been upset in a vehicle before and had someone smile at me, and it actually helped to calm me down and think, ' the world isn't so bad after all '. I mean, I don't want to overwrite some psycho, I mean psychologist, ' answers to life ', but still I think a lot more thought could have been put into some of these answers.

I mean, besides the one answer, ' Ignore gestures and refuse to react to them '. To do so to me would be childish.

But, to not be angry at a driver for his or her attitudes, ' is this even human? or possible? '.

All in all, I tend to understand their answers or solutions, but still I think it tends to put everything and everyone in a *box*. Is this even healthy? Probably not, but we must.....

I do tend to get out of everyone's way out on the road. But, if I did it every time I run across an aggressive driver, I'd spend a majority of my time driving on the shoulder of the highway.

Well, keep in mind that these are cookie cutter answers that have exceptions in real life--lots of exceptions. Also keep in mind that dealing with aggressive drivers is different in a semi than it is in a 4 wheeler. Although, I do have to agree generally with the answer, "Make every attempt to get out of their way." No, I don't pull onto the shoulder on a two lane to let someone like that pass, unless they are really really aggressive and may endanger vehicles on the other side of the highway by attempting an unsafe pass. I might, maybe, pull over in my car, but no way I'm doing that in a semi, sorry. If they try to pass me, I'll slow down to let them pass.

On divided highways you won't deal with aggressive drivers too much because you spend most of your time in the right lane and they spend their time in the left lane. 99% of the time, if you're in the proper lane for your speed and where you're heading (maybe you'll be making a left or right turn ahead), there is nothing you can do other than continue at a legal speed. Slowing down can actually make people more angry if they can't get around you for whatever reason. I usually don't even have a chance to make eye contact in a semi, unless it's another semi driver.

I'll share an example from last week. I got in the left lane to pass another truck and passed him at a good speed. I had two 4 wheelers behind me but I hate cutting people off, so I waited a little before getting over into the right lane again. I unfortunately didn't turn on my signal early enough though (always signal early in a semi, as it can help keep impatient 4 wheelers at bay) and the 4 wheelers whipped around me on the right so now I'm stuck in the left lane. Before I can get back over, one of them pulls maybe 10 feet in front of me and slows down, forcing me back into the right lane, which just cleared as he did that. I was extremely annoyed and reviewed the situation to see if I did anything wrong. I could have turned on my signal earlier and possibly avoided the situation entirely by doing so, but even so I actually did nothing wrong.

You'll learn pretty quick out here, you just can't win in a semi. If you go slow, people will get angry at the stupid slow truck. If you drive a fast truck, people will get mad at you for driving too fast (even just going the speed limit). People hate big long lines of trucks in the right lane but they also don't like when you grab the hammer lane to pass. People just don't like trucks. So just stay out of people's way (i.e. the right lane is your friend) but if you gotta pass or take a left exit or whatever, make your lane change safely and then say "screw 'em." Nothing else you can do. You drive an annoying big truck and if people want their stuff they can deal with it.

People just don't like trucks. So just stay out of people's way (i.e. the right lane is your friend) but if you gotta pass or take a left exit or whatever, make your lane change safely and then say "screw 'em." Nothing else you can do. You drive an annoying big truck and if people want their stuff they can deal with it.

yeh, I know, it's just that the manual makes it all seem so cut and dry, and it's really not. ha ha, yeh, I like you're ending sentences.

I'm sort of surprised Brett let part of this through, because of my derogatory statement towards psychologist. I'll retract it myself.... I know a whole lot of people in different fields and I really shouldn't knock one of them. I really just made it to try and get out of the *brain dead* mode and not thinking for ourselves. I mean, bottom line, they pretty much say, ' stay out of it, and call the police '. I mean, I can understand this if the situation is completely out of hand, but just for a disgruntled driver, no.

Anyway, it's really been concerning me more and more these past few years, because drivers have really become aggressive out on the road. A whole lot more than they use to be.

I still say that they need to come up with some better answers. I mean, yes, while a truck can, on the interstate or any 4 lane, keep out of peoples way, trucks are not always on the interstate. I remember driving on plenty of 2 lane highways.....

I hear you. They are pretty simple answers, but believe it or not there are quite a few people who don't think about stuff like this and need basic cookie cutter answers. These questions/answers are mostly just a basic starting point for safe driving.