While I was driving to work this morning, I had an uncomfortable experience. Mine is a "reverse-commute" in that the majority of the traffic is going towards DC, while I head away in the morning, and vice versa in the evenings. So, unlike many of my local compatriots, I actually drive at highway speeds on the highway.
This morning, I moved into the right hand lane about 1.5 miles before my exit into the local lanes. The entrance for the previous exit is about 1 mile before my exit. A silver Honda Odyssey (the quintessential Mommy van) wanted to get onto the highway from that exit into the exact spot where I was. She apparently was coming up at speed and was expecting me to slow down to let her in. The only problem with that scenario was that she was in the entrance lane in my passenger-side blind spot. I literally had no idea she was there. So she stomped on her brakes (which was when I first noticed her) and zipped in behind me.
Big deal, you think. Why are you complaining about this?
Well, she then proceeded to flash her brights at me and beep her horn, which did not make me move out her way, mind you. My exit from the main lines into the local lanes was coming up rapidly, and I got off there. Mommy Van got off right behind me and then tried to cut me off. WTF? Not wanting to get into some sort of vehicular fight with a raving Mommy Van at 8:40 am, I put myself directly behind a big lawn service truck and stuck there. Mommy Van then got in behind me, got off with me at my exit, and turned onto the local street, right behind me. Again, WTF? My office building is basically right off the highway, so I turned into the complex. Mommy Van followed. I really didn't like that, so I drove slowly around in the parking lot in a big circle (with her following me), while I wrote her license number on a piece of paper. I then slowed down even further (with her still following me) and held up the paper (and my cell phone) so she could see it. She got the point and drove off.
I still say, "WTF?"
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Update 5/19, 1 pm
I had another WTF-driving incident this morning. TPT got on the bus, but I chatted briefly with one of the other mom's at the bus stop. Annoyingly, I then met up with the bus two stops later. The bus has its red lights flashing and stop sign out on the corner of "G" and "H" Street (it is on "H" St) . I dutifully stop, although I am actually on "G" St. A big Mommy Truck pulls up behind me and obviously objected to my stopping. She beeped once, but when I didn't go, she zoomed around me with tires squealing. When I caught up to her at the stop light, she gave me the Hairy Eyeball™. WTF?
Was I wrong? Am I not supposed to stop in that situation? And anyway, it takes all of 2 minutes to load the kids, and then you're on your way. Maybe I am just a Crazy Driver™ magnet. If so, then I will have to demagnetize myself...
10 comments:
That was a good way to handle it. Here in Minnesota, where we have a conceal and carry law, any idiot doing what that woman was doing might have been show a no-longer-concealed gun. Because, you know, someone insane enough to follow you because they're pissed may be insane enough to try to harm you.
When I was in college but home on vacation, I was being followed by a beat-up car. I was understandably nervous about it, so I drove to the main police station in my town. Once I pulled into the parking lot and passed the library (which was next to the police station), the other car peeled off.
Neurondoc does have a conceal and carry (sort of), namely ME! I have been known to run drivers (tailgaters) completely off the road, or box in some fool who is gunna pass me and cut back in for no earthly reason. I have popped tires, headlights and once even spilled motor oil all over the seat of some WV redneck (sorry Michelle) who tailgated me down a remote mountain road for 10-miles even though I pulled off TWICE to let him pass!
To be honest, I prefer not to use that concealed weapon. It makes me nervous...
Think I would have called the police anyway and reported the stalker. Or if your phone has a camera, taken a photo of her stalking you. I mean, what did she think she was going to accomplish?
While I currently don't have a car, I've had that crap happen to me in the past. My reaction is the same as your's...if I'm following the rules of the road, you're not and you come up on my ass and try to force me out of your way, well duckie, you've met your match in HELL!!
Had a lady jump out of her car in a parking lot entrance one time and beat on my window. Why? Well, because I wasn't going over the new speed bumps fast enough for her. I had a low profile car, and having nearly ripped off the oil pan the week before, was not going to bounce my car again. She was some redneck in a swamp-ready 4WD.
Fortunately, the store's rent-a-cop saw what was going on, came over and told her to piss off!! You should have seen the look on her face, Priceless!! He told her that it was because of drivers like her the speed bumps had been raised!
I made sure to tell the store manager about my rescuer.
WendyB_09
Ooh. Numbskulls like that make me cranky. I take pictures of their license plates with my cell phone's camera, and let them watch me do it. Heh.
We think alike. ::high five::
Glad it all worked out. :)
That's very scary! I'm glad you are safe. You should come and live with me. People behave themselves around here because chances are, I know their mother. ;-)
Tania -- trollops think alike, eh? :-D
Claudia -- not only do you know their mother, they all know yours...
I'd rather you come live here and protect me. I've been fantasizing that Doug gets a job here, and David is in ThePinkThing's class in school next year and Alan in a 2nd grade class.
What?
I'm allowed to fantasize. Just because I am not fantasizing about movie stars or handsome men doesn't mean I'm weird...
OMG, what a horrible story, ND! And I thought only Arizona drivers were so crazy (ours have the added delight of being often armed) - I'm glad she was deterred by your actions, but you must have been seriously freaked from the exit to the pkg lot!
Too bad you don't have an *automatic* activate TH button on your van (g)! Kinda like airbags - you hope you don't have to use them, but you're glad they're there :)
Oh, believe me - you and I both, dear.
Looking at the housing prices, though... I saw a house around the corner from you for 600,000. Let's just not talk about this, OK?
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