Words of Wisdom...I need 'em!

[Lion_Lady]

I got hit by a hit and run driver while taking my daughter to an event. I got a good look at the plate and started to repeat the tag number out loud as soon as he got by me.

My car was too damaged to drive far, and as soon as we stopped I grabbed a scrap of paper and scribbled... my daughter kept asking me why I was saying that number over and over again.

Sometimes you just get a feeling that the info may be important. Do what works to make stuff stick in your head.

If you travel alone frequently (I do too for the same reasons!! ) it is iimportant to note the names of the roads you're on and cross roads periodically. That way if the unthinkable happens, you can better direct help to you.

Even if you only remember "I'm about 2 miles north of the big red barn with the falling down silo" that will be of some help to locating you.

P

[graymojocat]

I had a similar experience except that I was in a car. I was driving to work and I didn't pass the guy because he started out doing 70. He slowed down for no reason to 35 at one point and I just wrote it off as him being on the phone. I went to go around and he swerved over into my lane and then slowed down more.

It's so aggravating because what can you do? The officers have to see him do something wrong. I wasn't tailing him and I didn't lay on the horn or anything. He totally ruined my ride to work that day.

So I feel your pain.

I'm glad I wasn't on the bike when that happened.

[mazer]

It's so aggravating because what can you do? The officers have to see him do something wrong.[/quote]
This use to be the case because any action by the other driver is basically an infraction of the law and to cite someone the officer needs to witness the act. *Otherwise anyone annoyed with anyone could sic the people in blue on anyone* HOWEVER since road rage has become such an issue and so many people have been hurt as a result. If you call the local highway patrol or police, they may go and have a talk to him (they may not and they may blow you off) but at least you have done something. You never know to what end your call may result in. I have been in a number of instances where calls of reckless drivers have resulted in helping out in an investigation of a crash, or an officer has actually been in the area and is now aware of the reckless driver and actually has gone after the driver and cited the offender.
Call in, report it, be thankful it did not result in anyone getting hurt.

[Funderbird]

Coffee brake,
If your name was Mary and lived in San diego I would think it was the same situation. Mary, a sweet little thing 100 LBS rides a R-6. One day riding palomar mountain road had a crazy older man do the same thing to her. She came over after the fact hysterical, rightly so...It sucks, people that drive cages are for the most part indestructable when up against a bike.

My story, I was traveling down the 405 in L.A. and a psyco in a beat up old chevy didn't like the fact that I was passing him. He romped on the gas as I passed and swerved to crunch me. I ride a pig of a bike, it isn't as fast as something smaller. Therfore I barely avoided him by driving on the shulder of the freway. All of two feet, I scrapped my boot on the retaining wall. I gave her as much gas W/ a down shift as I could and I was out of there...I kept on the throttle hit about 90 and figured it was over. On the contrary, old boy decided to follow me for the next 12 miles. I finally had enough and, cut from the fast lane to the off ramp. I know, stupid but he was so close I couldn't even see his grill out of my mirrors. I got off at the first station, shaking, to the point of tears. And lit a somke, First one in three days. As I was sitting there, I started to get more pissed then affraid. Then 5-10 minutes pass and you will never guess who rolls up...Old boy in the chevy. he stops gets out and starts at me screaming about how I hit is M.F car and I cut him off. Because of the adrinalne, I snapped, I am big, 240 6-2 and mad as hell. I used my military chew out voice, and yelled some fairly colorfull remarks. Then charged him with me helmet heald high. The guys saw me and turned white. stumbled over his feet and ran. Got in his beat up chevy and tore out of there. I think I might have hurt him if I had got the chance. As he was driving away, I looked at my reflection in the window, and started to laugh I looked like a freak.

I don't get road rage, I might shake my finger at someone or wave (not the one fingeredd wave). I have done some close cuts in traffic, but I was nowhere near this guy. I latter spoke with a cop friend of mine and told him the story. He told me to next time call 911 and leave the phone connected. They will find me. He also told me to look in to legal non-leathal weapons.

This is what I think applies to you coffee...I don't know what the laws are in georga, but a 10 year old with a expaindable asp can take a full grown man to his knees. Having a gun is useless if it is locked away. Look in to getting a boost phone that only has 911 programed into it so you can hit send and it will connect. I know this next one is stupid I wouldn't offer it to anyone other than a woman riding alone in the sticks, but carry a cheap plastic gun in your jacket pocket. A gun doesn't have to work to cause a panic. I know it is stupid, but I would rather get busted for a plastic gun than get beat or killed by some psyco.

I hope this helps, and next time do the same thing...

[coffee_brake]

Ouch, seriously scary stuff...my threat seems kind of small in comparison.

While not the kind to get scared easily or stay scared and allow it to ruin my ride, I think some of you have very good options for dealing with threats that maybe I hadn't thought about...plastic weapon? Hmmm...
That could cause a confrontation to go either way, you'd have to be pretty sure you knew what was going on with the other driver. Definately an option, I've used a similar tactic in a car years ago (mistaken identity road rage) and it certainly worked...but this road was too challenging to attempt one-handed riding...
..but the thought makes me smile!

[Lion_Lady]

They say that your old, no longer connected to your number cell phone is perfect to carry in your bag for emergencies that may happen when you're in a "single network coverage" area.

In other words, if you've got CellularOne coverage and are in a Verizon only area, your 911 call may not connect to anything. BUT if you've got an "off network" phone, such as your previous phone, it is supposed to connect to ANY network that picks up the signal. That's why donating your old cell phone to a women's shelter is a good idea... they're only good for 911 calls.

P

[Funderbird]

My pop used to ride with a bunch of guys that carried BBs in there side pockets. Or larger diameter ball bearings. Said it worked if the guy wouldn't back off. I don't agree, but all cages have to do is move the wheel 4 inches and we are road pizza.

Pepper spray or stun gun if the confrontal gets to on foot. A camera on your helmet, with a switch on the side. Light that thing off in similar situations, at least you can have some kid of vindication.

Sew a badge on the side of your jacket, it doesnt have to be real. but if you give a flash to a nut job it might deture them. My reasoning is this,If I was gonna do something like that or what others have described and I saw a badge or plastic gun It might shock me enough to think twice. In the hesitation you could get away. My only other suggestion for now is stick to well traveled roads. I know it sucks but its safer.

[Funderbird]

repost

[mazer]

Funderbird, I have to disagree with your suggestions. I do need to quantify that in your Pops days, laws were different, but so were people.

My pop used to ride with a bunch of guys that carried BBs in there side pockets. Or larger diameter ball bearings.

It is illegal to throw anything on the roadway or at a moving vehicle. I believe in many states it is a felony to throw something at a moving vehicle

Pepper spray or stun gun if the confrontal gets to on foot.

LawEnforcement recommends you ALWAYS back off with as god a description as you can get, live now, report it later. Even trained veeran law enforcement officers would rather avoid this situation, it usually turns out bad. Whether you are the shooter or not.

A camera on your helmet, with a switch on the side. Light that thing off in similar situations, at least you can have some kid of vindication.

This is a great idea, but try to recall information with your brain in case your equipment fails.

Sew a badge on the side of your jacket, it doesnt have to be real. but if you give a flash to a nut job it might deture them. My reasoning is this,If I was gonna do something like that or what others have described and I saw a badge or plastic gun It might shock me enough to think twice.

Impersonation will get you behind bars in a hurry. Most people who are going to start sh*t do not care about a badge, a plastic gun or anything like that, al they care about is messing you up. I once worked with a smaller stature LEO - who was involved in a confrontation downtown, and tho was armed with mace and a gun, was assaulted anyway.
Be aware of your surroundings, (which you should be doing anyway in order to not get run over by someone just not paying attention) Live to ride another day and lets not read about any of us in the newspaper the next day.

[obfuscate]

My pop used to ride with a bunch of guys that carried BBs in there side pockets. Or larger diameter ball bearings. Said it worked if the guy wouldn't back off. I don't agree, but all cages have to do is move the wheel 4 inches and we are road pizza.

My mother used these in a similar situation, but only as a distraction to hit the throttle and escape to the nearest exit. (Late night on an LA freeway, so the exit meant there were likely more people about or a gas station). I don't do it because I'm worried that I'd end up pissing them off even more, uping the ante.

Also, I'm not so sure how that would play out in a more rural area where you couldn't escape to the next exit. I know I don't ride fast enough/well enough to have pulled off zipping away quickly on the twisties I ride. Never really thought about that being a real concern until I read your post, now I'm working on it.

Mazer:
It is illegal to throw something onto the roadway, but personally I'd be willing to risk a fine/charges for that if it meant getting away safely from someone who is clearly threatening your well being.