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From: mom@sftri.UUCP (Mark Modig)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: ignorance and high beams
Message-ID: <400@sftri.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 12-Apr-85 13:40:05 EST
Article-I.D.: sftri.400
Posted: Fri Apr 12 13:40:05 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 14-Apr-85 04:13:29 EST
References: <109@pyuxh.UUCP> <1458@sunybcs.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit N.J.
Lines: 63

> 
> 	I have found that there are some real twits that are out on the
> 	roads these days.  I came up with one this past weekend, where 
> 	this guy just didn't want to let anyone go by.  I usually like
> 	to considerate to people and let them first know that I am
> 	behind them by flashing my highbeams one or twice and then backing
> 	off of there tail a bit. (Because I know there are times where
> 	some jerk just comes charging right into your rear end with there
> 	high beams on and I sure don't appreciate)

How am I supposed to tell the difference between you and a jerk? 
Your behavior and the behavior of a "jerk" as you describe it above
seem nearly identical.

> 	But in my case this weekend after the guy did let me by no sooner
> 	as I passed him he pulled up on my tail with his high beams on.
> 	Now I don't know about most people but I sure know that this really
> 	p-sses me off especially after he also cut off my girlfriend 
> 	following me.  At this point I found out what works best is 
> 	to lock up your brakes and pulling into the next lane letting this
> 	person get by and then showing them how p-ssed off you really are!!!

Gee, you mean you don't like to have people pull up behind you and
flash their brights on you, either???  My, my.  I guess you have some
inalienable right to flash others, but they can't do the same to you?
> 
> 		Just LET ME PASS!!!! 
> 		This is all I ask...
> 
When some nut comes barelling along the highway behind me (which is
usual, since I normally try to keep the car around 50 on freeways 
for various reasons, all of which seem worthwhile to me), flashing
the brights is unnecessary most of the time.  I can see the car coming
perfectly well, thank you, and I am more than happy to get out of the
way, but ONLY when I consider it safe to move aside to let those
behind me pass.  I'll be damned if I am going to get out of the way
that very second just to please some yahoo who can't wait a few
extra seconds.  This is where most of my problems come up with people
who want to pass, since I am a fairly careful driver and insist upon
a few extra seconds to, for example, reach a larger gap in the next
lane over rather than pull into one that I consider marginal.  One
other factor that people behind me flashing their brights and
tailgating me seem to ignore is that I feel much safer and better
able to make judgements about is safe and what is not without some
dolt climbing all over my back end and flashing his brights so I
can't see what is going on.  In cases like these, my first priority
becomes getting rid of the tailgater, starting with a few light taps
on the brakes and working up to a slow, gradual braking (slamming on
the brakes and risking a collision is not a consideration here,
since my objective is to try to protect myself, not get revenge; if
the other driver wants to take advantage of my now drastically
reduced speed to pull around me and go speeding off into the night
on a swell of insulting words and gestures, fine. I'm rid of them.)

All I really have to say is this:

All you really want to do is pass?  Fine. Then, first, don't waste
time flashing your brights at me and pulling up on my rear.  And,
second, just wait a few seconds.  All I really want to do is get out
of the way.. SAFELY.

Mark Modig
ihnp4!sftri!mom