[image: .com.apple.Foundation.NSItemProvider.mArXvV.png] This week, I want to address a safety topic that at one time or another has impacted all of us, namely drivers with road rage. The 1st article link below details the famous Mandeville Canyon road rage incident that epitomizes this problem. Road rage directed towards cyclists is an unfortunate reality of being on the road. In my own cycling experience, I have witnessed more road rage incidents than I can count. In a substantial portion of those incidents, I have seen cyclists respond angrily to driver provocation, potentially worsening the outcome. Here are some of the road rage offenses that I have witnessed. 1. A driver coming upon a cyclist then blasting a horn. 2. Driver swerving towards the right side to run a cyclist off the road. 3. A driver verbally abusing a cyclist by pulling aside the bike, opening the window, and shouting. 4. Throwing something out the window at cyclists—either liquid or solid objects 5. Loudly accelerating a motorcycle or car while passing a cyclist. I could go on. I wrote an article a few weeks ago about dealing with angry dogs. IMHO, angry drivers are as bad or worse. I have included links below to multiple articles on this subject, most written by lawyers or insurance companies. There is no cookbook way to deal with an angry and aggressive driver, but there are some common elements in the linked articles: 1. Stand down. Take a deep breath and avoid escalation. 2. Stop and get off the road if possible. 3. Don’t look an angry driver in the eye. 4. Don’t respond with angry gestures. 5. Have a low threshold to call 9-1-1 when safe to do so. 6. Attempt to get a license plate #. 7. If you have a Go-Pro or other camera, try to document the abuse. Conspicuous display of a cell phone to video the abuse might give a driver pause. 8. Avoid verbal engagement. Consider trying to record or video any adverse interactions if it is safe to do so. I don’t have all of the answers to how do deal with an out of control driver, but I present this so that you can think about how you might respond and so you can be mentally prepared if (and probably when) you encounter a problem. When it comes to road rage, “discretion is the better part of valor”. Stephen [image: 75.jpeg] Narrow road is a zone of conflict <https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-09-me-bike9-story.html> latimes.com <https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-09-me-bike9-story.html> <https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-09-me-bike9-story.html> https://www.bikelegalfirm.com/bicycles-and-road-rage https://simplebikeinsurance.com/cyclists-road-rage-guide/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/fitness/safe-biking-vs-angry-drivers-how-to... https://www.bicycling.com/news/a20007720/how-to-handle-an-angry-driver/?cid=... magazine - bicyclingmag_FBPAGE_Bicycling__ https://bayareabicyclelaw.com/how-to-deal-with-an-angry-driver-when-youre-on... https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/cyclists-how-to-avoid-road-rage/ https://www.bikemn.org/mn-bicycling-handbook/dealing-with-road-rage/ https://www.npr.org/2009/12/02/120457877/road-rage-case-highlights-cyclist-v... https://illuminationsmedical.com/road-rage-toward-cyclists-how-to-stay-safe/ https://www.becauseyouwanttowin.com/road-rage-and-cyclists-dealing-with-aggr... https://bayareabicyclelaw.com/street-sense-road-rage-and-cyclists/ Stephen Levinson
