For the "left lane is the fast lane" proponents:

[MineralMan]

That rule is true on freeways and other access-controlled highways. It is not true on surface streets in cities. Even if they are four-lane roads with median strips. Here's why:

Such multi-lane surface streets allow left turns all along their length. Sometimes the turns are made at traffic lights, and other times they are made at intersections without traffic lights. Sometimes there are left turn lanes, and sometimes there are not. Both lanes are the same. If you'll be making a left turn ahead, a wise driver will change to the left lane ahead of the need to turn. Cars are also turning right, and drivers who will be turning right move to the right lane ahead of the intersection where they will turn.

On any two-lane per side street or highway where there are traffic lights and opportunities to turn left, the left lane is not the "fast lane." It is merely one of the lanes available. Drivers can use either lane freely, and smart drivers change to the lane from which they will turn well ahead of the need to turn.

In the recent instance where a woman used a cell-phone camera to record a tail-gating road rager who subsequently crashed his car, the incident occurred on Hwy 41 in Tampa. That highway is one of those described above. You can see it in Google Maps satellite view by searching for Hwy 41, Tampa. It allows left turns at most intersections, whether controlled by a traffic light or not. Most cities have several such numbered highways that go through the city. On none of those highways is the left late the "fast lane." It is simply one of the lanes traffic can use, and many drivers turn from those lanes onto intersecting streets.

"Fast Lanes" only exist on access-controlled highways where exit ramps are the means to turn off onto intersecting roads. On uncontrolled roads, with surface level intersections, there is no "fast lane," "passing lane," or any other such designation. Drivers use the lane that enables them to drive where they want to go.

On roads with three lanes on each side, the center lane is the through traffic lane, not the right or left lane. On those roads, drivers who will be continuing on that road or highway should drive in the center lane. The left lane is for people who will be turning left, and the right lane is for people who will be turning right. But on roads and highways with two lanes of traffic that are not access-controlled, both lanes are the same, and nobody should expect to go faster or slower on either lane.

[blueamy66]

1. That wasn't the issue for me. It was the fact that she knew she was pissing him off....

to the point that she was videotaping him.

And the fact that she sped up to not allow him to pass.

And the fact that she could have gotten shot.

It's not about the left lane...it's about common sense and not being a hypocrite or an asshole.

[MineralMan]

2. Well, yes, but that's not what I'm addressing.

Many people appear to believe that on any road, the left lane is the "fast lane." This post is designed to explain why that is not true on highways and roads that are not access controlled.

[blueamy66]

4. I understand that.

But I knew why you posted this.

I'm with you on the "left lane" issue on surface streets.

On the highway....that's a different story.

[Travis_0004]

27. According to the woman who video taped him, he was tailgating for several minutes

That means she drove several miles with him tailgating her. I don't think its too much to ask to pull into the right lane and let him pass, since when he first started tailgating she was probably 4 miles away from where she was making a left turn.

[MineralMan]

40. It's a surface street. There is no fast lane.

It has traffic lights and all that stuff. You're missing my point here.

[qazplm]

47. the problem is

the folks who think they have to be in a left lane because they are making a left turn 5 miles down the road.

I highly doubt many folks get upset at people who go into the left lane to make a turn in a mile or less.

I think everyone gets your point, it's just a rather minor point because the situation(s) you are describing rarely get folks angry.

[MineralMan]

54. It sure got people's backs up in the case of that Florida

woman who videotaped the road rage moron, though.

[kcr]

61. I was going to say, apparently they do.

None of the left lane ragers seem to give a damn this wasn't an expressway. They still blame her.

[MADem]

65. I don't blame her--she was going along at a good clip, and how could she pull over

to the other lane with the Incredible Hulk glued to her bumper?

Here's the video again--she's disabled comments and posted her thoughts on all the attention she's gotten at YT--I think she sounds like a rather interesting human being:

Published on Mar 26, 2014
*********AAAAAAAAND ANOTHER EDIT********
Sorry to delete the previous text, but YouTube only gives me so much room for the info.

So apparently there are those that didn't understand the whole concept of "disabled commenting" and instead took to messaging me their hate and vitriol. So you have forced me to disable messaging as well.

To those that were commenting "Chin up, you did the right thing" I thank you. Your comments, while I might not have had time to respond to all, were read. To those in the media wanting interviews, I'm sure you'll be able to find another way to reach me.

To those internet trolls who have nothing better to do with their day than go all over the interwebs and spread hate... do me a favor? Look up some Bob Marley music on YouTube, because you could use a little enlightenment and a better mood.

Today has been interesting to say the least. I've done more talking in the past two days than I've done in my collective life it seems. It's been scary at times, and shocking. I never intended for this to go this viral. I'm a very private person and enjoy my peace and quiet with my dog, my fish, and my ukulele. I've never shaken so much from nerves and honestly I'm not sleeping well over this... partly because Good Morning America woke me up at 6 this morning wanting permission to use my video on their show. Apparently this has made all of the media rounds. The Today Show, GMA, Jimmy Kimmel, and it's blown up worldwide. But hey, if Jimmy Fallon wants a personal interview... I'll be there!

While I'm completely humbled at how fast the internet has taken and run with this, it's quite scary. The comments, while most being funny and witty, some are hateful, vengeful, and heartbreaking. I would NEVER wish death upon anyone. I can't comprehend what would make a person say that to someone. It's nearly brought me to tears. I'm a very sensitive soul.

Some people have commented and told me I should do the ads on here to make money. I have no clue how to do that, and honestly as much as I could use the money, I just want this to end. It was not my intention for this to get so big. It was a funny video, I thought it would get maybe a few thousand views at best, but this is just crazy. Of all the important things going on around the world, civil wars erupting in countries all around the globe, and the fact that it's almost 2015 and we still have no hoverboard or flying cars (Bob Zemeckis, one of my favorite directors... you lied to us!), I find it hilarious that these videos go so viral so fast. It's overwhelming. Especially since I'm kind of "anti-pop culture". It's really weird. Next thing I know I'll be seeing a T-Shirt saying "Haha, that's what you get!" Please... don't. Or do... as long as I get a cut

I would like to thank some of the folks I spoke with today via the phone. Inside Edition was amazing to interview with, both respectful and courteous. Todd Schnitt from the Schnitt Show, of which I'm a huge fan of, was AMAZING! Thank you so much. Cowhead (yes that's his name) from the Cowhead Show, thank you so much for being so cool. To all the local Tampa affiliates and everyone I mentioned above that respected my privacy I appreciate that. Unfortunately there are those in the media that have released my full name even after I asked them not to, hiding behind a "public record" excuse, you know who you are, that wasn't cool. And on top of that, they put my location too. Gee, I've already mentioned the people wishing death upon me, you just put my life at risk! Thanks for that.

But I digress. Hopefully in a few days this will run its course and I can get back to being little old me. As the Fresh Prince sang, "My life got flipped-turned upside down".

PS to all the Redditors out there... while I am a member of Reddit, the people that are posting my video on there... aren't me. So don't hate on the OP, they're just trying to steal some Karma, and honestly, they can have it.

[blueamy66]

84. She's a moron.

nt

[MADem]

87. You speak of her as if you know her. I think she comes off as a nice person--the CBS interview

puts her in a very good light as well.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this point as well.

[blueamy66]

88. Yes we will.

She's playing dumb AGAIN.

[MADem]

90. Wow.

I can't figure out why you're so viscerally angry at this woman. It's a bit puzzling, to be honest.

[kcr]

85. Thanks for posting that.

She does sound interesting. I like her. I hope she can get back to her peaceful life with her dog, her fish and her ukulele.

[tabasco]

95. It doesn't mean jack shit what lane she was in

Tailgating creates a danger to others. People who drive like the asshole in the truck are the problem.

[KittyWampus]

9. Thanks, blueamy. I do my best to drive safely. It's important to me especially

since I ended up in the ICU from a bad car accident years ago.

We all have momentary distractions- but videotaping?

[blueamy66]

16. I do too. And I choose my battles.

This lady was lucky she came out of this experience in one piece.

I think that all cell phone use, whether it be talking, texting or videotaping, while driving, should be against the law.

I cannot tell you how many times I've seen women with babies in their backseats, on the phone, make stupid moves in traffic. Is a phone call that important? Really? Enough to distract you and possibly put your child's life in danger?

I'm glad that you are okay.

[kcr]

28. I don't necessarily fault her for that

Had she not videotaped, he could have turned around and claimed she forced him off the road. Now she has evidence. The fact she pointed the phone at her dashboard is a clue. She was showing her own actions as evidence. Her thinking could have been she needed evidence or protection. She didn't laugh until he crashed. I think it was a reaction of relief. She'd escaped that jackass's actions.

[MADem]

69. That's exactly my perception as well. Isn't it funny how different people can see the same video

and have a very different reaction to it?

I didn't think she was lane squatting or anything of that nature--she was passing cars in the other lane, even as that truck guy was glued to her ass.

[MADem]

60. Isn't that odd? I saw it very differently.

I saw someone who video'd because she was being INTIMIDATED.

I saw some guy in a huge truck who was riding that woman's bumper so she couldn't see around him to get over.

I saw someone--the woman with the videophone-- doing fifty on the road. I'm pretty sure that was the limit.

Sure, she could have gotten shot, but as we know, in Florida, if you go down to the convenience store to buy an ice tea and some Skittles, you can get shot on your way walking home while talking on the phone to your girlfriend, too.

I think the one lacking common sense was the guy who just couldn't back off that bumper, who road-raged and bird-flipped and tried to intimidate, and that was proven, pretty much, when he wiped out in rather spectacular fashion.

[blueamy66]

68. We'll have to disagree.

She couldn't see around him? No. Well, I guess if you're focused on videotaping rather than DRIVING, you may have an issue seeing traffic.

Being intimidated? She should have changed lanes.

She was purposely being an ass herself.

The guy tailgating was a dick...no doubt. But she KNEW what she was doing. And she lacked common sense as well.

And the fact that one can get shot walking to the Circle K in America is not a really great argument....actually, it's pretty damn sad.

[MADem]

70. Yes, I guess we will have to do that.

My POV was kind of reinforced after the fact by her comments on the YT video (see elsewhere in this thread). She sounds like a nice person, not a jerk.

I agree with you that it's sad that one can get shot after buying a snack at the convenience store, or while sitting eating a burger, or in a mall, or at school...or wherever...

[raccoon]

99. ITA. I think the smart thing to do would've been for her to signal right and get

in the right lane and let him go on down the road.

Sounds like to me she was looking for a fight. Yeah, the guy shouldn't have been tailgating her. But notice how gleeful she sounded when she laughed.

What if the guy had been armed?

[Mojo Electro]

102. I agree.

She was so happy her little performance worked out so well. Her "that's what you GET!" comment and about how it was "all on tape!!" at the end of the video speaks volumes.

I'm not going to automatically assume she didn't have some part in that altercation that happened before the camera was on.

Yeah the guy in the truck was a dickhole, but so are plenty of people on the road. It's only our own behavior that we control. Hearing how she squealed with glee after watching a serious car wreck and knowing she had it on video says a lot about the type of person she is.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. That's interesting, although I really thought you were

starting a political metaphor when I saw the title.

I expected an essay on trying to achieve longterm electoral majorities through building a liberal farm team vs simply trying to win a majority through simply letting ever redder 'Dems' represent the party in red districts.

But you actually meant 'left' as in the direction, not the political axis

[MineralMan]

5. Not every post is a political post, I guess.

Perhaps this metaphor could be extended to politics, but I'm not sure how. Let me think about that one.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Whatever the issue, you always find a way to malign the far left

[treestar]

8. OMG

[KittyWampus]

11. DUZY!

[Recursion]

13. Bwah

[MineralMan]

14. I think I missed an opportunity here!

[Bjorn Against]

23. And why didn't he say anything about the righties?

It must be because he is a rightie himself.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

42. This comment must be referring to something I missed. I don't get it. nt

[MineralMan]

58. Some people on DU seem to think I'm a right-winger.

I'm not, but that meme still pops up. The poster was making a joke by referring to that meme. It was funny, too.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

59. I see. Thank you, MM. nt

[MADem]

71. In this case....the far left lane!!!!

[treestar]

7. Good post

There are many businesses along multi-lane highways, and chances to turn left. It is absurd to think people have to stay to the right until when? The last minute?

Though I like NJ where it has no left turns, you go off to the right and make a circle and then go straight onto the road you wanted to go to the left on. Pretty neat.

[antiquie]

10. So I'm wrong, again.

I thought it was an analogy.

[Recursion]

12. Ah, lanes. I miss those.

Welcome to my commute...

[seveneyes]

21. What a mess

I might deal with that for a couple million/year, and then retire and move. Otherwise, I can't think of any other compelling reason to be in it.

[KittyWampus]

39. GASP! I couldn't do that.

[Recursion]

45. It drives me crazy

Sometimes I just shout "Damn it! This is a nation of laws!!!" and stay in a lane and stop at stoplights. It's my little passive-aggressive revenge.

[MineralMan]

62. You stop at stoplights. How retro of you.

Recently, I came up on an intersection with a signal. I was at least 100 feet from the intersection when the light changed to yellow, so I slowed and stopped at the intersection to wait for the green light. 35 mph speed limit. Apparently, that did not amuse the person behind me, who stopped about six inches from my rear bumper and laid on the horn through the entire light sequence. I waved politely at him.

The light was red before I reached the intersection. If I had continued, it would have changed to red just as I got there. I don't run red lights. Tickets are very expensive here for running red lights. I'm a rare individual, though, which is why I don't go immediately when the light changes. I look, because it's likely that some moron will be trying to beat the light and run the red.

[MADem]

73. I know it's not--but that is what Tehran looks like some days.

Not enough lanes? Make 'em! Lines for three lanes but room for four, five if you count the sidewalk? Go for it!




Do you have people selling food, drink, tissues, lighters, cigarettes and other sundries on the side of the road to frustrated drivers as well?

[Recursion]

74. Oh, yeah, just walking through the traffic, too

The big thing actually seems to be those sunshades you can stick to your windows with little suction cups.

[MADem]

79. Ah yes, and they do come in handy, too, especially when the sun is at just the right

angle and you've got someone next to a window, suffering!!

[Recursion]

80. I keep reading about fatal traffic accidents in Mumbai

And I can never figure out how anyone, anywhere, drives fast enough to do that.

[MADem]

82. HA! I know exactly what you mean!!!!

Have you ever fantasized about leaving your vehicle and just walking over the roofs of the cars?



There are parts of Italy that have the same vibe at certain times of day. Rome during rush hour, indeed, much of the day, Naples, too--and trying to get to any of the resort-ish areas during the fine weather....it's like a parking lot!

[cthulu2016]

15. Yes... and no

you overlook the universality of the rule that slow traffic keep right. Though the left lane may not be "the fast lane" the right lane is definitely the slow lane, so it becomes sort of a word game at that point.

In all instances, a vehicle driving slower than the "flow of traffic" should be in the right lane except when preparing to turn left.

I disagree with your rigid analysis, but agree with the general statement that on a 4-lane road with a lot of opportunities to turn left where there are no left turn lanes nobody should expect the left lane to be "the fast lane"

[MineralMan]

18. I travel daily on such a road.

The fast lane is the right lane. There are no left turn lanes, so people turning left at intersections must wait for oncoming traffic. People turning right do not. If you don't want to be delayed by waiting for people to turn, you drive in the right lane. It is the fast lane, for a simple physical reason.

Where there are left turn lanes, then the left lane is usually the faster lane for through traffic. It all depends on the road you are on. However wise drivers will still change to the left lane well before they need to turn, since it might be impossible to make the lane change later. On busy surface streets in cities, there is no fast lane. There are only lanes.

[cthulu2016]

44. You're talking practice, I'm talking theory

I do not question whether the practice is as you describe. I am sure it is.

I am merely noting that the practice you describe is contrary to the over-arching rules that one is never supposed to pass another moving vehicle on the right, and that slow traffic is always supposed to keep right.

Those are both the law, and rules of the road so deep as to be road common law. But in a situation such as you describe the practice will be different.

I drive on many roads such as you describe where the left lane has the potential of stopping at any moment when a car stops to turn left (often without signaling).

And I sometimes drive in the right lane, trading off the right-lane buses versus the left turners.

But I am always aware that when I pass *moving* vehicles on the right that I am doing something technically wrong, which I am.

[MineralMan]

57. If traffic in the left lane is slowed or stopped while someone is turning,

there's no law against passing on the right. That's why the right lane is the through lane on such roads. I absolutely never drive in the left lane on such roads, unless I plan to turn left soon. Even with the buses, it's faster. This is a busy city arterial road, and the left lane is constantly stopping and starting. Left turners have to wait until a break in the oncoming traffic, and those breaks can take a while to develop.

It's fine to drive past on the right, legally, and sensibly. The rule doesn't apply at all on such roads, and that's exactly the kind of road that woman was driving on. Go look at the satellite view of it. I'd drive in the right lane on that road if I was going far.

[L0oniX]

17. This will only piss off the road rage worshippers.

[MineralMan]

19. Well, they can just give me the finger as they pass me,

I guess.

[lumberjack_jeff]

46. The people who tailgate and flip off those who annoy them...

are malevolent, illiterate, stupid, self-absorbed, narcissistic pig-fucking trolls; undeserving of love, affection or respect. I cackle at the karmic misfortune that their anger and hate brings upon themselves. Only those who believe that the world must bend to their perceived need for the unwashed masses make way for their majestic passage would do such a thing.

I take some comfort in understanding the daily frustration that these urban cowboys and girls suffer, and imagining the embolism they will doubtless have one day soon.

If you want to go faster than the traffic, give the person in front 10 car lengths to speed up or slow down to move to the right lane. Either they, or the person in the other lane will adjust speed to open traffic passage. You're not entitled for them to do it on your schedule.

I almost never see this kind of asshole-ism in my rural area, except on weekends when the pig fuckers find a need to escape the rat race... and bring it here.

[blueamy66]

51. Wow.

Methinks that you have serious issues.

pig fuckers? pig fucking trolls? undeserving of love, affection or respect?

Are you drunk? Or do you need to seek psychological help?

Wow, just wow!

[REP]

72. Anyone who defends tailgaters needs serious help

Tailgaters risk the lives of everyone around them for no fucking reason. It's an extremely dangerous and stupid thing to do. Anyone who tailgates should have their license revoked and their car impounded.

[blueamy66]

86. And anyone that users those terms to describe

tailgaters needs serious help.

[lumberjack_jeff]

92. Meh. I do know that because I'm not a road raging asshole, the help I WON'T need is a tow truck. nt

[REP]

96. Stop riding bumpers and you won't get called those any more

Tailgaters suuuuuuuuuuuck so hard! They're so incredibly stupid. Goat sucking sacks of shit, every one of them.

[alphafemale]

20. She is obviously guilty of leaving the scene of an accident.

That is at the very least.

And the witch like cackling. You do not laugh at a traffic accident.

[blueamy66]

22. What if the guy was seriously injured?

Do you think she would have cared?

[alphafemale]

25. She gives not a damn. I bet she did the "I'm not touching you" game

I loathe passive aggressive people.

I was WITHIN the law.

I can prevent this guy from getting past me.

I can ESCALATE!

I can film it!

He might be dead.

HA!HA!HA!HA!

I drive away!

[spanone]

35. she didn't drive away. you should watch the video and read the article again.

Last edited Sat Mar 29, 2014, 01:58 PM - Edit history (1)

she gave a report to the police.

HE fled the scene.

[lumberjack_jeff]

24. The people uninvolved in one-car accidents are entitled to leave.

But in this case, she didn't. She waited for the police to arrive and gave her statement (and video).

"Witch like cackling"? If I suspected his injuries were not immediately life threatening, I would have delivered a full-on Nelson laugh at about 6" distance. Let's see how much road-rage he can summon standing toe to toe without the benefit of his 6000# truck.

Being as much of a tool as he is should hurt.

[blueamy66]

26. She didn't stay for any other reason than to gloat yet again. And to turn over her glorious video.

Why laugh at someone who crashes their vehicle?

So he was tailgating. She could have diffused the entire situation by merely moving to the right lane.

So the punishment for tailgating is crashing one's vehicle and possibly getting seriously injured?

[lumberjack_jeff]

29. Good.

Once his insurance agent gets hold of the video, he'll only be able to afford to drive a hyundai.

Tailgaters all deserve this fate, and road-ragers even more so.

[blueamy66]

31. That's not how insurance works.

nt

[blueamy66]

37. So her insurance rates should go through the roof as well, no?

As she is a "road rager".

[lumberjack_jeff]

53. She's not a road rager. She's laughing at a fool and his busted truck. n/t

[blueamy66]

56. No, as the video will show...

she purposely sped up so not to allow the guy behind her to pass...you saw it...admit it.....she is a "road rager" too

[blueamy66]

83. No, she played the game.

She purposely sped up so he couldn't pass.
A typical dick move.

You know it. Quit sugarcoating her actions.

[glowing]

66. If her going 50mph, 5 above the actual speed limit, was still passing people on the right,

why should she have to move over. Why does she have to push herself over, slow down, get out of her turning lane because of a jack ass who wants to go 20mph above the speed limit. Obviously, the only time that he had available to to a run around her, was in the last part of the taping (about 45 seconds in), so he had to wait a few cars before he whipped around her, who was passing people her own self... Sorry, I drive among these assholes everyday. Why should I have to move to another lane to compensate for someone who wants to go even faster than I am (and if I move over, I'm forced to go slower?) I normally go 5-10mph above the speed limit anyway. If there are 2 cars abreast and I can't get around, I have to wait. If I want to go around someone in a left hand travel lane and can do so by utilizing the right lane, that's what I do. I don't expect that when I'm speeding, that someone who is doing the posted speed limit or going slightly above should have to accommodate my needs to go faster... I should have planned better and gotten out of the house faster or what not.

I don't see why anyone thinks that she ought to be making special lane changes for him (who is going to go 70mph on a 45mph road).. he's quite literally the dangerous one on these roads.

[REP]

76. Well ...

Let's just say I'm really really glad some of these people don't drive on the same roads I do.

Tailgaters are dangerous drivers. I can only imagine one reason why anyone would defend such a stupid and reckless thing.

[REP]

75. At a minimum. He should lose his license too.

He obviously can't drive. I hope his car was totaled and his rates triple.

[alphafemale]

33. I despise these left lane "hall monitors" of the road.

How hard is it to get out of someone's way.

No she had to provoke.

"I'm not touching you"

finger an inch from the older siblings face

"I'm not touching you"
"I'm not touching you"
"I'm not touching you"
"I'm not touching you"
"I'm not touching you"

For 15 straight minutes.

[lumberjack_jeff]

34. "15 straight minutes"?

Link please.

[alphafemale]

36. You've never been taunted by an underling?

"I'm not touching you"

Torture in the back seat.

When you could back slap the runt to last week.

But don't.

[lumberjack_jeff]

48. "underling"? Is this how you see other motorists?

BTW, I asked for a link re:"15 minutes". Can you provide one?

[alphafemale]

64. The 15 minutes was obviously a reference to younger sibling torture.

That's the 15 minutes. Obviously. Back off of this.

[MineralMan]

41. The real-time video is less than three minutes long.

Beginning to end. What 15 minutes?

[REP]

77. You're describing the bumper riding tailgater

Tailgaters are bullies. Why defend that behavior?

[kcr]

30. No she didn't. You can see her pulling over in the video after the crash n/t

[joeglow3]

49. Do you always form opinions without knowing the facts?

[MADem]

78. She didn't leave, though. HE did.

She pulled over and waited for police. The guy in the TRUCK took off, but the video and her pic of his tag enabled the police to find him.

Her account:

“This pathetic excuse for a human being tailgated me for about three minutes. After about a minute, and me shaking my head, I pulled out my phone and started recording,” she posted on YouTube. “I couldn’t move over because there were trucks in the right lane, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to speed on a rainy day with the roads being as slick as they were. I was turning left in about a half-mile when this happened. Now bear in mind, that this guy had already passed a truck in a left turn lane, was tailgating and driving recklessly on a wet slick road, wasn’t paying attention, and all in all being an ignorant ass. In the full video which I will post later, you will be able to see that not once was I mouthing off, I never brake checked him, and in fact until I watched the video after the accident I didn’t even know he shot a bird at me because I wasn’t looking at him at all, I was paying attention to the road while holding the phone up with my right hand. I’ve recorded circumstances like this before, catching idiots doing stupid things, but never ever had this happen.”

“That’s what you get, all on video buddy,” you can hear her say while laughing in the video.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested the driver, Jeffrey White, 33, of Tampa and charged him with leaving the scene of a crash.
“He kept spinning his wheels but couldn’t get out,” Florida Driver said.
She added that one of White’s friends came with a tow chain to get him out and that he fled before law enforcement officers arrived.
The video shows he took out a light pole owned by the Florida Department of Transportation and caused extensive damage to the grassy median.
As he drove off, Florida Driver said she drove up and took a picture of his tag.
She gave that picture to police and they arrested him Wednesday....

[glowing]

32. That would have been Nebraska Ave or FL ave if it had merged together..

That's fairly close to the Univ, I'm assuming. These roads are not true highways like 75, 275 or I-4, they are regular travel lanes, the reason for having 2 to 4 lanes is to handle the volume along these intersections.. And with FL, left turns/ U-turns are a normal, everyday, I hate, traffic issue to deal with.

I'm not sure why exactly she was filming, other than she was quite certain that the man was liable to hit her and she would want proof of his recklessness to present to insurance co's and the police. Luckily he only injured his own dumb self. I would have been much worse on that camera tape... I'd have been swearing and becoming road enraged a bit myself, however, I'm not sure taping the incident would have been my first thought (unless someone else was in the car to record the incident so I could drive at full attn.

[liberal N proud]

43. She was driving distracted which is dangerous if not illegal

Why was she recording this vehicle remains for the speculators. But since the driver of the pickup was so pissed, I can only speculate that there must have been a reason. It may very well have been sitting in the left lane but as all of her defenders here claim it was OK to do, there must have been some stupid encounter prior to the recording. One that no one here seems to want to consider. It could have been something miles prior to this video and may or may not have been intentional.

But many here are enjoying and laughing at a very dangerous incident that took two to create.

Distracted driving is dangerous to to the driver, passengers and everyone in the vicinity. Holding a cellphone up with one hand while driving is distracted and just because she didn't crash, doesn't mean her distraction didn't contribute to the incident.

Laughing at others problems is not a liberal value.

[MADem]

89. No, she wasn't. In fact, she didn't even see the guy flip her off because she kept her eyes on the

road. Frankly, I don't think gluing oneself to a person's bumper when they're already going slightly over the limit on a two lane road, or flipping them the bird, is a "liberal value" -- it's the act of a testosterone-fueled ass.

From the CBS LINK:

In the full video which I will post later, you will be able to see that not once was I mouthing off, I never brake checked him, and in fact until I watched the video after the accident I didn’t even know he shot a bird at me because I wasn’t looking at him at all, I was paying attention to the road while holding the phone up with my right hand. I’ve recorded circumstances like this before, catching idiots doing stupid things, but never ever had this happen.”

[liberal N proud]

101. You know for a fact thet she kept her eyes on the road?

Laughable!

Driving is a full time task requiring undivided attention. That cup of coffee you have in one hand and the cell phone in the other is keeping you from fully concentrating on the road. Telling me otherwise is hogwash and tells me that you are not a 100% safe driver.

When I drive, I don't adjust the radio, temperature or anything else I have to remove my hands from the wheel. I am not a very good conversationalist while driving either. In the millions of miles I have driven in the last 40 years, the only traffic incident I was involved in was when I was rear ended by a woman texting.

[justhanginon]

103. Nor do I tailgate or drive one handed while flipping off

someone and trying to stare them down instead of looking at the road. Nor do I wreck my vehicle by continuing to act stupid. Sounds like a little distracted driving to me!

[liberal N proud]

104. I have not defended the testorone enraged moron

But so many are smacking the cackling woman a hero when it most likely is far from a one sided affair. She deserved a ticket as well as the victim of her cackle and obvious distraction.

[Nay]

38. Thank you. Honestly, I thought I was talking to myself in that other post.

I came away from that post with a couple of conclusions:

1) There are a lot of DUers who, when they don't know something and are corrected, keep on with their ignorance. Whether this is due to being overly emotional about something ('left lane hogs') or being semi-literate, I don't know. But it's disturbing.

2) There are a disturbing number of DUers who never even addressed the actions of the guy in the truck, but called that woman all sorts of names for videoing a few minutes of a dangerous asshole who was tailgating and threatening her. That. is. bizarre. I have to conclude that large numbers of people identified with the asshole in the truck.

Well, it's why I don't go out much anymore. I prefer to keep my distance from the average human being when I can. They seem irrational and unable to comprehend simple English or control themselves emotionally.

[MineralMan]

50. Here's my favorite thing about surface streets:

I drive almost daily for about four miles on a two lane per side surface street. For most of its length, the speed limit is 40 or 45 MPH, since it's not in a residential area. The lights are time-controlled, except at rush hour, when they're traffic-controlled. I use the right lane on this road, since there are so many left-turners and since most of my turns are right turns. I drive the speed limit, because that will let me hit the lights when they are green, because of the time-controlled nature of the lights.

Here's the funniest thing: Despite the speed limit, a lot of drivers just have to drive 55 MPH on this road in the 40 and 45 MPH sections. Since the right lane normally moves faster, due to the left turners and no left turn lanes, the faster drivers tend to rush up behind me, swerve into the left lane, and then back into the right lane after passing me. At 55 MPH, when they get to the light, it's red. So, I roll up on them at the light. They've gained nothing by traveling faster than the limit, but risk getting a speeding ticket, since the local police department uses that road as a revenue enhancer by busting speeders.

By insisting on driving faster than the speed limit, they lose the benefit of the timed traffic signals, risk getting a speeding ticket, and get down the road in exactly the same time as I do by driving right at the speed limit. What have they gained? I'll never understand why they do that. It makes no practical sense at all.

People are sometimes really stupid.

[Whiskeytide]

52. Two idiots meet on the roadway...

... and proceed to engage in idiotic behavior while operating 3,000 lb equipment at highway speeds, minor catastrophe ensues exposing them both to be the idiots they are ....

Analysis concluded. What's for lunch?

BTW, you're right about the left lane on an unrestricted roadway, MM. That's just common sense that seems to be less common today. Drive defensively, behave courteously, and don't pick your nose at stop lights. Dad always had pretty good advice.

[blueamy66]

55. AMEN.

nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

105. Stop lights are the perfect place for that activity.

Distracted driving, and all.......

[flvegan]

63. I have driven that very stretch of road quite often.

It's a particular mix of good folks and idiots coming together at the abutting lines of north Tampa in Hillsborough County and Lutz in Pasco County. In Tampa, it's a mash-up of commercial establishments and strip malls, new and used car lots, grocery stores and bars in Tampa along Nebraska and Florida Avenue heading north (west and northwest of USF). They suddenly merge together just north of a (rather nice) Publix where it starts to be a bit more laid back and open.

You can probably imagine where things all go wrong. Wait, you don't have to. There's video.

As for the left lane thing, I'm a huge proponent of the "left lane is the passing/fast lane" when it comes to an interstate. Not on these roads. Tampa has a great number of roads just like this: Dale Mabry, Hillsborough, Fowler, Busch, Kennedy (just to name a scattered few). They all have middle lanes or middle medians for turning on the left. None of this should be foreign to anyone who drives in the area. That said, road rage is an almost common, daily emotion experienced by many drivers at any time. It is truly a horrible place to be a conscious person piloting a motor vehicle.

Just extrapolating from a local view, affirming that you are indeed correct in your statements.

[MineralMan]

67. We have lots of similar roads here in the Twin Cities, MN.

It's how you get around the cities. I often skip the Interstates and use those arterial streets. Generally, I get where I'm going within five minutes of the same time, but with a lot less stress. A lot of people don't understand that, which keeps those arterial streets relatively quiet most of the time.

But, there are morons on surface streets, just as there are on freeways. You just have to drive sensibly and know where you're going. I just don't let them bother me, mostly. Lots of people are impatient, angry, and frustrated. When they drive, they feel invincible and often let aggression take over. It's awfully common. So, I drive safely, legally, and give them space. But, I often catch up with them at every traffic signal. They just don't get it. It takes x amount of time to travel a certain distance on surface streets. No amount of speeding changes that in most cases. You just have to stop at the signal, anyhow.

[MADem]

81. Appreciate your local perspective. I've been down that way but not

that far down in FL for several years now--and that is what I recall as well.

[randr]

91. This incident should be a lesson for all

What if the raged driver had killed himself or someone else?
What if he had killed the people in the car making the video?
Both very possible outcomes of this incident, and entirely preventable.
If someone is displaying dangerous behavior, especially on the road, get out of their way. Do not encourage them.
The life you save may be your own.

[MineralMan]

93. Best possible advice.

When someone is enraged, it's always best to put as much distance between that person and yourself as possible. Nothing is ever gained from doing anything else, in most cases.

I have to admit that the poetic justice in that video, though, made me smile, once I realized that the pickup driver wasn't actually hurt badly. His truck? Well, that's a different story.

[lumberjack_jeff]

97. "Do not encourage them"

I always pull to the adjacent lane when someone indicates they want to go faster than the rest of traffic, no matter how much of an asshole they are. It solves my immediate problem, but the guy in the truck then just zooms up to the next car to rage impotently at them.

Road rage isn't really rage at anyone in particular; it's entitlement, narcissism and douchebaggery in general.

Nothing that I do, not impeding them, nor pulling over in deference to their $ocial $uperiority either encourages nor discourages them... They're just inherently assholes.

Placating these stupid arrogant fuckers is not significantly more socially beneficial than calling them out, the problem is that doing so in traffic causes problems for the other people on the road.

I prefer to do it when we coincidentally (or perhaps not entirely coincidentally) both arrive at the same parking lot. In my experience, the guys in the lifted one-ton trucks are sitting on a Sears and Roebuck catalog to see over the dash and are disinclined to continue the conflict when away from its safety.

[DirkGently]

94. Always better to let the idiot be in front.

The end result of that video turned out to be a bit of satisfying karmic justice, but only by luck. The funny bit was that the exact moment Gigantor the Truck Boy lost control and wrecked his vehicle was when he leaned out the window to grin and flip the bird on his way by.

Too cute by half.

A nonchalant flip of the bird, while continuing to look ahead and drive, would have still been needlessly rude, but the leaning and the grinning is what led to ruin. A little less asshole sauce on the top and he would have been fine.

The lucky thing is that Gigantor didn't take out (permanently) an innocent commuter, her, or himself. They were both playing games at that point, as when the videographer sped up to keep him from going by on the right. Of course, I imagine a hearty "brake check" might have been in his pointy little head, but she could have simply let off the gas at any time.

Bottom line is that road games of any kind are an incredibly bad idea. Parsing lane discipline rules is not the point once two people in their cars are screwing around with each other trying to get the "last laugh."

The idea that the law is on your side to the point where you can deliberately try to taunt someone at 50 mph rather misses the point. And trying to stay in front of them is just bad tactics.

If you encounter an idiot on the road, you want them in FRONT OF YOU, where you can see what they're doing, and control the distance between you. And course, here in America, it's a good idea to make the possibility of getting shot at as difficult as possible.

So it worked out to a degree this time, in that the bigger idiot, and him alone, suffered the consequences of this particular encounter. But no one wins "road games." At best you get lucky that you didn't manage to maim or kill anyone, and get another chance to grow up and drive responsibly.

[MineralMan]

98. Yes, and that's what I would have done. I'd have changed

lanes, let the moron go by and let some distance grow between us. The woman in the car didn't do that, and you're right, she was lucky. My post is really aimed at the guy in the truck. He doesn't have any real right to that lane of traffic that is greater than the woman's, and he should have simply backed off or looked for an opportunity to pass her on the right. On surface streets, the lanes are for whomever is in them. To expect that the left lane is for speeding, when people are frequently turning left from that lane, is just stupidity.

But, as you say, it's always best to let morons precede you on the road, with very few exceptions. I was behind a liquid oxygen tank truck on an Interstate near my home. I took the first possible opportunity to merge left and pass that truck and then drove at a speed that put me far ahead of him before resuming my spot in that lane, since I did have an exit coming up in a couple of miles. In that case, being in front of the truck, and as far as possible in front, was the wisest place to be.

[lumberjack_jeff]

100. ... for you, personally.

The problem is that the idiot is always behind someone.

They're not road raging at you, he or she is just a hateful person in general.

I don't think that being in the way influences their attitude and behavior, it just gives them someone to direct their hate and bile at. Getting out of the way doesn't really solve the social problem that the rager represents, it just transfers it elsewhere.

[DirkGently]

106. You can't solve "the social problem"

from your car though. Least of all by egging them on and escalating things. From a personal safety point of view, you want them gone from your vicinity. The dangerously slow person or the hazardous object-spewing vehicle goes behind. The raging tailgater / general idiot; in front.