On Sunday evening, Paul and I were driving home from Cape May and we were on the PA Turnpike. Just a couple miles after I got on, I found myself driving behind a teal mini van. The van was fluctuating it's speed... going anywhere between 60-70 mph. It was really annoying. We had over 90 miles to go on the turnpike and I didn't want to have to pay super close attention to the car in front of me. I just wanted to cruise along at like 72 mph. (Speed limit was 70.)
When I tried to pass on the left, the minivan sped up. I hate when people do that! I only looked at the car out of the corner of my eye. (I didn't want the driver to know I was looking.) There was a woman driving (could have been anywhere between 30-45 years old) and a flag hung on the rear view mirror. It had stripes and I remember the colors red, green, white, and yellow. (I know that doesn't make sense. There were only 3 stripes. One of those colors I made up...) There was a passenger, but I didn't get a good look.
I was able to pass the minivan and go on my merry way, but about 5 minutes later, she sped up and passed me. For a minute or so, she sped ahead of me, but then she started fluctuating her speed again. I was REALLY pissed. I had done so much driving the past couple days, I just wanted to get HOME.
I was able to pass the minivan and go on my merry way, but about 5 minutes later, she sped up and passed me. For a minute or so, she sped ahead of me, but then she started fluctuating her speed again. I was REALLY pissed. I had done so much driving the past couple days, I just wanted to get HOME.
I passed her again and I got pretty far ahead. Other cars passed her too. There was a lot of space and a lot of cars between the teal minivan and us. We couldn't even see her anymore, so we thought that was the end of it.
But then there was a straightaway... and she freaking FLOORED IT and went like 85 past several cars, caught up to us, and when she decided to merge in front of us, she CUT US OFF, and it was the kind of cut off where I had to break so that she wouldn't hit us! I slammed on my horn to warn her of the danger!
"WE NEED TO REPORT HER AS AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER," I told Paul. The van then sped up and I couldn't get her license plate... and at this point we were scared to get close to her!
Paul didn't want to call 911 until we had a license plate. But 10 min later she almost caused an accident up ahead by cutting someone else off. It was a REALLY CLOSE CALL. I saw the car slam on it's brakes. I really thought we were going to witness a bad accident.
At this point I thought we had to call whether we had a license plate number. Paul didn't want to because he didn't think there was anything the police could do without a plate. We had a little quarrel about it. Luckily, at that point the minivan was so far ahead and we didn't see her again. But I was convinced at some point we would come upon an accident involving her!
Do you think that woman was doing it on purpose or was there something wrong with her and she didn't realize what she was doing?
Would you have reported the driver without a license plate number available?
What is the protocol to report aggressive drivers? We called 911 before when a pick up truck purposefully cut us off and almost killed us on 83, but there weren't any officers around so they couldn't do anything. We had a plate number that time.
Would you have reported the driver without a license plate number available?
What is the protocol to report aggressive drivers? We called 911 before when a pick up truck purposefully cut us off and almost killed us on 83, but there weren't any officers around so they couldn't do anything. We had a plate number that time.
I don't know what the protocol is in that situation. When we were driving back from vacation last weekend we were on route 15 passed Liverpool/Port trevorton area at after midnight and there was a truck not necessarily speeding but switching lanes abruptly and then a few times he was driving right in the middle. We passed him as to get away from him but I was seriously concerned that he would harm other drivers on the road.
ReplyDeleteDriving in the middle, that is crazy! Was it a pick up truck or like a TRUCK?
DeletePolice are never around when you need them. I learned to drive in Boston, and lived in Dallas for 8 years, so I've witnessed my fair share of crazy/stupid. But I've seen worse things here in Colorado. It's amazing.
ReplyDeleteOMG BOSTON! I had an anxiety attack driving in Boston and a couple weeks late got a ticket in the mail from MASSDOT lol. I am never EVER driving in Boston again. Ever. I'll take Amtrak.
DeleteI have no idea what you do in that situation. I've seen some really crazy s%*$ on the roads lately. People going straight through a red light (sitting there stopped, then just going); doing the same only turning LEFT; and one guy passed me on the right (legal in NY) but he was in the right turn lane -- then passed someone further up on the left -- but on the oncoming traffic side!
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing none of this caused any accidents.
It is crazy. I know there are LOTS of car accidents, but I am surprised there aren't more.
DeleteThat sounds like she was having trouble with her car... or doesn't know how to drive! how crazy!! I'm glad you are both safe, one never knows what is going to happen on the road!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we are safe too!
DeleteIf you're on the news, I hope it's because you gave a stupid driver a piece of your mind. That is so irresponsible for someone to honk at you like that.
ReplyDelete