Road rage de-escalation.

[critter592]

So, I'm driving my family mini-van with my 3 yo in his car seat pulling out of Meijer on 331, Mishawaka. Considered a "good" area. The crossing traffic has gotten a red light and is coming to a stop. I'm making a right. On coming traffic has not gotten the green and I pull out. As I round the corner I notice a car so close on my tail all I can see are the occupants in my rear view mirror very infatically flipping me the bird. I have zero idea why and not sure where they came from whether from behind out of the parking lot or from oncoming at the intersection. But they are continuous in their efforts to inform me I have most aggregiously offended them in some manner. Heading north (btw it's raining and the roads are slick) and coming to the crest of a hill the trailing car with the mad people darts out to the left into oncoming traffic (crossing the double yellow line as they go). I have no idea what their problem is still and as soon as I see they are not directly behind me I moderately step on the brakes to make them go by faster. Kinda the old change direction evasive manuever. Again, as they shoot by on the wrong side of the road they are flipping me off hands outside of the windows racing down the road in front of me now. I do not chase after as I can't control what anyone else does and it's not my place to correct them like their momma should have. I notice they make the turn at the next intersection which is the route I have to take. I continue to drive slow for wet conditions and just to see them put some distance in front of me. We soon get to the entrance to my neighborhood and I pull right to enter. They are past but I see them put on the brake lights. I think I have just made a fatal error. I figured they were going to circle back to continue to explain to me how I have offended them in some grand manner. But, they never come back and I get my groceries and 3 yo in the house.

Unfortunately, I do not have my LTCH yet. Ugh. It kind of unnerved me after the fact when I had the chance to what if the replay more. And all cases ended with me wishing I had my LTCH in hand so I could carry. Not to chase them down. But rather "what if" they ran me into a ditch and I was stuck with them coming over to my van. Or, they drive up as I'm getting my son out of the van and they exit their car to continue to berate me. All scenarios I attempt to exit the situation until cornered.

It just amazes me how people in our society can think that anyone they perceive has wronged them or made a mistake must be subjected to furry and rudeness. If I knew I cut them off I most certainly would have apologized as I did not intend to. WTF is wrong with people these days? The endangered me, my son, and others in on coming traffic with their tantrum.