Flashing Lights

Road rage: a leading cause of accidents

I don’t claim to be the best driver or to have the best road etiquette, but I don’t just go around flashing my lights in other driver’s rear-view mirrors to get them to change lanes or pass them.

So when this happened to me on a trip to Salem a week or so ago, I was a bit angry and needless to say I could’ve flipped on the driver who did this to me. It wouldn’t have been all that terrible, but the wife and son were also in the car with me.

There we were heading North on I-5 in the far left lane traveling 75 in a 65 mph speed zone. Apparently that wasn’t fast enough for this car behind us. They took it upon themselves to get right on my bumper and then frantically flash their brights at me.

At first I thought maybe they needed help so I kind of put on my brakes, but why would they be on my bumper. Then they wouldn’t stop flashing, so I figured they were just in hurry. But I wasn’t about to let them bully me on the road. They had plenty of road to drive on and I was already pushing the speed limit as it was. They could’ve gone around me. But instead they had to flash their brights at me.

I don’t know how flashing your brights in my rear-view mirror is going to get you anywhere any faster; if anything it will cause an accident.

After I wouldn’t move out of their way they must’ve gotten hint, and they switched lanes. Now I suppose I could’ve been the bigger person, but why? I mean I’m not going to allow someone to bully me like that. Plus I wasn’t in too much harm at that point. Now if I had felt threatened then of course I would’ve switched lanes.

When the car switched lanes and sped off I immediately called the Oregon State Troopers. Usually I’m really good at getting the license plate, but this I wasn’t able to get it because the driver drove off too fast for me to see it. All that I was able to see was the color of the car and maybe the make and model, and that was a stretch.

There is no reason that driving should cause anyone to drive like that to get anywhere. Honestly though people leave earlier, plan for traffic delays and respect other drivers.

We have to keep each other safe on the road. Everyone wants to make it home safely.

Blog by Melissa Chandler