I was driving to Calgary today, (Central Alberta) and everything was about normal, the odd bobohead speeding, tailgating, cutting off when no one ahead of him, but not too bad.
I got just north of Red Deer, and saw a Semi coming off a ramp on to the highway, followed by a little gold chevy. I moved to the left lane, giving him ample room. I was doing 110 kph, the speed limit. I saw the little gold car coming in the right lane, where he cut in between the semi and I. I was about 10' from his rear tires, no chance in hell the guy in the car didnt see me. All of a sudden, the guy in the car cut in between the semi and me, IN MY LANE. I slammed the brakes, had nowhere to go, had to take the ditch or wipe out the car. If it had happened 1000 yards back, I would have hit a concrete pillar, a few yards ahead I would have went off a bridge. In any case, dangerous as hell.
I was able to regain control, the dually f350 is a wonderful truck, started blinking the driving lights and 4 ways, and got the guy to pull over. I pulled in front of him, stopped him on the right side and bailed out of the truck. Since there was absolutely no room to get out and talk to him on the driver side, I went to the passenger side, and noticed the sunroof was wide open.
Bear in mind, I am 6'6, 340, short 'almost' cop cut hair, black biker shirt on and veins throbbing everywhere. This kid looked nervous.
When I walked up to the car, my beltline was at the sunroof. He had to look up a long way. I leaned into the sunroof, and gave him the riot act. He almost immediately went to tears, damn little 20 yr old kid, but held his ground and didnt get out, didnt get lippy, didnt even acknowledge that he almost killed me.
I told him that I was 25 year fire fighter / Rescue, and that I had pulled dead people from vehicles for situations just like this. I saw a little smirk come over his face, and lost it a little, told him that one f***ing word and I would pull him out of the car by his lips. He then teared up again, started apologizing, saying he was going to be more careful, would never put anyone in this situation again, blah blah blah. I think he pissed himself, he was looking very young, very scared.
I was trying to decide if I should pull him out by his eyelids and give him a little bit of a scare like he put me through, or just flip the car over, but decided to stay out of jail.
I didn't have to pull a gun, didnt need a baseball bat, but guys, how much of this can a guy take? Had I been out of the cage today and on the Busa when the little chit did this, my wife would likely have been writing this.
Next week I am doing a 3000 km trip on the Busa. I am happy I practise defensive driving daily, but wow talk about getting the heart pounding.
Where some of you guys live, would there be a chance of guns being pulled? That's one of my biggest fears.
I got just north of Red Deer, and saw a Semi coming off a ramp on to the highway, followed by a little gold chevy. I moved to the left lane, giving him ample room. I was doing 110 kph, the speed limit. I saw the little gold car coming in the right lane, where he cut in between the semi and I. I was about 10' from his rear tires, no chance in hell the guy in the car didnt see me. All of a sudden, the guy in the car cut in between the semi and me, IN MY LANE. I slammed the brakes, had nowhere to go, had to take the ditch or wipe out the car. If it had happened 1000 yards back, I would have hit a concrete pillar, a few yards ahead I would have went off a bridge. In any case, dangerous as hell.
I was able to regain control, the dually f350 is a wonderful truck, started blinking the driving lights and 4 ways, and got the guy to pull over. I pulled in front of him, stopped him on the right side and bailed out of the truck. Since there was absolutely no room to get out and talk to him on the driver side, I went to the passenger side, and noticed the sunroof was wide open.
Bear in mind, I am 6'6, 340, short 'almost' cop cut hair, black biker shirt on and veins throbbing everywhere. This kid looked nervous.
When I walked up to the car, my beltline was at the sunroof. He had to look up a long way. I leaned into the sunroof, and gave him the riot act. He almost immediately went to tears, damn little 20 yr old kid, but held his ground and didnt get out, didnt get lippy, didnt even acknowledge that he almost killed me.
I told him that I was 25 year fire fighter / Rescue, and that I had pulled dead people from vehicles for situations just like this. I saw a little smirk come over his face, and lost it a little, told him that one f***ing word and I would pull him out of the car by his lips. He then teared up again, started apologizing, saying he was going to be more careful, would never put anyone in this situation again, blah blah blah. I think he pissed himself, he was looking very young, very scared.
I was trying to decide if I should pull him out by his eyelids and give him a little bit of a scare like he put me through, or just flip the car over, but decided to stay out of jail.
I didn't have to pull a gun, didnt need a baseball bat, but guys, how much of this can a guy take? Had I been out of the cage today and on the Busa when the little chit did this, my wife would likely have been writing this.
Next week I am doing a 3000 km trip on the Busa. I am happy I practise defensive driving daily, but wow talk about getting the heart pounding.
Where some of you guys live, would there be a chance of guns being pulled? That's one of my biggest fears.