Last month, Don Lock, a 79 year old cyclist in England was involved in a collision with a car. Details are sparse but allegedly road rage ensued and Mr Lock was stabbed to death.
Sickening. The Argus covers the story “Don Lock is Cycling Through the Pearly Gates:”
Difficult to believe someone could be that callous to a vulnerable cyclist and an elderly and defenseless man.
It’s hard to control your emotions when your life has been put in danger by some thoughtless action by a driver. But what good does it do you, or your family, if you survive the vehicle incident only to lose your life in the aftermath of emotions?
It’s a good reminder (driven home repeatedly by my self-defense instructor), that there are bad people that don’t give a damn and will kill you without a second thought, and that walking away from a confrontation, and getting back home to your family safely, is a win.
Keep your options open, deescalate and escape, because confrontations on the road rarely end well.
I’ve had at least three with drivers. One went well but I had been chasing the car for about 2 miles and had time to calm down and think it through, and when I pulled up alongside the car in the parking lot, it was two young kids. I stayed calm and kept it brief.
Another time I confronted the passenger of a car who had given me the finger as they passed on a mountain road on which I was doing hill repeats. I rode up to them in the parking lot at the top. It was two guys, punks in trench coats. I was tired and in my cleats. Had the guy I confronted decided to fight I probably would have been history. And if I had got the upper hand, his buddy would surely have jumped me.
Back then I had no idea what I was doing, I was just plain angry… usually a good sign that it’s time to walk away.
But let’s assume for a moment a scenario when everything turns out in your favor, you get into a confrontation, he’s not armed, has no friends, you go at it and you kick his butt.
What then? What do you gain? So you won the physical fight, that’s the easy part, it usually only lasts a few seconds. Then comes the legal fight, and that too has its cost, financial, psychological, it could take a months or years to resolve. It could even cost you your freedom.
It’s at least worth thinking about now, because when tempers flare on the road, it’s usually too late. As it was for Mr Lock.
Not what I planned to write about today but there you go. Had a road rage incident? Tell me about it.
Let’s try to keep brain engaged and fists holstered.
Stay safe.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Davo Smith