How would you have handled this?

[Cybertruck 1974]

Simple call 911 and report it.

They wont respond to a thumbs down or someone following you. Or even report it. Have to do a bit more than that. This interaction is a waste of time to them. Just move on, ignore or exit, restart. I tend to smile and just drive my truck to and from. ???????????

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[Cybertruck 1974]

My approach to all bullies - just start laughing.

It's funny how the Hate gets confused when they see me laughing. It's like huh? Wait, you're supposed to yell back.??

 

[Korben Dallas]

I had a similiar, but opposite ‘interaction’ with a driver in front of me last week.

I was in chill & FSD modes in the right lane on a 3-lane freeway and noticed that the driver in front of me had his hand out the window & was giving me a thinks up! I followed him for 3-4 miles & was returning the gesture with a double-thumbs up thru the windshield, but I’m not sure if he saw me or not.

I also had an old guy using crutches say ‘love your Cybertruck’ as I was waiting for him to exit a crosswalk.

Nothing negative that I’ve seen for a while now.

 

[Willinak]

Simple call 911 and report it.

YES, that’s what he should have done. Police. don’t take kindly to road hassling. BTW, be obvious that you’re talking to someone on the phone, and look like you’re describing the car to whoever you’re talking to.

 

[Cyberham]

Hi community. Like most of you, I've had my truck now for over a year and love it. I've come to terms that we'll always get positive and negative reacts but the negative is starting to take a toll. I always tell my sons 'you have to have thick skin driving something so new and radical,' and for the most part, I'm unfazed. However, I did start to lose my cool when this asshat (Road Island Lic: 1RQ 881) following me for over an hour from NH to MA would speed up to give me the 'thumbs down,' fall back, then do it again, a dozen+ times. He also kept getting really close to my passenger side (while doing 75mph) while my 6 yr old was in the back. Not safe or cool. Now I realize it's just the thumbs down sign (over and over!) but i just wanted to do something drastic. Ideas that popped in my head were: i wish i had a bunch of water balloons stacked in the side of my door, chuck a coffee at him, etc... but instead, I just had to keep on drive and take his stupidity. If you have an good thoughts(other than call the police), throw them my way b/c this is going to keep happening and would love to be prepared next time - or I can just be an adult and take the high road (like I did).

For 20 years I've often thought about keeping a couple eggs in the car at hand until they get nice and nasty for situations that may arise

 

[Jimo]

Hi community. Like most of you, I've had my truck now for over a year and love it. I've come to terms that we'll always get positive and negative reacts but the negative is starting to take a toll. I always tell my sons 'you have to have thick skin driving something so new and radical,' and for the most part, I'm unfazed. However, I did start to lose my cool when this asshat (Road Island Lic: 1RQ 881) following me for over an hour from NH to MA would speed up to give me the 'thumbs down,' fall back, then do it again, a dozen+ times. He also kept getting really close to my passenger side (while doing 75mph) while my 6 yr old was in the back. Not safe or cool. Now I realize it's just the thumbs down sign (over and over!) but i just wanted to do something drastic. Ideas that popped in my head were: i wish i had a bunch of water balloons stacked in the side of my door, chuck a coffee at him, etc... but instead, I just had to keep on drive and take his stupidity. If you have an good thoughts(other than call the police), throw them my way b/c this is going to keep happening and would love to be prepared next time - or I can just be an adult and take the high road (like I did).

Don't acknowledge his existence! He'll go away.

 

[CyberZephyr]

Bruh, does he really think he's the one winning when he's going miles out of his way to do a hand signal XD (surprised it's not a bird!)

 

[That Beast Mode]

For 20 years I've often thought about keeping a couple eggs in the car at hand until they get nice and nasty for situations that may arise

If you accidentally broke one of those inside the car you would regret your life decisions.

 

[WILLK]

I had a 2007 Toyota Rav 4. Nice vehicle but I don't think I would still want to be driving an 18 year old vehicle. He must be jealous. To do what he did seems like he is unhinged. Best to steer clear.

 

[Beetlebug62]

In the 3 ½ months I've had my CT, i've gotten 7 middle fingers from women: 6 were older women in Subarus and one was a younger woman in a Honda. Generally, I don't pay any attention. I've also gotten 6 thumbs up from older guys in pickup trucks. I always return the thumbs up. I'm due one more thumbs up.

 

[REM]

I always tell my sons 'you have to have thick skin driving something so new and radical,' and for the most part, I'm unfazed.

This is absolutely the correct attitude and approach to teach your sons, so bravo!

However, I did start to lose my cool when this asshat (Road Island Lic: 1RQ 881) following me for over an hour from NH to MA would speed up to give me the 'thumbs down,' fall back, then do it again, a dozen+ times.

Following someone like this is considered stalking and harassment; since he did it with his multi-ton vehicle at 75+ mph, it could easily translate to a felony.

He also kept getting really close to my passenger side (while doing 75mph) while my 6 yr old was in the back.

And this is the part where he is now definitively using his vehicle as a weapon (and you need to take immediate action).

Now I realize it's just the thumbs down sign (over and over!) but i just wanted to do something drastic. Ideas that popped in my head were: i wish i had a bunch of water balloons stacked in the side of my door, chuck a coffee at him, etc...

This will not end well the vast majority of the time. People like this are already unhinged, and will only respond with more violent escalation. Any claim of self defense can be questioned or deflated if you were to respond with something like this.

Here is what I would do; hopefully it's not too spicy for this forum:

When you notice someone being stupid, just engage FSD, smile and wave, and move on. Have your passengers all smile and wave too. This disarms the majority of people as they feel very stupid since you are completely unbothered.

However. If someone uses their vehicle to intimidate and follow you, the first thing you do is call 911, tell the dispatcher you are driving down the highway and someone is using their vehicle to intimidate and threaten you; specifically tell the dispatcher that they have been following and nearly sideswiping you. Give them a full description of the vehicle, driver, and any passengers, and hopefully license plate.

Save your dashcam footage.

Merge all the way to the far right lane, and slow down significantly but not enough to become a danger to the traffic flow around you. If they are still tailing you to, then notify the 911 dispatch that you are in fear of your life at this point, and they need to send a unit to your location immediately because things are about to get dynamic.

Reroute your nav to the nearest police station and inform the dispatch of where you are headed.

If they are still following you, then try to hold out until you reach the station or can be linked up with a patrol unit.

If the dispatcher can't give you an ETA on a unit coming to your location to assist, then I suggest judicious usage of a firearm to get the threat off of you. At some point, people need to start facing real consequences for threatening you and your family.

Never brandish a firearm. If you have to pull it, use it. BUT. Exhaust all reasonable means to prevent having to do that in the first place. It seems the general public have become comfortable with casually threatening random people with death or grevious bodily harm ...

And this type of stuff need to absolutely come to a screeching halt.

At an absolute minimum, you need to file a police report, and swear out a warrant for the arrest of the driver and request that he is charged with communicating terroristic threats and unlawful intimidation with a motor vehicle.

 

[REM]

They wont respond to a thumbs down or someone following you. Or even report it. Have to do a bit more than that. This interaction is a waste of time to them. Just move on, ignore or exit, restart. I tend to smile and just drive my truck to and from. ???????????

This is why it's extremely important to articulate the situation correctly to the dispatcher by say stuff like:

"I have my kids in the car, and this guy keeps trying swerve in my land and sideswipe me".

It need to be very clear that they are a serious and imminent threat of serious bodily harm or death. You absolutely wouldn't tell the dispatcher "Yeah, this guy keeps giving me the thumbs down, so I wanted to report him".

No. The dude is threatening him and his family with a 4,000+ pound missile filled with explosive gasoline. Acting like this on the highway is a death threat, and people need to start taking this more seriously.

 

[REM]

For 20 years I've often thought about keeping a couple eggs in the car at hand until they get nice and nasty for situations that may arise

Don't do this. The perps are already irrational and dangerous. this type of reaction will get you shot or worse.

 

[smg]

You should obviously take a loss on your vehicle and trade it in for a Toyota.

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