Team-BHP - Road Rage - Understanding, Avoidance and De-escalating Situation

I think every one is so adamant on assuming that the IAF officer is at fault. I don’t think any defence officer wants to make a show out of his profession or training or look masterful by wearing sunglasses or uniform. And to say that the IAF officer should be court martialed or demoted is to base a punishment on assumption. All those baying for punishment and making comments based on assumptions should do what the bangalore police or IAF police did. Collect all the evidence and base statements on facts. And the armchair pundit commentary can continue there on

Keeping aside the title of armchair pundit for condemning the behaviour of WC, more information is now available about the incident. As I had guessed earlier, it was the vehicle in which the IAF guy was travelling as a passenger that kissed the bike. When the biker stopped to question the car driver, who was allegedly the wife of IAF WC, the whole drama started with the gentleman from IAF thrashing and threatening Vikas under the pretext of his official position. Later, when Vikas tried to call for help, the WC snatched his phone and bike key apart from scuffling the neck of Vikas. An eyewitness who probably liked the thrashing, claims he saw the WC punching Vikas at least 20-30 times in his face; he says in Hindi, woh itna mast mar raha tha, mast maar raha tha.":sadface
An extract from the statement of WC, Isn't this a buildup statement influenced by movies? Isiko gamand kehte hein, ye kisika madat nahi karta!

I think we are making a lot of assumptions regarding the IAF officer road rage case. From what the CCTV footages show, the biker doesn't seem to be all that innocent either. Honestly if someone abused the women in one's family, and physically assault with a key, any man would throw hands, irrespective of their designation or position.

Its best to keep cool and avoid any altercation with the low lives on road, which seems to have become very very common nowadays.
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Quote:

Originally Posted by watsonjay (Post 5961709)

I don’t think any defence officer wants to make a show out of his profession or training or look masterful by wearing sunglasses or uniform.

I would have agreed with you on this but unfortunately I have stayed around these guys for 4+ years in AWHO. These guys will not lose on any opportunity to show who is the boss and how they’re above the civilians of the country. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinharishi (Post 5961828)

These guys will not lose on any opportunity to show who is the boss and how they’re above the civilians of the country. :)

My mother, once a resident of Agara village, now called HSR Layout, still recalls from her teen days the crimes committed by undisciplined army guys of Iblur firing range on Sarjapura Road. So nobody makes an opinion just to be labeled as an armchair pundit. She hardly follows such news on Tv channels and is neither aware of our Team BHP forum for giving biased opinions.

Seems like we are having a thread rage here. Its time to pause for some time and see where the investigation goes.

I have seen people use language on both sides. To project victimhood and to boss around. But most of the time language itself doesn't start the rage. Its road rage later leading to it. Even here, people always say 'he was talking in kannada'. What else would they be doing ? Its not right to mention language for everything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zabardastindian (Post 5961898)

What is the best way to deal with such incidents if you happen to be in one? Stay calm, stay inside the car with doors locked, and call 100 if you feel threatened?

Also apologize regardless of who's fault it is. Unfortunately, that is a very difficult thing to do when the ego kicks in. Now a days, it is not just two wheelers, it is almost all levels of road users who tend to get into an argument. Blame it on the traffic, the gap between classes or personal matters and it is like a bomb waiting to explode.

The other day, a car took a right turn in front of me at a signal and cut it too close and scrapped my front left fender in the process and went ahead. I noticed the driver was on the phone and at an empty stretch, over took and made him stop. I got out of the car annoyed that he didn't even bother about it and then noticed he was a senior. I kept my cool and told him what had happened which like I guessed he hadn't realized at all. He apologized couple of times which made me cool down although it had left a good enough scar on my car.
At the end, dents and scratches on the car can be removed sooner or later, but not a fist fight experience which becomes headlines. A lot of things can go wrong in the heat of the moment.

I am generally a calm driver as far as an altercation on the road is concerned (occasionally showing disappointment to other drivers without abusing them).

After watching a few videos of road rage in recent times, I promised myself to stay ultra-calm in such situations. At least not fuel the fire. I found a very wise post on social media about road rage. It was about thinking about your family and your purpose in life before getting into a fight with goons on the road and how getting into a fight with people with fragile egos won't benefit you in any way. I will absolutely remember this one every time I get into such a situation.

I recall an incident that happened to me in October 2024. The incident spot was the adjoining service road of the Mysore expressway near Bidadi. It was raining heavily, and the service road was flooded. I was passing through the waterlogged road and did not notice that water splashed into a Wagon R, which was behind me. He was driving with the windows open. He tried to follow me, block me, and instigate me to a fight. Sensing the situation, I quickly moved the vehicle into the service road of Rajarajeshwari Engineering College, then got back to the main road and made a U-turn towards the expressway. He could not match my speed or maneuverability with his Wagon R, so he kept showing his finger outside the window. Now, am I at fault if water splashes inside his car? Was it not his fault to keep the windows open during rain and driving on a waterlogged road? The very next day, I installed a dashcam in my XUV700, so where is the language factor?

Don't consider road to be a racing track.
Don't compete on road (compete in life building a business or helping someone).
If someone is rude or rowdy, be humble and calm (at least on face).
Think and always remember your family and kids while you drive or are getting into a rage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by self_driven (Post 5961303)

Goons in a black Scorpio had an altercation with a group of bikers which soon took a violent turn. They were taken into custody but only got a slap on the wrist probably due to political connections. It happened in Gurugram.

I will hold my judgement till we have proper evidence of the events that ultimately led to this brawl. Biker groups in NCR are infamous for pissing off even innocent road users with their actions, though that does not seem to be the case here.

https://youtu.be/2MZLbSw9GYM?feature=shared

Watched the video — it’s honestly disturbing. It takes some serious provocation or outright hooliganism for someone to react with such violent intent. This looks less like road rage and more like a deliberate attempt to harm, which is deeply unsettling.

Sadly, Gurgaon has had its fair share of such incidents. Reminds me of the lawlessness that was more common a decade ago — looks like some of that mindset still lingers in pockets.

Hope the authorities take strict action. This kind of behavior has no place on the road or anywhere else.

My daily commute involves 25kms riding at night while returning from work. This is around Bangalore outskirts (jigani to Kasavanahalli) where the roads are bad & broken and there are no street lights as well.

My problem is with the on-coming vehicles who keep their headlight on High-beam and there are plenty of them on the road. Even when I flash in protest, they do not dip the light. Some of these modern LED headlights and additional lights are very very bright and blinding. This is very irritating and hazardous, especailly as a two wheeler rider around suburban roads.

Almost everyday I loose my cool. I end up shouting and showing hand to some of the vehicles who have that little extra bright light on high-beam.
I know I might get into trouble one of these days as someone may not take my protest lightly, but its really difficult to control. Why can't people drive sensibly and within the rules.

Radio FM channels keep playing stupid prank calls in loop but do not run campaigns teaching drivers that it is illegal to use highbeam in city limits and such. Our RTOs issuing drivnig licenses do not have theoritical system of teaching basics rules, thumb rules, right of way, dos and donts and etiquettes of riding/driving. All they do is make one identify a few road signs for namesake.

A lot of incidents of road-rage would come down if the problem was nipped in the bud.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasirkaka (Post 5962018)

I know I might get into trouble one of these days as someone may not take my protest lightly, but its really difficult to control. Why can't people drive sensibly and within the rules.

Why can't you control your rage instead?

I completely understand your anger as I am also a victim of these idiots who use hi-beams even on well lit roads.

But these inconsiderate fools have no sense.
You on the other hand already acknowledge that you may get in trouble.

It is not worth it.

Please do not misunderstand my post. I am just in my 'big brother' mode with this answer.