Road rage can be a killer

A few months ago, during a "holiday sale," my wife and I paid a visit to a large shopping mall in Grapevine. After about 20 minutes of traveling along the numerous lanes of the huge parking lot, I finally saw a vehicle backing out of a most coveted space only a short distance from one of the entrances.

I pulled up to a position near the soon-to-be-vacant spot and put on my blinker to indicate my intentions. Suddenly, about 50 feet away, a pickup truck whipped around the corner, heading in the direction of the space. I made my turn and parked in the highly valued slice of real estate before my competitor arrived. Just as I was turning off my engine, I heard a car door slam and saw the reflection of the truck driver in my rearview mirror. Cautioning my wife to stay in the car, I jumped out to meet my antagonist as he made his way toward my door.

When he saw me get out of the car to face him, he backed up slightly and began pointing his finger in a menacing manner. He told me that I cut him off to get the space, saying that he saw my blinker and was simply going to pass by. Now, it was obvious to me that he wouldn't have raced toward that space unless he intended to occupy it. In addition, I had not cut him off since he hadn't even reached the spot until after I had parked. It was a simple case of someone trying to bully another because of frustration at spending so much time hunting for a space.

In addition to his verbal barrage, a woman in the pickup; presumably his wife, began hurling insults as well. Realizing that I was dealing with unreasonable people, I turned back toward my car to avoid any further confrontation. When my tormentor saw what may have appeared to be timidity on my part, he became more hostile, advancing toward me again in a threatening fashion. At that point I turned on him with an angry scowl and fingers rolled into fists. Like most bullies, he backed up when he saw what appeared to be a formidable foe, and told me if I hit him he'd have me locked up. I explained that I wasn't the one who jumped out of my vehicle like a madman, making threatening gestures. During all of this, the woman with him continued to assail me with obscene language and distorted gargoyle-like faces.

My wife got out of the car and urged me to walk away. Standing my ground, I asked him if there was anything else he wanted. He backed up toward his truck, sneering all the way. I waited for them to pass, as his charming female companion displayed her vertical middle finger at me until they were out of sight. I've reflected on that incident a few times since. Was it merely a random act of hostility or was it an example of the lack of civility that has become pandemic in our country? Suppose I was a diminutive sort that looked like a pushover? Would I have a broken nose, missing teeth, or worse? All because I parked in a space that someone else wanted? Suppose my wife had been alone and ran into a character like that? It's no wonder that so many people are taking self-defense courses.

I shudder to think what would have happened if that guy had a gun in his hand when he exited his truck. Would homicide be the result? Something strange and evil happens to some people when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle. They become mentally unbalanced and fail to consider the consequences of their actions. Since you can never know what kind of maniac you might encounter when you take your car out for a spin, wouldn't it be nice to know you have protection if needed? It's not difficult to imagine a situation similar to the one I had in which our lives may have been at stake, and our only hope would be a gun. Even the most timid and friendly among us need to be able to protect ourselves. Not only from muggers and other thugs, but from the otherwise normal citizen who, in a moment of madness over something as trivial as a parking space, becomes a fire breathing dragon, bent on destroying a perceived enemy.

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