Was debating on sharing this, but I feel there's still something to be learned from for others.Now, to start off. This is where I accept my shortcomings and the part I played in this.I absolutely abhor left lane hoggers, but especially when that sole person is blocking traffic and creating their own traffic wave.With that in mind, I was on my way back home from a quick expedition/adventure with a friend, and we were traveling back down the highway. We came across a traffic wave, and at the front of it hogging the left lane was a lifted "bro-dozer" pickup truck. Others had flashed their lights at him, but eventually just flew past him on the right with no issue.I finally got up to him, and was sandwiched behind him and a van (unintentionally) blocking me on the left.I flashed my brights at the truck a few times hoping they'd get over. It didn't work, so I kept flashing until finally the van next to me backed off so I could get over and go around. (This is where I accept I played a part in starting the scenario).Once I got into the middle lane, I just went back on my way, but as I glanced into the side view mirror I see the truck throw his brights on and start to pick up speed.At this point I figured they were probably (understandably) pissed at me, but I didn't want anything to do with it. I gunned the engine and ran down the highway trying to put some distance between us so that he'd have some time to cool down and I could get back on my trip.Well, keeping an eye out, I see him dodging through traffic trying to catch up to me. At that point I realized that he wasn't gonna let it go easily, and I needed to drop him fast.I maneuvered through traffic as fast as I could, and then dipped off the next exit onto a busy area. As I was approaching the light/intersection, I look in the rear view and see him just taking the exit. I switched the safety on my rifle to "safe" and chambered a round in it, while also knowing my pistol was in my IWB holster ready to go.We made a quick right hand turn at the light and sped down a little ways, before I killed the lights and turned into a parking lot for a local grocery store.I must have made the turn into the parking lot before he got to the light, cause in the rear view mirror I see him flying down the main road trying to "chase" me down.My buddy and I waited a few minutes in the truck, shaking, before electing to dip out before he realized we lost him and/or figured out where we were.Later, once we were back home and a bit more collected, I called in to the non-emergency line of the city that it happened in and told them what had happened and my side of it. They had an officer call me back and I told him, I was flashing my brights at him, yadda yadda yadda.Ultimately, the lessons learned reinforced some of the important lessons I'd already been taught in life.The best way to avoid a fight if it happens is to not be there. Between being keenly aware of him and his actions, it helped me lose him and helped give me the upper hand to avoid an actual in person confrontation.You're not gonna change lane hoggers, and it does no one any good to antagonize them. I need to be more patient and try not to antagonize them, and simply just pass them when safe to do so.I'm not saying always have a back up gun... but at the gun range the next day the first bullet I fired from my rifle nearly blew up my face thanks to a shell casing splitting... If I had discovered that during the confrontation I would've been more than thankful that I had a backup (my pistol).Quality ammo is key. Another reason my pistol wins over reliability is because the ammo isn't the lowest grade stuff... for my rifle and for self defense purposes, it might be worthwhile to invest in some actual self defense ammo... (It usually stays loaded with FMJ for hogs)Call the cops sooner next time. I was more invested in getting away/avoiding the whole situation, but having my buddy call in the cops could've helped end the situation in a completely different way and possibly sooner... or later than the actual outcome.You don't remember details. When the operator asked me for the details of the other truck involved, all I could remember was lifted truck, big wheels, small tires. Silverado.I couldn't remember the color of it for the life of me, or any other identifying details (such as the license plate).While I wasn't passing him thinking it was going to be a huge issue, perhaps a dashcam would help after the fact with identifying details you can't/don't remember during an encounter.I know I started it. I was fairly aggressive with my light flashing, and really for no gains. I lost more time fleeing him than I would've saved by speeding down the highway.The things I did do right though: Stayed level headed, maintained good situational awareness, attempted to leave/stop the encounter before it began, and successfully hid to stop an alteration from happening. I am proud that I didn't let my own anger/emotions take into play and egg him on more, I realized my fault and did my best to just let it go and move past it...If I could do it again, I probably would've just followed the others who went around him and been on my way, instead of antagonizing someone I don't know who or what they're doing/thinking... via /r/CCW http://ift.tt/2lPGC7M
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