Two weeks ago approaching a 90-degree bend on a quiet side street I saw a car coming from the left. I checked my mirror and saw a car coming up behind me. As happens quite often it looked like all three of us would pass at the same time, and at a point where the shoulder turns to broken pavement. I went to take the lane as I do in situations like this, but both the car behind me, and the oncoming car quickly accelerated to beat each other to the pinch point and avoid it.

I pulled over and stopped on the shoulder, the car behind me drifted right and dropped his wheels off the pavement and got too close for comfort.

A few blocks later I pulled up next to him at a long light. His female passenger had her window down and they looked at me.

"You got a little close to me back there," I said half jokingly, proud that I kept my cool and did not raise my voice.

The driver exploded and yelled, "get off the f-in road a-hole" that visibly frightened his female passenger.

The fact that I stayed calm and he lost his cool in a way that upset his friend (or wife) felt better longer than me just venting.