Round Rock Road Rage Incident Widely Panned By Residents

ROUND ROCK, TX — This is no way to start the week.

A Monday morning display of road rage off Interstate 35 in Round Rock shows hot not to engage as a motorist, earning widespread disdain on social media. The incident reportedly occurred just across the Fuddruckers hamburger joint at 2111 N. Interstate 35.

A witness to the spectacle recorded the dispute on her cell phone before posting it on the "People of Round Rock" neighborhood Facebook page with the disapproving headline: "Whose husbands are these at 8:30 .a.m. on I-35 blocking traffic?" wrote Kelli W.

The caption on her personal page was less sparing: "These fools...," she wrote.

What's seen on the video snippet are two seemingly middle-aged men squaring off each other on the highway shoulder. It's not much of a fight but mostly posturing with a series of attempted slaps and some restrained half-kicks. The whole affair appears spontaneous rather than genuine fight preceded with rigorous training, as evidenced by the sandals worn by one of the combatants — not the ideal footwear for pugilistic battle.

The display wasn't exactly on par with the Ali-Frazier match-up dubbed "Thrilla in Manila" or the historic Foreman-Ali bout "The Rumble in the Jungle." Rather, it seemed more like competing, full-body dry heaves or tandem spasmodic fits. After mostly squaring off without connecting (or even attempting, for that matter) any punches and some kicking motions, the would-be gladiators returned to their vehicles uninjured.

It wasn't much of a fight. More amusing was the narration of the woman who filmed the spectacle: "This is live in action, Round Rock, for real," she says between fits of laughter. "For real. These two men acting a fool on the side of 35, y'all. I ain't making this up. This is too much for me."

By Monday evening, the video had been viewed by more than 250,000 times. Yet viewers were decidedly underwhelmed, yet amused, by the fighting moves, with the collective judge's scorecard yielding a resounding "Really?!?!" Among some of the reactions on the comments thread:

• "Making a scene and endangering other people!!!" wrote Kelli M. "Wtf is wrong with people these days!!!"
• "I wouldn’t claim either one as my husband," observed Elizabeth D.
• "Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting," Robin S. wrote in palpable mockery.
• "They don't even know how to fight dum-dums," Mary C. offered.
• "Would rather exchange girlie kicks than insurance info," Mickey W. noted.

Increasingly congested roads in fast-growing Round Rock set the stage for potential road rage. Stimuli for the phenomenon run the gamut: Being cut off; not being allowed to pass; receiving the finger; getting stuck behind a slow driver; tailgating.

But succumbing to road rage is never a good idea. On its website, the insurance company Geico offers helpful tips to avoid road rage in Round Rock and elsewhere:

• Move over if someone is tailgating you.
• Use an “I’m sorry” gesture (e.g. wave) to attempt to defuse the situation.
• Plan ahead; allow time for delays during your journey.
• Consider whether you’ve done something to annoy the other driver and adjust your driving accordingly.
• Listen to music you enjoy.
• Use your horn sparingly.
• Avoid eye contact with angry drivers and give them plenty of room.

Police have yet to weigh in on Monday's spectacle, but they would doubtless also disapprove. So you see, at the end of the day the only thing accomplished by engaging in motorist anger is widespread community ridicule and disdain. Don't do it.

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