Iin: fear of being followed while driving and car getting vandalized?

I am a 21 year old woman who lives in a relatively uncrowded area, and I have been driving for about 6 years. For the past few months or so, I have had a fear that I will anger someone while driving somehow and they will follow me. Especially when I am close to my destination, to the point where I'm paranoid they will follow me there and either try to remain unseen until the moment they threaten or hurt me when I get out of my car, or wait and vandalize my car when it's gone.

It gets to the point where I don't even use my horn when someone else drives erratically, badly cuts me off, backs up without looking, drives into my lane, etc. I don’t tailgate people even if they are going 10 mph under, but still follow a bit behind hoping they get an indication I want them to drive faster. Tonight I did just that and became very concerned that I thought I saw that same car following me down my neighborhood’s private dirt road.

My concerns about this probably started around a year ago, where some middle aged man deliberately and badly cut me off in a grocery store parking lot when he was supposed to stop at the end of his lane (it even said “STOP” in big white letters at the end of this lane) before crossing over my lane and onto the road I was on. I had to slam on my brakes and used my horn, and less than 2 minutes later he followed me to where I parked, repeatedly told me to “get a life” and called me “childish” and a “bitch.” He probably followed me there because he saw my university license plate and that I was a petite woman and that he would easily pose a threat to me.

If you have similar stories, please feel free to share them. I want to know it is normal to feel this way. This is really bothering me while I’m driving.

Voting Results
76% Normal
Based on 34 votes (26 yes)
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Comments ( 4 )
  • megadriver

    Well, i'm a man, so i'm not worried about anyone following me. I had a simillar run in with a prick who didn't stop and yeld. He followed me and tried to tell me off, but I told him he was a retarded old fuck! :D

    I am however scared of vandalism. I love my car and take great pride in making her shine and ride like a dream! So yeah, I do worry about having my car vandalised. Allready had vandals break the star on the hood once. Moved to a new parking cause of it! Even bought a car cover to cover my car completely. If I see the vandal that broke my star, I'd break his legs and then his head!

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  • mrcoy

    Some say it's better being wise than right.

    You were harassed, you could legitimately contact the police.

    It's OK to be careful, getting vandalized is not that common though, at least where I live.

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  • Captain_Kegstand

    Sadly, we do live in a world where people get angry enough to follow others home. Keep your doors locked, and if you even see someone following you, let them follow you right to the police station parking lot!

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  • dappled

    I have a story about something that happened to me, which I'm not going to tell you because you really don't need to hear it. Moral, though: keep your doors locked.

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