There’s Not Much Sympathy for the Driver Who Owned Up to Her Road Rage

Neysa Erbland’s article (“Road Rage: A Cautionary Tale,” Very First Person, Aug. 8) appalled me. That she could hurt a living being, all for the sake of a lousy parking place, is disgusting.

From her own account, she committed two felonies: hit-and-run and assault with a deadly weapon. If intent is proven (and her article is a virtual confession), her insurance company is unlikely to protect her. It certainly won’t cover the punitive damages her victim would be entitled to.

Frankly, I hope she does get arrested and at least loses her license. We don’t need such callous, uncaring people driving.

Judy Anderson

Orange

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Erbland’s insensitive flight from an accident scene certainly constitutes a crime. Maybe the authorities would be interested in pursuing a charge of intentional assault with a deadly weapon--in this case her multi-ton sport-utility vehicle. Also, isn’t there a law preventing her from profiting from her crimes? Why would The Times publish and pay the author of such a first-person account of recklessness and indifference?

Ricky Arnold

Culver City

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It took courage for Erbland to make her public confession. So many of us have been driven to act similarly. We’re not proud of what we’ve done, but it serves later as a reminder to show more tolerance and less impatience. Thanks for giving me something to flash on the next time parking paranoia sets in.

Liz Newman

Bell Canyon

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It is rude, thoughtless and pushy SUV drivers like Erbland who are making it unsafe for people to leave their homes. Please figure out a system to let me know what area of town she will be in at any given time, because I will gladly get out of her way.

Lauren Badami

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Erbland’s biggest concerns seemed to be that her victim might sue her for running him over, that he might have had a gun or that a cop might eventually come knocking at her door. And she admits only to “a pang of guilt” that she might have hurt this guy, regardless of his “lack of intelligence, manners or style.” What nerve! By running away from her responsibilities, she shows that she’s the one lacking in those attributes.

Well, at least now the Burbank police know who she is.

Pam Bassuk

Burbank

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Unbelievable! First she ends up in Boyle Heights trying to get to Burbank from somewhere in the San Fernando Valley. Then she commits a hit-and-run.

What she needs now is to buy a Thomas Guide, find the Burbank Police Department and turn herself in.

Russ Chaput

Glendale

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Unless Erbland’s paean to road rage is an ironic fiction about consumer insanity, it can only be a cry for help--ideally to be heard by a police officer, a judge, a DMV official and a psychotherapist.

Ann Cook

Valencia