I was driving home from work. A 50 minute drive with about 20 minutes of time on the freeway.

The road was relatively empty so I was in the left lane going about 10 over the posted limit (its legal to do up to 15 over in the left lane in my state) when I come up on a red Toyota camping at the speed limit. I slow to their speed, keep a safe following distance and wait to see if they will speed up. They don't.

Okay, whatever. The middle lane has cleared at this point with the next nearest car being far ahead, same for the space in front of the Toyota in the left lane, So I switch lanes merging into the empty middle lane to resume my speed. I have no intention of cutting off the Toyota or even getting back into the left lane immediately. The road is empty for the next several thousand feet so I'm just cruising the intention of switching over to the left lane as needed to pass the cars ahead.

However as I pass the Toyota it speeds up. Hitting at least 85 or 90 to get behind the nearest car ahead of it. Seeing that we are approaching the cars I merge left again behind the red Toyota to pass. Unphased.

I didn't care if I passed the Toyota or not. I just wanted to maintain my speed. I did not care that it sped ahead and I was behind it again as long as I could pass the upcoming cars. But I know that Toyota took personal issue with my passing it and wanted to make sure that it remained ahead of me.

Similar thing happened the other way. This dude in a lifted green truck was tailgating me on a double yellow for at least 10 miles. At the first opportunity he sped around me. Whatever. However a few minutes later we both ended up at the same light. I came up beside him and when the light changes the car in front of him took some time turning and I ended up ahead. Fast forward to a few seconds later he is once again speeding past me at at least 15 over the speed limit to cut directly in front of me despite their being two lanes....

Like bro...chill....

I don't understand that mindset at all... I have no issue with cars passing me ever and have never in my life sped up to prevent someone from doing it or made sure I was in front, of any particular car.

Why do people get competitive while driving? Like what's up with that?