People driving and behaving like idiots around you
Discussion
Oh the car you drive makes a massive difference to how a minority of utter cretins on the road behave. The contrast between my experiences driving the BMW and driving the Golf is staggering.
In a typical 40 mile round trip commute in the BMW I will be pulled out on, carved up, or deliberately blocked at least once. Yesterday it was three times. I have become largely immune to it, but I know it's an issue because passengers will comment on it. I barely notice it any more. Who knows what the motive is? Who cares, to be honest. If I had a dashcam, I could compile one of those 5 minute "idiot vids" on YouTube at least once a month.
I drove the Golf every day for 2 years and encountered this no more than a handful of times in the entire period. If I commute in it now, I seem to be much more able to just complete a journey without an incident or near miss. I don't drive the two cars any differently, and I use the same roads at the same time. The only variable is the car.
Baffling.
In a typical 40 mile round trip commute in the BMW I will be pulled out on, carved up, or deliberately blocked at least once. Yesterday it was three times. I have become largely immune to it, but I know it's an issue because passengers will comment on it. I barely notice it any more. Who knows what the motive is? Who cares, to be honest. If I had a dashcam, I could compile one of those 5 minute "idiot vids" on YouTube at least once a month.
I drove the Golf every day for 2 years and encountered this no more than a handful of times in the entire period. If I commute in it now, I seem to be much more able to just complete a journey without an incident or near miss. I don't drive the two cars any differently, and I use the same roads at the same time. The only variable is the car.
Baffling.
Acidrop said:
There are a lot of idiot drivers on the road. I'm not normally an aggressive driver, but I won't let anyone bully me on the road, no matter what car they're in. I drive a mint Audi S4 so obviously don't want to crash it just to prove a point, but if someone drives like a knob I won't back down.
This morning on the motorway I had a Merc(minicab) sit on my arse for a few miles, even though there was nowhere for him to go.
Eventually he undertakes me and tries to push in between me and the car in front. By which time I had closed the gap and squeezed him out. He nearly collided with me through his erratic driving and obviously took great offense. From then on he was taunting me the whole way cutting me up, breaking hard in front of me and holding me up. I didn't make a fuss and waited until I was next to him, so wound my window down and told him to pull over. Guess what, he gave it all the signs and verbal abuse but wouldn't pull over so we could sort it out...
You were actually going to have a fight about that. By the side of the road. A fight, over a space in a line of traffic. This morning on the motorway I had a Merc(minicab) sit on my arse for a few miles, even though there was nowhere for him to go.
Eventually he undertakes me and tries to push in between me and the car in front. By which time I had closed the gap and squeezed him out. He nearly collided with me through his erratic driving and obviously took great offense. From then on he was taunting me the whole way cutting me up, breaking hard in front of me and holding me up. I didn't make a fuss and waited until I was next to him, so wound my window down and told him to pull over. Guess what, he gave it all the signs and verbal abuse but wouldn't pull over so we could sort it out...
I've been in the traffic situation you describe. It's a 2 lane motorway, lorry in L1, traffic overtaking at c. 65mph in L2 so quite a tailback,. I get into L2 early, about a couple of hundre mtres behind the lorry as there's a gap in L2 I can slot into. Someone behind carries on in L1 righ to the back of the lorry and then forces their way in front. I might thyink "that's a bit off" but wanting to fight them over it?
This is so far away from anything I can imagine doing, I'm genuinely trying to understand this. Why did you want him to get out of the cars so you could hurt each other. What would that prove?
8Ace said:
You were actually going to have a fight about that. By the side of the road. A fight, over a space in a line of traffic.
This is so far away from anything I can imagine doing, I'm genuinely trying to understand this. Why did you want him to get out of the cars so you could hurt each other. What would that prove?
Audi...This is so far away from anything I can imagine doing, I'm genuinely trying to understand this. Why did you want him to get out of the cars so you could hurt each other. What would that prove?
I can't agree with all of the Manchester comments. I've lived in here for all of my 23 years and have been driving for over 5 years now and it's no worse than anywhere else I've driven. Idiots are anywhere and everywhere. Yes it's not exactly the nicest city in the world but don't make it seem like it's instantly full of the types mentioned above as soon as you're there.
This type of attention seems to be the result of either jealousy or suddenly being brave and showing off to their peers. The targets seem to be any sporting models of pretty ordinary cars. If you have more exhausts or have a faster badge (GTI, ST etc.) that they do they just seem to go berserk and presume you're up for a race. You're instantly stereotyped and doomed. Best thing is to not rise to it but that can be difficult at times.
Many people seem to move to more stealthy cars with less shouty styling and a bit more discreet for this reason, but still fast when they want to hoon it or surprise the car next to them.
This type of attention seems to be the result of either jealousy or suddenly being brave and showing off to their peers. The targets seem to be any sporting models of pretty ordinary cars. If you have more exhausts or have a faster badge (GTI, ST etc.) that they do they just seem to go berserk and presume you're up for a race. You're instantly stereotyped and doomed. Best thing is to not rise to it but that can be difficult at times.
Many people seem to move to more stealthy cars with less shouty styling and a bit more discreet for this reason, but still fast when they want to hoon it or surprise the car next to them.
Notice it more with the M3 than the 130. I was always taught that you can only control the space in front of you, as annoying as it can be to have someone goading you or driving like an ass they soon get bored if you ignore them. Just hold your speed in and out of tight corner or two 
The official police recommendation when being tailgated is to gradually slow down.
1. It lowers the speed of any potential accident
2. It allows the other driver to pass more safely.
3. It right royally pisses them off to go even slower.
Some drivers get close then drop back and so on.
If you slow down every time they get close they'll get the message eventually.
1. It lowers the speed of any potential accident
2. It allows the other driver to pass more safely.
3. It right royally pisses them off to go even slower.
Some drivers get close then drop back and so on.
If you slow down every time they get close they'll get the message eventually.
thetrash said:
If you are being tailgated on a multi lane road just get out of the way, it really is that simple.
What if you're already in L1? This has happened to me on the motorway. It was clear, so no difficulty in overtaking. I slowed gently to encourage them past but it wasn't until I got to 40 mph that the human dildo went past in a cloud of diesel smoke shaking his fist.
Most odd.
lostkiwi said:
The official police recommendation when being tailgated is to gradually slow down.
1. It lowers the speed of any potential accident
2. It allows the other driver to pass more safely.
3. It right royally pisses them off to go even slower.
Some drivers get close then drop back and so on.
If you slow down every time they get close they'll get the message eventually.
Yep, worked with the idiot in the Jag XF (first for me too) this morning between the M3 and Chobham.1. It lowers the speed of any potential accident
2. It allows the other driver to pass more safely.
3. It right royally pisses them off to go even slower.
Some drivers get close then drop back and so on.
If you slow down every time they get close they'll get the message eventually.
I really don't understand the mentality of these tailgating idiots that drive on dual carriageways and literally only seem to be aware of the car that is directly in front of them. I'd like to see these people being given 1-2 week bans that gradually escalate until they get the message.
8Ace said:
thetrash said:
If you are being tailgated on a multi lane road just get out of the way, it really is that simple.
What if you're already in L1? This has happened to me on the motorway. It was clear, so no difficulty in overtaking. I slowed gently to encourage them past but it wasn't until I got to 40 mph that the human dildo went past in a cloud of diesel smoke shaking his fist.
Most odd.
Acidrop said:
There are a lot of idiot drivers on the road. I'm not normally an aggressive driver, but I won't let anyone bully me on the road, no matter what car they're in. I drive a mint Audi S4 so obviously don't want to crash it just to prove a point, but if someone drives like a knob I won't back down.
This morning on the motorway I had a Merc(minicab) sit on my arse for a few miles, even though there was nowhere for him to go.
Eventually he undertakes me and tries to push in between me and the car in front. By which time I had closed the gap and squeezed him out. He nearly collided with me through his erratic driving and obviously took great offense. From then on he was taunting me the whole way cutting me up, breaking hard in front of me and holding me up. I didn't make a fuss and waited until I was next to him, so wound my window down and told him to pull over. Guess what, he gave it all the signs and verbal abuse but wouldn't pull over so we could sort it out...
Ummm... Your story is a perfect example of "aggressive" driving. What is it in you that makes you want to prove a point to the Mercedes driver? Why do you feel the need to keep him behind you? What does it achieve in the long-run? Why would you (dangerously) close the gap while the Mercedes driver is making a poor manoeuvre that may impact you both?This morning on the motorway I had a Merc(minicab) sit on my arse for a few miles, even though there was nowhere for him to go.
Eventually he undertakes me and tries to push in between me and the car in front. By which time I had closed the gap and squeezed him out. He nearly collided with me through his erratic driving and obviously took great offense. From then on he was taunting me the whole way cutting me up, breaking hard in front of me and holding me up. I didn't make a fuss and waited until I was next to him, so wound my window down and told him to pull over. Guess what, he gave it all the signs and verbal abuse but wouldn't pull over so we could sort it out...
Intelligent people practice self-preservation on the road. Get out of the idiots' way, and make sure you don't suffer as a result of their driving.
Engaging them and trying to 'police' their driving are the actions of an aggressive retard. You're not making the roads any safer.
twirly said:
It's a double edged sword. As mentioned previously it could be that you're just more noticeable but when I had the Focus RS I did notice a few more 'challenges' form other road users than when I had the ST previously to that.
The vast majority of ST owners are out to prove something...8Ace said:
Acidrop said:
There are a lot of idiot drivers on the road. I'm not normally an aggressive driver, but I won't let anyone bully me on the road, no matter what car they're in. I drive a mint Audi S4 so obviously don't want to crash it just to prove a point, but if someone drives like a knob I won't back down.
This morning on the motorway I had a Merc(minicab) sit on my arse for a few miles, even though there was nowhere for him to go.
Eventually he undertakes me and tries to push in between me and the car in front. By which time I had closed the gap and squeezed him out. He nearly collided with me through his erratic driving and obviously took great offense. From then on he was taunting me the whole way cutting me up, breaking hard in front of me and holding me up. I didn't make a fuss and waited until I was next to him, so wound my window down and told him to pull over. Guess what, he gave it all the signs and verbal abuse but wouldn't pull over so we could sort it out...
You were actually going to have a fight about that. By the side of the road. A fight, over a space in a line of traffic. This morning on the motorway I had a Merc(minicab) sit on my arse for a few miles, even though there was nowhere for him to go.
Eventually he undertakes me and tries to push in between me and the car in front. By which time I had closed the gap and squeezed him out. He nearly collided with me through his erratic driving and obviously took great offense. From then on he was taunting me the whole way cutting me up, breaking hard in front of me and holding me up. I didn't make a fuss and waited until I was next to him, so wound my window down and told him to pull over. Guess what, he gave it all the signs and verbal abuse but wouldn't pull over so we could sort it out...
I've been in the traffic situation you describe. It's a 2 lane motorway, lorry in L1, traffic overtaking at c. 65mph in L2 so quite a tailback,. I get into L2 early, about a couple of hundre mtres behind the lorry as there's a gap in L2 I can slot into. Someone behind carries on in L1 righ to the back of the lorry and then forces their way in front. I might thyink "that's a bit off" but wanting to fight them over it?
This is so far away from anything I can imagine doing, I'm genuinely trying to understand this. Why did you want him to get out of the cars so you could hurt each other. What would that prove?
You should see how Acidrop behaves in the supermarket, when someone with a bigger trolley gets too close then passes and cuts him/her up while (s)he dithers
.Funny how people don't go apesh
t when they're outside their 1500kgs of metal & plastics (but with a big exception headed "being in front of a keyboard" 
), isn't it?? 
PorkRind said:
twirly said:
It's a double edged sword. As mentioned previously it could be that you're just more noticeable but when I had the Focus RS I did notice a few more 'challenges' form other road users than when I had the ST previously to that.
The vast majority of ST owners are out to prove something...ker out there in a Fiesta or Focus Zetec-S wanted to have a race 
The only ones that didn't cause problems were Focus ST or RS drivers, presumably because they had nothing to prove.aw51 121565 said:
You should see how Acidrop behaves in the supermarket, when someone with a bigger trolley gets too close then passes and cuts him/her up while (s)he dithers
.Seriously, offering other road users out in a fit of road rage is never going to end well. Think: 'body bag' or 'prison'.
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