What the most effective way of dealing with this?
Discussion
I don't normally post the "blah cut me up in traffic and this that and the other" because these incidences happen to a lot of people, every day, and they are usually the same. One person does something wrong, one feels angry that they were almost hit and it fizzels out.
Well today, for the first time in 5 years, I had a couple of stereotype yoofs in two separate cars try to pile past me as a small 40mph road merged into one, the first car missed me by inches and the second car forced me to slam the brakes on very hard and pile into the kerb to avoid hitting him as he swerved in front where there was no gap.
There is no damage to my car, and as usual I let them drive off. I really don't believe in getting aggressive over things like this, but this was so close and unprovoked (and unexpected!) that it actually shocked me a bit.
So here is the question -
If I really wanted to do something about this - what could I do?
IMO -
Police - pointless. It will be filed away, and if it was investigated, there is no damage, his mate would back him up anyway and it would just be a waste of everyones time.
Getting out and doing something - the way these kids were driving, I would probably be in great danger if I were to confront them, plus I have various clearances hanging on the fact I do not have a criminal record. If a fight were to commence, and I got a lucky punch in defending myself, I would imagine it would be me that got prosecuted thus would lose my job and most of my business.
Just letting the car hit me - Any insurer worth their money would have figured out what happened, but the accident would go against me as well, and I am proud of my no car accident record and the no claims bonus I have built.
So what would you do, and what would have maximum effect? I really hate just backing down ALL the time, but for the sake of my job and my reputation, I believe it is all I can do
Well today, for the first time in 5 years, I had a couple of stereotype yoofs in two separate cars try to pile past me as a small 40mph road merged into one, the first car missed me by inches and the second car forced me to slam the brakes on very hard and pile into the kerb to avoid hitting him as he swerved in front where there was no gap.
There is no damage to my car, and as usual I let them drive off. I really don't believe in getting aggressive over things like this, but this was so close and unprovoked (and unexpected!) that it actually shocked me a bit.
So here is the question -
If I really wanted to do something about this - what could I do?
IMO -
Police - pointless. It will be filed away, and if it was investigated, there is no damage, his mate would back him up anyway and it would just be a waste of everyones time.
Getting out and doing something - the way these kids were driving, I would probably be in great danger if I were to confront them, plus I have various clearances hanging on the fact I do not have a criminal record. If a fight were to commence, and I got a lucky punch in defending myself, I would imagine it would be me that got prosecuted thus would lose my job and most of my business.
Just letting the car hit me - Any insurer worth their money would have figured out what happened, but the accident would go against me as well, and I am proud of my no car accident record and the no claims bonus I have built.
So what would you do, and what would have maximum effect? I really hate just backing down ALL the time, but for the sake of my job and my reputation, I believe it is all I can do
Get a solid old banger, cruise the streets, and just position yourself in such a way that the cut-up merchants "accidentally" get your Volvo bumper in their rear wing.
Although driving around in a dodgy old banger is one of the best ways to stop people cutting you up in the first place. They assume you are either a) to poor and stupid to control a motor vehicle or b) someone with nothing to lose if there was a collision so not likely to bother avoiding one.
I'm afraid the police would have no interest in a non-collision incident, and road-rage for non-collision would be a bit pointless too.
Although driving around in a dodgy old banger is one of the best ways to stop people cutting you up in the first place. They assume you are either a) to poor and stupid to control a motor vehicle or b) someone with nothing to lose if there was a collision so not likely to bother avoiding one.
I'm afraid the police would have no interest in a non-collision incident, and road-rage for non-collision would be a bit pointless too.
sosidge said:
I'm afraid the police would have no interest in a non-collision incident, and road-rage for non-collision would be a bit pointless too.
I totally agree. What irritates me a bit is that he will continue to do this, and get away with again and again because there are no cameras to catch him speeding, and I have never, ever seen a copper driving around here either. So it looks like if you want to drive like an a
hole, you can do so with impunity, and if you take relative pride in your driving, you have to back down constantly.f
king Chavs I think that you did all that a reasonable man could.
Take pleasure in the fact that they are a pair of tossers and there is a good chance that they may cross someone who has no interest in maintaining a lack of a criminal record...
Relax and enjoy this virtual pint I've just got you
Take pleasure in the fact that they are a pair of tossers and there is a good chance that they may cross someone who has no interest in maintaining a lack of a criminal record...
Relax and enjoy this virtual pint I've just got you
Edited by a contrario on Wednesday 13th August 21:39
Oh STFU about DBXwotsit and his 335d fetish. . .wearing VERY thin now.
I'd attempt to make a note of the reg plates and yes, report them to the police. For all you know there have been other reports from drivers, so the police may eventually catch up with them?
If I was younger, I may well have planted my right foot and engaged V8 hyperdrive and. . .ummm. . .something. . .wagged finger. . .ummm. . .no, you were right, I must be getting older and wiser damn it!
I'd attempt to make a note of the reg plates and yes, report them to the police. For all you know there have been other reports from drivers, so the police may eventually catch up with them?
If I was younger, I may well have planted my right foot and engaged V8 hyperdrive and. . .ummm. . .something. . .wagged finger. . .ummm. . .no, you were right, I must be getting older and wiser damn it!
Edited by Digger. on Wednesday 13th August 21:16
The police will be happy to take details of the Reg No, and have the vehicle(s) watched out for. Best done straight away, so that they can immediately ask cars in the area to look out for them.
Or you can go to a police station and actually allege dangerous driving. Then they will get a visit. In the unlikely event that you had any witness or CCTV evidence it could even rsult in successful prosecution.
If the driving was so bad that you found it that remarkable, it might be worth doing.
A sergeant at work told me that he was pleasantly surprised to see a successful prosecution arise out of an experience he had when he was off duty. He was lucky, in that the driver nearest to him stopped and agreed to bear witness.
Or you can go to a police station and actually allege dangerous driving. Then they will get a visit. In the unlikely event that you had any witness or CCTV evidence it could even rsult in successful prosecution.
If the driving was so bad that you found it that remarkable, it might be worth doing.
A sergeant at work told me that he was pleasantly surprised to see a successful prosecution arise out of an experience he had when he was off duty. He was lucky, in that the driver nearest to him stopped and agreed to bear witness.
You're obviously a sensible bloke who realises - not for the first time I'll bet - you're surrounded by complete fkwits.
I've found defensive driving, keeping a big distance and a "let it go" attitude works for me. I get the satisfaction I need from this apparent sacrifice with a clean license, no speeding fines, low insurance costs, which lets me drive almost any car I choose and a big improvement in fuel consumption and tyre life.
Hardly a PH point of view perhaps - but most of all I've learned to enjoy driving again which really IS the main PH thing.
I've done 20 years or more of stressing, road raging, red line thrashing, near misses from suicidal overtaking and tailgating at 90+MPH in lane 3. I've shreddied tryes and blown engines and melted brakes and all just to get to my destination a few moments earlier. I've carved up, cut in and raced away from the lights - even with the kids in the car I'm ashamed to admit.
That's all over for me now. You'll find me mostly in lane 1 nowadays with the cruise set at 55 or 60 with a nice CD on, letting anybody who wants to overtake to go ahead. And a big knowing smile watching all the tts on the road around me. You'll catch them up at the next set of lights anyway - so why let them spoil your day. 
kwits. I've found defensive driving, keeping a big distance and a "let it go" attitude works for me. I get the satisfaction I need from this apparent sacrifice with a clean license, no speeding fines, low insurance costs, which lets me drive almost any car I choose and a big improvement in fuel consumption and tyre life.
Hardly a PH point of view perhaps - but most of all I've learned to enjoy driving again which really IS the main PH thing.
I've done 20 years or more of stressing, road raging, red line thrashing, near misses from suicidal overtaking and tailgating at 90+MPH in lane 3. I've shreddied tryes and blown engines and melted brakes and all just to get to my destination a few moments earlier. I've carved up, cut in and raced away from the lights - even with the kids in the car I'm ashamed to admit.
That's all over for me now. You'll find me mostly in lane 1 nowadays with the cruise set at 55 or 60 with a nice CD on, letting anybody who wants to overtake to go ahead. And a big knowing smile watching all the t
ts on the road around me. You'll catch them up at the next set of lights anyway - so why let them spoil your day. The only time I have ever got really wound up was about 10 years ago when driving down to Poole from Bournemouth. Two (empty) buses were racing each other in the most dangerous manner, cutting everyone on the road up. They proceeded to cut me up in a big way on the Frizzel Roundabout, forcing me to slam the nachors on & go for the kerb & I thought "xxxx this, it really isn't on" & called the BiB, reporting their number plates & registered bus numbers.
A couple of days later, a local BiB came round to my house to take a statement & let me know that half a dozen other dirvers had also called & reported the bus drivers and the police planned to take action against the drivers due to the nature & number of the complaints.
A couple of days later, a local BiB came round to my house to take a statement & let me know that half a dozen other dirvers had also called & reported the bus drivers and the police planned to take action against the drivers due to the nature & number of the complaints.
Jaguar steve said:
TheCarpetCleaner said:
Jaguar steve said:
You're obviously a sensible bloke who realises - not for the first time I'll bet - you're surrounded by complete fkwits.
That made me laugh kwits. 
Cheers! 
Until tomorrow of course....
Matt
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