Conforntation With Car Driver - Was I Wrong.
Discussion
Did something a few days back & I've been mulling over whether to post or not due to the ensuing "bloody cyclists" crys that will without doubt occour.
Anyway.........
Was cycling along a stretch of road near to home, in the cycle lane when I spot a beat up Focus, driver on the phone, approaching from a side road. Prdicting him not seeing me I slowed (just) enough to avoid the accident, and yes, he pulled clean out on me.
100yards down the road he stopped at a pedestrian crossing, so I approached the drivers side & said, fairly calmly "if you were concentrationg on driving, not using the phone, you would have seen me". He responded by going of a tyrade of abuse, threating to mow me down & kill me etc, ending with him spitting at me as the lights changed amber.
A few hundred yards further on is a roundabout, at which he was forced to wait in a queue, so a swift blow to the passenger side mirror was delt to 'make my point'(I expected it to be sprung so would just shock him), problem is the mirror cam clean off & smashed on the floor, whoops.
Anyway, I cleared off up the nearest cycle path in true chicken fasion, and actually I feel a little bad about what I did.
There, I've cofessed & my sould is cleansed.
Anyway.........
Was cycling along a stretch of road near to home, in the cycle lane when I spot a beat up Focus, driver on the phone, approaching from a side road. Prdicting him not seeing me I slowed (just) enough to avoid the accident, and yes, he pulled clean out on me.
100yards down the road he stopped at a pedestrian crossing, so I approached the drivers side & said, fairly calmly "if you were concentrationg on driving, not using the phone, you would have seen me". He responded by going of a tyrade of abuse, threating to mow me down & kill me etc, ending with him spitting at me as the lights changed amber.
A few hundred yards further on is a roundabout, at which he was forced to wait in a queue, so a swift blow to the passenger side mirror was delt to 'make my point'(I expected it to be sprung so would just shock him), problem is the mirror cam clean off & smashed on the floor, whoops.
Anyway, I cleared off up the nearest cycle path in true chicken fasion, and actually I feel a little bad about what I did.
There, I've cofessed & my sould is cleansed.
Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Thursday 8th July 11:32
Escalating the situation is never a good thing. Poor driving does not justify criminal damage, even if accidental.
I understand the circumstances and no one deserves a torrent of abuse when confronted with their poor driving, but I am afraid it doesnt justify knocking off a mirror. Sorry. So technically speaking, I would have to say that you were in the wrong - and probably caused this driver to have even worse opinions of cyclists as a result...
Sorry, not good.
I understand the circumstances and no one deserves a torrent of abuse when confronted with their poor driving, but I am afraid it doesnt justify knocking off a mirror. Sorry. So technically speaking, I would have to say that you were in the wrong - and probably caused this driver to have even worse opinions of cyclists as a result...
Sorry, not good.
can see both sides, you were in the wrong though.
Talking on phone, yes its wrong but he may have been called by a hospital to give bad news (what i mean is that it may have been something important that he had to take the call)
At the point when you rightly anticipated him pulling out and took evasive action, no harm was done.. When you then remonstrated with him did you expect him to say nothing or apologise? what did you hope to gain aside from "showing him"
No harm was still done at this point and whilst him spitting on you is utterly reprehensible (plus could never be proved).. you damaging his car in a rage or not is totally out of order, you're lucky he didnt batter 7 shades or sh 1 t out of you or at attempt to have you prosecuted for damaging his car.
you asked the question, yes you were wrong.
Talking on phone, yes its wrong but he may have been called by a hospital to give bad news (what i mean is that it may have been something important that he had to take the call)
At the point when you rightly anticipated him pulling out and took evasive action, no harm was done.. When you then remonstrated with him did you expect him to say nothing or apologise? what did you hope to gain aside from "showing him"
No harm was still done at this point and whilst him spitting on you is utterly reprehensible (plus could never be proved).. you damaging his car in a rage or not is totally out of order, you're lucky he didnt batter 7 shades or sh 1 t out of you or at attempt to have you prosecuted for damaging his car.
you asked the question, yes you were wrong.
off_again said:
Escalating the situation is never a good thing. Poor driving does not justify criminal damage, even if accidental.
I understand the circumstances and no one deserves a torrent of abuse when confronted with their poor driving, but I am afraid it doesnt justify knocking off a mirror. Sorry. So technically speaking, I would have to say that you were in the wrong - and probably caused this driver to have even worse opinions of cyclists as a result...
Sorry, not good.
If someone spat at me I'd do more than smack their wing mirror. Get a grip.I understand the circumstances and no one deserves a torrent of abuse when confronted with their poor driving, but I am afraid it doesnt justify knocking off a mirror. Sorry. So technically speaking, I would have to say that you were in the wrong - and probably caused this driver to have even worse opinions of cyclists as a result...
Sorry, not good.
hondafanatic said:
I prefer opening passenger doors when this kind of thing happens. It forces them to get out of the car to shut the door.
Good effort, I like that.Although this is the first, and most likely the last time I've ever done anything like this, I normally just shake my head, mutter something to myself & carry on my merry way.
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