Discussion
Well, this week continues on its terrible start.
Whilst coming home tonight I was driving at 70 along the M9 when up a head I spotted a slightly slower car I think about pulling out but there was a rover 75 closing in on me so I decide to take it easy and lift off slightly to let the 75 past. As he gets closer I indicate let him past and pull out after a quick check of the mirror.
Oh s
t!
There's a Mini Cooper S planted to my bumper with an incredibly irate driver making cut throat gestures and trying to make me pull over. I put my hand up in apology as I honestly did not have any idea he was there. I pull back in sharpish expecting him to come alongside shout at me then drive on. Apparently not he pulls straight in behind me continuing to gesture that he was going to kill me.
At this point having never experienced this sort of behaviour before I'm crapping myself and trying to think what to do. So I speed up a little to try and get home quicker and maybe to safety. This doesn't work, the guy is glued to me. I can't take him near my place as god knows what he might be capable of. So I think about safe areas. First thing that comes to mind is the local police station thinking that I'll either scare him off or be a bit more secure, so I continue through town with the fella in tow.
we park up at the station. I get out to talk he just puts down the window, many expletives later and a suggested trip to the optitians he buggers of leaving me a little shaken.
I know the incident was my fault as I should have been more aware of my surroundings when driving, but does anyone else feel that his reaction was appropriate?
Whilst coming home tonight I was driving at 70 along the M9 when up a head I spotted a slightly slower car I think about pulling out but there was a rover 75 closing in on me so I decide to take it easy and lift off slightly to let the 75 past. As he gets closer I indicate let him past and pull out after a quick check of the mirror.
Oh s
t! There's a Mini Cooper S planted to my bumper with an incredibly irate driver making cut throat gestures and trying to make me pull over. I put my hand up in apology as I honestly did not have any idea he was there. I pull back in sharpish expecting him to come alongside shout at me then drive on. Apparently not he pulls straight in behind me continuing to gesture that he was going to kill me.
At this point having never experienced this sort of behaviour before I'm crapping myself and trying to think what to do. So I speed up a little to try and get home quicker and maybe to safety. This doesn't work, the guy is glued to me. I can't take him near my place as god knows what he might be capable of. So I think about safe areas. First thing that comes to mind is the local police station thinking that I'll either scare him off or be a bit more secure, so I continue through town with the fella in tow.
we park up at the station. I get out to talk he just puts down the window, many expletives later and a suggested trip to the optitians he buggers of leaving me a little shaken.
I know the incident was my fault as I should have been more aware of my surroundings when driving, but does anyone else feel that his reaction was appropriate?
You did the right thing, if people drive around and cannot accept that other drivers make mistakes then they are clearly not right.
I was always taught by my father that it's best to have an idiot in front of you than an idiot behind so pulling over and letting them get on with killing themselves is the safe way
What amazes me is how safe people feel in cars because if you bumped into someone or moved accross someone in the high street then you would both apologise and be on your way, I don't see this as being any different but because people are in their own secluded area they and a certain amount of anonymity then they can behave in that way.
I was always taught by my father that it's best to have an idiot in front of you than an idiot behind so pulling over and letting them get on with killing themselves is the safe way
What amazes me is how safe people feel in cars because if you bumped into someone or moved accross someone in the high street then you would both apologise and be on your way, I don't see this as being any different but because people are in their own secluded area they and a certain amount of anonymity then they can behave in that way.
Contigo said:
You did the right thing, if people drive around and cannot accept that other drivers make mistakes then they are clearly not right.
I was always taught by my father that it's best to have an idiot in front of you than an idiot behind so pulling over and letting them get on with killing themselves is the safe way
What amazes me is how safe people feel in cars because if you bumped into someone or moved accross someone in the high street then you would both apologise and be on your way, I don't see this as being any different but because people are in their own secluded area they and a certain amount of anonymity then they can behave in that way.
The thing is, while I absolutely know what you mean about perceived anonymity, I can't understand why they feel that way. With the registration on the car, it's basically like walking around town starting fights with people, all the while wearing a t-shirt with your name emblazoned on it in massive writing.I was always taught by my father that it's best to have an idiot in front of you than an idiot behind so pulling over and letting them get on with killing themselves is the safe way
What amazes me is how safe people feel in cars because if you bumped into someone or moved accross someone in the high street then you would both apologise and be on your way, I don't see this as being any different but because people are in their own secluded area they and a certain amount of anonymity then they can behave in that way.
Contigo said:
if people drive around and cannot accept that other drivers make mistakes then they are clearly not right.
That's all well and good in theory, but when someone in front has just clearly not checked to see if you were there, then pulled out in front nearly wiping you out at 70mph+ its a little hard not to let it get to you. Although the guy clearly over reacted, a bit of swearing and a hand gesture is to be expected.
barker22 said:
That's all well and good in theory, but when someone in front has just clearly not checked to see if you were there, then pulled out in front nearly wiping you out at 70mph+ its a little hard not to let it get to you. Although the guy clearly over reacted, a bit of swearing and a hand gesture is to be expected.
You are assuming that he didn't check. If the guy in the Cooper S was doing twice the speed limit then checking once and seeing nothing and moving out is entirely possible. In situations like this it's down to the way the guy in the Cooper was driving and I'm assuming by the reaction made (cut throat) that this person had to react in a manner than made the slow right down.
Sounds like you're a conscientious driver and I doubt you did anything really stupid even if by mistake.
I suspect the MCS driver looned up at a silly rate and so suddenly "appeared." Probably more being blocked than any possible danger that irked him.
And cut throat gestures really are very bad news - people think they are so damn hard when in their safe little box.
A sad little man with a lot of issues. He'll probably die of a heart attack or top himself soon anyway.
I suspect the MCS driver looned up at a silly rate and so suddenly "appeared." Probably more being blocked than any possible danger that irked him.
And cut throat gestures really are very bad news - people think they are so damn hard when in their safe little box.
A sad little man with a lot of issues. He'll probably die of a heart attack or top himself soon anyway.
I don't encounter mental road ragers very often, but I find the best tactic is just to continue as is and let them see you having a chuckle. Maybe throw in a 'bovvered?' roll of the eyes/shake of the head, or blow them a little kiss.
Seriously. These morons want a submissive reaction, they want their ego stroked by 'winning' their intimidation game.
Just don't play it and it confuses the hell out of them.
Seriously. These morons want a submissive reaction, they want their ego stroked by 'winning' their intimidation game.
Just don't play it and it confuses the hell out of them.
BonzoG said:
I don't encounter mental road ragers very often, but I find the best tactic is just to continue as is and let them see you having a chuckle. Maybe throw in a 'bovvered?' roll of the eyes/shake of the head, or blow them a little kiss.
Seriously. These morons want a submissive reaction, they want their ego stroked by 'winning' their intimidation game.
Just don't play it and it confuses the hell out of them.
^^^ This. They can't work out what to do, and often diffuses the situation.Seriously. These morons want a submissive reaction, they want their ego stroked by 'winning' their intimidation game.
Just don't play it and it confuses the hell out of them.
Clearly an idiot, you did the right thing not reacting with aggression though.
I once saw a guy utterly lose it at another driver, throwing stuff at the other car and brake testing him (over a very minor mistake). I ended up leaving the m way at the same junction as Mr angry 30 seconds later and we stopped alongside one another.
He called across to me something along the lines of 'did you see that effing effer....'. I replied 'calm down mate you've got your kids in the car'. And it wad like boom, he instantly realised what he was doing, went pale, and said I was right apologetically.
Really funny how road rage just comes over people.
I once saw a guy utterly lose it at another driver, throwing stuff at the other car and brake testing him (over a very minor mistake). I ended up leaving the m way at the same junction as Mr angry 30 seconds later and we stopped alongside one another.
He called across to me something along the lines of 'did you see that effing effer....'. I replied 'calm down mate you've got your kids in the car'. And it wad like boom, he instantly realised what he was doing, went pale, and said I was right apologetically.
Really funny how road rage just comes over people.
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