Road Rage - have you ever got out of your car?
Discussion
I haven't, personally, but have noticed this seems a lot more prevalent in the UK than Germany, never seen anyone get out here, but then people tend not to dwell on someone cutting them up etc, you get a blast of the horn and no more is said - as well as that people can flash each other out of the way on the autobahn without the person in front getting all antsy and slowing down or brake checking you - people seem to accept life is too short and that if the other person is legit trying to get past, they must need to.
Funniest story I heard related to this was my old boss, who was the kind of person I assumed would get out (he was a big fella and didn't mind speaking his mind but also was a bit of a Billy Bulls
tter) had merged in front of someone in traffic one night and pissed them off, apparently in slowish moving traffic on the M6 the guy then starts driving alongside him gesticulating, calling him all the names under the sun and demanding he pull over. After a while he does so a car length or two in front of this guy, the guy gets out ranting and raving, striding towards him, and (he claims) he just drove off up the hard shoulder and fked off, not sure if it's true or not but if it was I'd have love to have seen the other guys face if it was true
Funniest story I heard related to this was my old boss, who was the kind of person I assumed would get out (he was a big fella and didn't mind speaking his mind but also was a bit of a Billy Bulls
tter) had merged in front of someone in traffic one night and pissed them off, apparently in slowish moving traffic on the M6 the guy then starts driving alongside him gesticulating, calling him all the names under the sun and demanding he pull over. After a while he does so a car length or two in front of this guy, the guy gets out ranting and raving, striding towards him, and (he claims) he just drove off up the hard shoulder and fked off, not sure if it's true or not but if it was I'd have love to have seen the other guys face if it was trueWhen I was 17 I jumped out of my car and shouted blue murder at somebody who'd cut me up. He told me, through his window, that I was going too fast, but he apologised anyway (I was certainly below the 30 limit, but daresay I was going a bit quick), and then drove off leaving me stood there looking a total tt.
I scurried back to my Mum's Micra and drove off, lesson learned. Never have I got out of the car since.
t.I scurried back to my Mum's Micra and drove off, lesson learned. Never have I got out of the car since.
Liamjrhodes said:
I recently had a woman get out of the car and try my door handle which was locked and then proceeded to hit the window of my car.
Similar recently. Bloke parked by the kerb at the entrance to a petrol station, not near any pump.Pulled up to a pump and he starts shouting through the window there's a queue, trying the door and banging on the window.
When I get out to fill up with fuel all he can muster is shouting "don't do that again" across the forecourt.
EDIT Years ago when I first started starting riding on a moped someone pulled out in front of me from a junction. Very quickly we arrived at the same destination and they laid into me about how it was my fault they didn't see me. And I was too green to muster a response! I regret that one.
Edited by Jakg on Tuesday 19th November 15:56
Sometimes there is always someone bigger and harder than you, with a lot less to lose than you.
You need to watch this one first to suggest the type of person this person is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1II3vxrWDA&t=...
Then you need to watch this - https://youtu.be/lCKuunkWvu0?t=412
"Bonkers Londoner".
You need to watch this one first to suggest the type of person this person is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1II3vxrWDA&t=...
Then you need to watch this - https://youtu.be/lCKuunkWvu0?t=412
"Bonkers Londoner".
FazerBoy said:
Goldfever4 said:
As a biker I often get cut up, it's particularly nasty on the M5 part of my commute in winter.
In my early biking days I got cut up by a SUV at a roundabout near work, driver wasn't paying attention and hadn't seen me. I had a right go at the driver and saw the alarm in her face and thought to myself 'this shouting is quite unnecessary'. Not least because a better rider wouldn't have stuck his bike there.
Two days later recognised her in the kitchen at work.
Five years later, she's now my boss...
Nice one! Does she remember this...?In my early biking days I got cut up by a SUV at a roundabout near work, driver wasn't paying attention and hadn't seen me. I had a right go at the driver and saw the alarm in her face and thought to myself 'this shouting is quite unnecessary'. Not least because a better rider wouldn't have stuck his bike there.
Two days later recognised her in the kitchen at work.
Five years later, she's now my boss...
Lots of understandable responses to the cycling chap's reactions to dangerous driving.
My two cents as another cyclist: It is hard not to react strongly. I am subject to some absolute shockers every single time I go out. I suffer so many tight overtakes with oncoming traffic or on blind corners, it's regularly scary and the stress really gets your adrenaline up. I've cycled for years but the last couple of years I've had to really question whether I want to keep putting myself in danger.
Before remonstrating with a wally in their car, I try to remember that I don't know who's in the car (only that they're either ambivalent or crap) and that if a situation escalates, I'm as vulnerable as a field mouse on stilts!
My two cents as another cyclist: It is hard not to react strongly. I am subject to some absolute shockers every single time I go out. I suffer so many tight overtakes with oncoming traffic or on blind corners, it's regularly scary and the stress really gets your adrenaline up. I've cycled for years but the last couple of years I've had to really question whether I want to keep putting myself in danger.
Before remonstrating with a wally in their car, I try to remember that I don't know who's in the car (only that they're either ambivalent or crap) and that if a situation escalates, I'm as vulnerable as a field mouse on stilts!
Goldfever4 said:
FazerBoy said:
Goldfever4 said:
As a biker I often get cut up, it's particularly nasty on the M5 part of my commute in winter.
In my early biking days I got cut up by a SUV at a roundabout near work, driver wasn't paying attention and hadn't seen me. I had a right go at the driver and saw the alarm in her face and thought to myself 'this shouting is quite unnecessary'. Not least because a better rider wouldn't have stuck his bike there.
Two days later recognised her in the kitchen at work.
Five years later, she's now my boss...
Nice one! Does she remember this...?In my early biking days I got cut up by a SUV at a roundabout near work, driver wasn't paying attention and hadn't seen me. I had a right go at the driver and saw the alarm in her face and thought to myself 'this shouting is quite unnecessary'. Not least because a better rider wouldn't have stuck his bike there.
Two days later recognised her in the kitchen at work.
Five years later, she's now my boss...
When I was 17 I had a disagreement with another driver, overtook, flick the Vs and carry on, I was surprised when he followed me into my mate's (Dad's) drive.
I wasn't sure what to do as it wasn't a "proper" disagreement and now I could see the guy was about 60.
Turned out it was his Dad's Bridge partner !
AFAIK neither of us mentioned it.
I’ve done so once when I was driving my Chimaera at night on a quiet A road. Car came up behind me with full beams on, right up my backside. Obviously oblivious to their lights. I drove for 1/2 mile but it got to the point where I couldn’t see a thing in front and it was genuinely dangerous due to the large rear screen and all the reflections. So I slowed down to a stop, got out, cue a young-ish looking woman absolutely floor it, wheel spin and everything, pull out around my car, and sped off into the night.
austinsmirk said:
alternatively- cycling rage. Purely as a cyclist, when people have nearly killed you.
I have, kicked wing mirrors off (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)
punched several windows through
tried putting my bike through a blokes windscreen- turns out having yr chain on the top ring, brought down hard on the windscreen A post is enough to fold the A post
ripped several sets of keys out of mopeds,/motorbike ignitions who have been flying up bus/cycle lanes, or illegally off road.
booted the rear qtr in of some car (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)- i'm in a cycle lane- lad doesn't want to queue in traffic so mounts pavement in front of me causing me to bunny hop sideways- I boot his car to warn of my presence. turns out looking back, I've folded his enter rear quarter in.
and only the other night, waiting patiently at the side of the road, for the 5 cars in front to move, not pushing, not trying to creep up the nearside, just stationary- the bloke behind me purposely rammed me- and then started gesturing to get out of his way. where he thought he was even going to drive to, given 5 stationary cars were in front, I don't know. we'd had no confrontation, I'd never been in his way on the road previously........... goodness knows what his issue was.
turns out he was a lot less hard after I started punching his bonnet to stop him moving- he locked himself in his car- as I'll admit it, I lost the plot and tried opening his doors to drag him out. Like a nutter I punched his window endlessly- it was flexing like plastic but wouldn't go through- till he drove off. I still chased him on my bike- but in fairness on 60 mph remote moor roads, he had the advantage re: escaping.
so there you go, seemingly over the last 30 years, there have been occasions where I have utterly lost the plot- purely because some bell end came near to ending my life in fairness.
Am I right in thinking your react or overreact to your vulnerability as a cyclist?I have, kicked wing mirrors off (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)
punched several windows through
tried putting my bike through a blokes windscreen- turns out having yr chain on the top ring, brought down hard on the windscreen A post is enough to fold the A post
ripped several sets of keys out of mopeds,/motorbike ignitions who have been flying up bus/cycle lanes, or illegally off road.
booted the rear qtr in of some car (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)- i'm in a cycle lane- lad doesn't want to queue in traffic so mounts pavement in front of me causing me to bunny hop sideways- I boot his car to warn of my presence. turns out looking back, I've folded his enter rear quarter in.
and only the other night, waiting patiently at the side of the road, for the 5 cars in front to move, not pushing, not trying to creep up the nearside, just stationary- the bloke behind me purposely rammed me- and then started gesturing to get out of his way. where he thought he was even going to drive to, given 5 stationary cars were in front, I don't know. we'd had no confrontation, I'd never been in his way on the road previously........... goodness knows what his issue was.
turns out he was a lot less hard after I started punching his bonnet to stop him moving- he locked himself in his car- as I'll admit it, I lost the plot and tried opening his doors to drag him out. Like a nutter I punched his window endlessly- it was flexing like plastic but wouldn't go through- till he drove off. I still chased him on my bike- but in fairness on 60 mph remote moor roads, he had the advantage re: escaping.
so there you go, seemingly over the last 30 years, there have been occasions where I have utterly lost the plot- purely because some bell end came near to ending my life in fairness.
What is going through your mind when you go into these rages? Are you at any point thinking of the consequence of your action? What about when you get home, sleep on it? Do you still feel justified or do you recognise your reaction as being OTT?
rambo19 said:
If you get out of your car, you must be 100% prepared to commit violence, if not, do not get out of your car.
Actually, the opposite applies and the so-called hard men and women are relying on the fact that their victim is going to meekly avoid them.From experience the worst you will ever receive is fake playground worthy bravado before the other party stomps off.
Assuming of course, you are speaking as the victim of someone else’s mistake and not the person in the wrong. In which case, you are a rare fish.
OK, so if we're allowed to wander a little OT and talk about incidents you've seen...
Dramatic (and true!) but sadly long, cool story bro to follow (sorry)...
Lunchtime on a Tuesday in my sleepy village two/three years ago. Working from home, decide to take a break and take the dog for a walk. I put her in the car and drive out of the village.
As I'm leaving the village, my road bends 90 degrees round to the left but there is also a junction leading straight ahead. A pub sits in the crux of the 'Y'.
As I approach the pub, I see a car waiting at the junction, but on the wrong side of the road. So I slow right down as I don't know what this idiot is doing and don't want him pulling out from the junction in to me.
The next thing I see is a massive bloke jump out of the car with a length of scaffolding pole.
I then realise that this guy is on the wrong side of the road because he's stopped the car behind him. As I see him swing the scaffolding tube over his head, a third car arrives and screeches to a holt by the victim's passenger door, blocking him in. Two more 'big lads' jump out of this third car.
The guy rams the scaffolding tube end on through the windscreen of the victim's car and in to his face.
He and the other two big lads, then drag the victim out of the car and all three set about him on the ground including smashing his legs with the metal tube.
The victim is then put into the boot of the first car and the two cars speed away in opposite directions.
As this is happening I've pulled off the road into the pub car park (out of the way and no I didn't get out of the car!!) and called the police only to be put on hold. Tell them that they need to get here along with an ambulance and that these guys are armed.
Takes me several attempts to try and convince the police what I'm looking at, yes I did say in this sleepy village and yes that is my dog whining and barking. They say thank you very much, we'll be in touch if we need to.
All over in around 30 seconds, and within moments of the cars disappearing, we're back to an old bloke in his beige car driving past me at 20 mph and the world returning to normal, with no evidence that anything had ever happened. Utterly surreal.
Nothing more I can do so head to the supermarket 3 mins away to buy a sandwich. Stand in the queue waiting to pay, replaying everything I'd just seen and wondering whether it was real.
Anyhow, exit supermarket and can see police helicopter hovering over my village so decide that I can't just take the dog for a walk and need to go back and speak with the police.
Arrive to several cars and armed officers, helicopter over head as I say. I tell them that I'm the one who called it in. They ask did I see which way they went, I told them and they said they'd be in touch.
I never heard from them.
Couple of week later I finally piece together what had happened. The hit was a reprisal for an incident a month or so before when one travelling family fire bombed another travelling family's grandad through his living room window as he watched TV. This was in turn part of a bigger war that included digging up the bodies of two dead teenage brothers, removing their skulls and later placing them in their mothers bed https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/1201...
Turns out the victim in 'my' attack had been spotted drinking in the pub. He'd come out to his car, they'd boxed in and set about their business. I never found out what happened to him.
Anyhow, told you it was a long story
Dramatic (and true!) but sadly long, cool story bro to follow (sorry)...
Lunchtime on a Tuesday in my sleepy village two/three years ago. Working from home, decide to take a break and take the dog for a walk. I put her in the car and drive out of the village.
As I'm leaving the village, my road bends 90 degrees round to the left but there is also a junction leading straight ahead. A pub sits in the crux of the 'Y'.
As I approach the pub, I see a car waiting at the junction, but on the wrong side of the road. So I slow right down as I don't know what this idiot is doing and don't want him pulling out from the junction in to me.
The next thing I see is a massive bloke jump out of the car with a length of scaffolding pole.
I then realise that this guy is on the wrong side of the road because he's stopped the car behind him. As I see him swing the scaffolding tube over his head, a third car arrives and screeches to a holt by the victim's passenger door, blocking him in. Two more 'big lads' jump out of this third car.
The guy rams the scaffolding tube end on through the windscreen of the victim's car and in to his face.
He and the other two big lads, then drag the victim out of the car and all three set about him on the ground including smashing his legs with the metal tube.
The victim is then put into the boot of the first car and the two cars speed away in opposite directions.
As this is happening I've pulled off the road into the pub car park (out of the way and no I didn't get out of the car!!) and called the police only to be put on hold. Tell them that they need to get here along with an ambulance and that these guys are armed.
Takes me several attempts to try and convince the police what I'm looking at, yes I did say in this sleepy village and yes that is my dog whining and barking. They say thank you very much, we'll be in touch if we need to.
All over in around 30 seconds, and within moments of the cars disappearing, we're back to an old bloke in his beige car driving past me at 20 mph and the world returning to normal, with no evidence that anything had ever happened. Utterly surreal.
Nothing more I can do so head to the supermarket 3 mins away to buy a sandwich. Stand in the queue waiting to pay, replaying everything I'd just seen and wondering whether it was real.
Anyhow, exit supermarket and can see police helicopter hovering over my village so decide that I can't just take the dog for a walk and need to go back and speak with the police.
Arrive to several cars and armed officers, helicopter over head as I say. I tell them that I'm the one who called it in. They ask did I see which way they went, I told them and they said they'd be in touch.
I never heard from them.
Couple of week later I finally piece together what had happened. The hit was a reprisal for an incident a month or so before when one travelling family fire bombed another travelling family's grandad through his living room window as he watched TV. This was in turn part of a bigger war that included digging up the bodies of two dead teenage brothers, removing their skulls and later placing them in their mothers bed https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/1201...
Turns out the victim in 'my' attack had been spotted drinking in the pub. He'd come out to his car, they'd boxed in and set about their business. I never found out what happened to him.
Anyhow, told you it was a long story
Yes. That’s about as off topic you could get.
If it helps, I once saw someone get out of a car to post a letter, before getting angry at a dog owner who was walking off without picking up his dogs poop.
No helicopters or pre mediated planning by the guy with the letter AFAIK, but he did get out of the car.
If it helps, I once saw someone get out of a car to post a letter, before getting angry at a dog owner who was walking off without picking up his dogs poop.
No helicopters or pre mediated planning by the guy with the letter AFAIK, but he did get out of the car.
Goldfever4 said:
FazerBoy said:
Goldfever4 said:
As a biker I often get cut up, it's particularly nasty on the M5 part of my commute in winter.
In my early biking days I got cut up by a SUV at a roundabout near work, driver wasn't paying attention and hadn't seen me. I had a right go at the driver and saw the alarm in her face and thought to myself 'this shouting is quite unnecessary'. Not least because a better rider wouldn't have stuck his bike there.
Two days later recognised her in the kitchen at work.
Five years later, she's now my boss...
Nice one! Does she remember this...?In my early biking days I got cut up by a SUV at a roundabout near work, driver wasn't paying attention and hadn't seen me. I had a right go at the driver and saw the alarm in her face and thought to myself 'this shouting is quite unnecessary'. Not least because a better rider wouldn't have stuck his bike there.
Two days later recognised her in the kitchen at work.
Five years later, she's now my boss...
30 odd years ago I took my mums metro to the car wash for her. It being a metro if failed as I tried to leave, so I ended up ringing - from a payphone - my dad.
He came to get me, ended up getting it started, and we drove the couple of miles home.
We got there as traffic was building up for the rugby league match, dad was in front trying to turn right into his drive. Driver coming the other way decided to drive to my dad's right hand side, then started shouting at my dad to let him out.
I got out and he was being quite an idiot, to be honest. I let him finish then said "that's my dad's car, this is his house, that car is my mum's, and the car it is next to is mine. Where do you want to go - because I can't see anywhere?"
He pulled back but his wife was giving him lots of grief!
He came to get me, ended up getting it started, and we drove the couple of miles home.
We got there as traffic was building up for the rugby league match, dad was in front trying to turn right into his drive. Driver coming the other way decided to drive to my dad's right hand side, then started shouting at my dad to let him out.
I got out and he was being quite an idiot, to be honest. I let him finish then said "that's my dad's car, this is his house, that car is my mum's, and the car it is next to is mine. Where do you want to go - because I can't see anywhere?"
He pulled back but his wife was giving him lots of grief!
austinsmirk said:
alternatively- cycling rage. Purely as a cyclist, when people have nearly killed you.
I have, kicked wing mirrors off (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)
punched several windows through
tried putting my bike through a blokes windscreen- turns out having yr chain on the top ring, brought down hard on the windscreen A post is enough to fold the A post
ripped several sets of keys out of mopeds,/motorbike ignitions who have been flying up bus/cycle lanes, or illegally off road.
booted the rear qtr in of some car (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)- i'm in a cycle lane- lad doesn't want to queue in traffic so mounts pavement in front of me causing me to bunny hop sideways- I boot his car to warn of my presence. turns out looking back, I've folded his enter rear quarter in.
and only the other night, waiting patiently at the side of the road, for the 5 cars in front to move, not pushing, not trying to creep up the nearside, just stationary- the bloke behind me purposely rammed me- and then started gesturing to get out of his way. where he thought he was even going to drive to, given 5 stationary cars were in front, I don't know. we'd had no confrontation, I'd never been in his way on the road previously........... goodness knows what his issue was.
turns out he was a lot less hard after I started punching his bonnet to stop him moving- he locked himself in his car- as I'll admit it, I lost the plot and tried opening his doors to drag him out. Like a nutter I punched his window endlessly- it was flexing like plastic but wouldn't go through- till he drove off. I still chased him on my bike- but in fairness on 60 mph remote moor roads, he had the advantage re: escaping.
so there you go, seemingly over the last 30 years, there have been occasions where I have utterly lost the plot- purely because some bell end came near to ending my life in fairness.
You have issues. Seek help.I have, kicked wing mirrors off (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)
punched several windows through
tried putting my bike through a blokes windscreen- turns out having yr chain on the top ring, brought down hard on the windscreen A post is enough to fold the A post
ripped several sets of keys out of mopeds,/motorbike ignitions who have been flying up bus/cycle lanes, or illegally off road.
booted the rear qtr in of some car (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)- i'm in a cycle lane- lad doesn't want to queue in traffic so mounts pavement in front of me causing me to bunny hop sideways- I boot his car to warn of my presence. turns out looking back, I've folded his enter rear quarter in.
and only the other night, waiting patiently at the side of the road, for the 5 cars in front to move, not pushing, not trying to creep up the nearside, just stationary- the bloke behind me purposely rammed me- and then started gesturing to get out of his way. where he thought he was even going to drive to, given 5 stationary cars were in front, I don't know. we'd had no confrontation, I'd never been in his way on the road previously........... goodness knows what his issue was.
turns out he was a lot less hard after I started punching his bonnet to stop him moving- he locked himself in his car- as I'll admit it, I lost the plot and tried opening his doors to drag him out. Like a nutter I punched his window endlessly- it was flexing like plastic but wouldn't go through- till he drove off. I still chased him on my bike- but in fairness on 60 mph remote moor roads, he had the advantage re: escaping.
so there you go, seemingly over the last 30 years, there have been occasions where I have utterly lost the plot- purely because some bell end came near to ending my life in fairness.
I’m also a cyclist, and have had my fair share of close shaves and t
t drivers. A desire to commit sustained criminal damage in response is common; lacking self-control and going right ahead is not.
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