Have you ever been a victim of road rage while driving?
Discussion
yep rolling upto some lights and theres a rover 200 waiting on red so i'm rolling up slowly and they turn green so I speed up and pass him.
He took offence to this and proceeded to overtake me in the wrong lane on roundabout then slowed down to crawl i'm thinking he may get out soon so look for an escape route so quickly dive down a side road onto a housing estate he never followed.
Other times are just the usual slow morons flashing at safe and legal overtakes I suppose these days those types just have dashcams and submit to police.
Generally i'm a very passive driver my life isn't a rush always set off in good time I usually take the left lane for merge in turns or being pulled out on roundabouts theres a particularly bad double mini up the road from me people give way on the first but seem to forget about the 2nd I just expect it now no need to blast the horn day in day out just typical british tut will do for me
I just avoid confrontation.
He took offence to this and proceeded to overtake me in the wrong lane on roundabout then slowed down to crawl i'm thinking he may get out soon so look for an escape route so quickly dive down a side road onto a housing estate he never followed.
Other times are just the usual slow morons flashing at safe and legal overtakes I suppose these days those types just have dashcams and submit to police.
Generally i'm a very passive driver my life isn't a rush always set off in good time I usually take the left lane for merge in turns or being pulled out on roundabouts theres a particularly bad double mini up the road from me people give way on the first but seem to forget about the 2nd I just expect it now no need to blast the horn day in day out just typical british tut will do for me
I just avoid confrontation.
I’ve had plenty of incidents with Individuals where we both remained in our cars. Some were due to mistakes I had made and some because of others errors.
The only time someone has got out of the vehicle though was around ten years ago. Predictably enough it was white van man, who had decided to go straight on in a turn left only lane to bypass a traffic queue. He almost took the front of my car off as he cut in front of me without signalling. I very unreasonably sounded my horn. Wrong move. The single carriageway road had an island for a crossing. He stopped and there was a car behind effectively blocking me in. He got out of the van with some sort of weapon in his hand. In what can only be described as the luckiest thing in my life an unmarked police car was passing on the over side of the road and four coppers got out and surrounded the van driver. His van was moved, I told them the story, left my details and was sent on my way. Not sure what happened to the van driver...
I think road rage has got worse though due to people’s inability to admit mistakes. When I started driving if you found yourself in the wrong lane you would indicate and someone would let you in. A raised hand or brief flash of the hazards (or both) was used to acknowledge your mistake and the understanding of the other driver. The modern way seems to be cut in front of someone without indicating followed by a massive Israeli style escalation should your “victim” react in any way.
The only time someone has got out of the vehicle though was around ten years ago. Predictably enough it was white van man, who had decided to go straight on in a turn left only lane to bypass a traffic queue. He almost took the front of my car off as he cut in front of me without signalling. I very unreasonably sounded my horn. Wrong move. The single carriageway road had an island for a crossing. He stopped and there was a car behind effectively blocking me in. He got out of the van with some sort of weapon in his hand. In what can only be described as the luckiest thing in my life an unmarked police car was passing on the over side of the road and four coppers got out and surrounded the van driver. His van was moved, I told them the story, left my details and was sent on my way. Not sure what happened to the van driver...
I think road rage has got worse though due to people’s inability to admit mistakes. When I started driving if you found yourself in the wrong lane you would indicate and someone would let you in. A raised hand or brief flash of the hazards (or both) was used to acknowledge your mistake and the understanding of the other driver. The modern way seems to be cut in front of someone without indicating followed by a massive Israeli style escalation should your “victim” react in any way.
I have a video from one of our cars (driving school car)
Popular area for learners, our car is doing a reverse bay. As it's doing a reverse bay another 'learner' (4 lads in a fiesta & L plates) mount the kerb and fly past him, perform a U turn and park up a few car lengths behind. 2 minutes later learner number 3, a girl with her dad is driving along the road when the fiesta pulls out cutting them up, with the dad beeping the car.
Fiesta slams on and gets out, being hard etc. Ends up with the dad being floored and 3 lads out the fiesta, before making a quick getaway.
Clip passed to the police.
Road rage is more common than people think
Popular area for learners, our car is doing a reverse bay. As it's doing a reverse bay another 'learner' (4 lads in a fiesta & L plates) mount the kerb and fly past him, perform a U turn and park up a few car lengths behind. 2 minutes later learner number 3, a girl with her dad is driving along the road when the fiesta pulls out cutting them up, with the dad beeping the car.
Fiesta slams on and gets out, being hard etc. Ends up with the dad being floored and 3 lads out the fiesta, before making a quick getaway.
Clip passed to the police.
Road rage is more common than people think
Meanwhile Back in the real world, hardly anybody ever gets out of their cars during one of these arguments.
It has absolutely zero to do with the premise that everyone is a knife carrying reject form a Hollywood script and everything to do with the fact that people are only the aggressor from within the safe confines of their car.
It's because they feel safe from retaliation, that they act aggressive in the first place and they certainly wouldn't get out of their car to continue an argument where deep down they know they are in the wrong.
I am now sure that the Noye fanboys and fangirls will, in a few post time, insist that it is irrelevant and that any stranger would behave in the same manner and will 100% attack you, rather than spologise, if they tripped you up or spilt your drink in the street.
ST Ford said:
To cut a long story short his wife was 100% in the wrong lane doddering about like she did not know which lane to get in. There are arrows on the floor of each lane telling you which one to be in for the retail park but he seemed to take offence at me not indicating even though i did not change lanes or cut anyone up i was following the arrows on the floor so there is no need to indicate.
So rather than give the "dodderer" space, you took the "But I'm right!" line?ST Ford said:
I have been letting this wind me up since it happened
Don't. Learn from it, and next time follow the advice of HC147...ST Ford said:
and its still annoying me now that i did not get out and do something.
What sort of "something" were you thinking of? Criminal damage? Assault?ST Ford said:
...even if it did make me look and feel like a pussy.
so as a man...
That was all a bit crap even back in the school playground.so as a man...
LarsG said:
Twice when a driver got out and threatened me over a perceived slight, as I am almost 6'3" they changed their minds very quickly when I got out of the car.
Surprisingly both only came up to the level of my nipples, as they retreated quickly telling me I was lucky this time I could only shrug and smile.
Maybe road rage is related to being vertically challenged, with the level of rage increasing with the incremental reduction of height.
LarsSurprisingly both only came up to the level of my nipples, as they retreated quickly telling me I was lucky this time I could only shrug and smile.
Maybe road rage is related to being vertically challenged, with the level of rage increasing with the incremental reduction of height.
Guy i worked with at BT had one of the early SUV type things, high up driving position.
Driving along one day near Asda in Reading ,he did unintentionally cut in front of a leaving Asda customer, who followed us the the Hungry Horse Car park where four odf us were going for lunch (Cheap and piled high!!).
now Paul doesnt back down from anyone, and when this guy confronted him eyeball to eyeball standing by the drivers door Paul decided to get out
The look on the guys fface when Paul hit the deck was priceless
He just said 'Where the f
k did he go' as one second eyeball to eyeball. next nobody in front of himPaul said 'Down here'
and looking down he saw all 3ft 6 of Paul ready to have a go.
All he could say was' Err, errrr, ummm ummm. Yea Yea slow down ok?' and wander back to his car
Meanwhile the three of us in the car just collapsed
Paul said
'The power of surprise works every time, and who wants to admit they got into a stand off with a midget
Great lad. Had massive blocks fitted to the pedals so he could reach them
KAgantua said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said:ST Ford said:
so as a man would you guys have made the same decision or would you have gotten out of the car and dealt with him?
No.Google Kenneth Noye.
I had an odd incident on Saturday,
Driving through a residential area, a nice wide road but littered with speed humps, it is not a main road. Just going along nicley at a steady 15-20mph (you know, as it's a residential area with Kids playing etc)
All of a sudden I've got a Ford Connect van thing up my chuff beeping his horn wanting me to speed up. Ofcourse I do not oblige and continue at my steady pace.
Mouth breather tradesman does not like this so then overtakes. I've got a bird waiting for him as he speeds past (doubt he saw it though with the speed he was going!) Also, I give him a couple of toots of the horn (stupid, I know)
Anyway he pulls over as he obviously wants a chat. I don't deal with idiots like that, I just cruised past and blew him a kiss. So after all that, he still ends up behind me??
Driving through a residential area, a nice wide road but littered with speed humps, it is not a main road. Just going along nicley at a steady 15-20mph (you know, as it's a residential area with Kids playing etc)
All of a sudden I've got a Ford Connect van thing up my chuff beeping his horn wanting me to speed up. Ofcourse I do not oblige and continue at my steady pace.
Mouth breather tradesman does not like this so then overtakes. I've got a bird waiting for him as he speeds past (doubt he saw it though with the speed he was going!) Also, I give him a couple of toots of the horn (stupid, I know)
Anyway he pulls over as he obviously wants a chat. I don't deal with idiots like that, I just cruised past and blew him a kiss. So after all that, he still ends up behind me??
No for ages, was on the bypass locally and going a fair speed, indicated to turn right, was quiet and perhaps moved over 100 yards before I absolutely needed to but there was cock all about, was dusk, 7pm ish , and it avoids any traffic joining from the retail park on the right, A white Fiesta ST goes up the inside at what I reckon must have been 100 plus mph as I was doing seventy, he goes past with the horn blaring,
Now I had seen a car when I checked my mirrors but it was so far back I moved out, it was closer by the time I had moved over but far enough not to be of concern, start slowing for the roundabout and it appears.
I beep briefly and start to make my right turn on the large roundabout, I round the corner and find the Fiesta crawling and he was going in the same direction so I end up behind him, then he plays a game of speed up slam on, I try to go past int he outside lane, he blocks me, rinse and repeat.
I could see there was one occupant, I was taking my teenage son and two of his mates to their fencing club (random, I know), this goes on for like two miles, I just carry on and dont react and think he will get bored, he doesnt, he carries it on into the town centre, when we hit traffic, he is still gesticulating, putting the car in reverse, I check it is clear and suggest we have a chat, so I instruct my son and his mates to get out, and so do I, all four of us walk towards his car and he decides the game is over and goes through the red light
I really dont know what this guy was up to, didnt baulk him, I know as I am rigorous about checking mirrors, clocked him,he was miles off, and anyway, he should expect other traffic, he shouldn't have really gone up the inside but I wasnt bothered, was doing the speed limit and was about to turn right, if he had just gone past I would have just though he was out for a hoon and thought fair enough, but it was why he decided to try and intimidate me, it went on ages, strange that if I got in his way for a few seconds, he was prepared to spend maybe 10 to 15 minutes makign his point, time cant have been that important.
Hadnt seen him before on the journey, it was very quiet and he came up at huge speed, had been in the inside lane all the way down, three junction on the bypass, no conflict with anyone.
I was only in our Citroen C1, so perhaps felt he want to bully something smaller.
It was quite intimidating at the time but I am not exactly a shrinking violet and had 3 men with swords in the car, well foils or whatever but if the three Musketeers had got out and started on him it would have been THE viral video of 2014.
Now I had seen a car when I checked my mirrors but it was so far back I moved out, it was closer by the time I had moved over but far enough not to be of concern, start slowing for the roundabout and it appears.
I beep briefly and start to make my right turn on the large roundabout, I round the corner and find the Fiesta crawling and he was going in the same direction so I end up behind him, then he plays a game of speed up slam on, I try to go past int he outside lane, he blocks me, rinse and repeat.
I could see there was one occupant, I was taking my teenage son and two of his mates to their fencing club (random, I know), this goes on for like two miles, I just carry on and dont react and think he will get bored, he doesnt, he carries it on into the town centre, when we hit traffic, he is still gesticulating, putting the car in reverse, I check it is clear and suggest we have a chat, so I instruct my son and his mates to get out, and so do I, all four of us walk towards his car and he decides the game is over and goes through the red light
I really dont know what this guy was up to, didnt baulk him, I know as I am rigorous about checking mirrors, clocked him,he was miles off, and anyway, he should expect other traffic, he shouldn't have really gone up the inside but I wasnt bothered, was doing the speed limit and was about to turn right, if he had just gone past I would have just though he was out for a hoon and thought fair enough, but it was why he decided to try and intimidate me, it went on ages, strange that if I got in his way for a few seconds, he was prepared to spend maybe 10 to 15 minutes makign his point, time cant have been that important.
Hadnt seen him before on the journey, it was very quiet and he came up at huge speed, had been in the inside lane all the way down, three junction on the bypass, no conflict with anyone.
I was only in our Citroen C1, so perhaps felt he want to bully something smaller.
It was quite intimidating at the time but I am not exactly a shrinking violet and had 3 men with swords in the car, well foils or whatever but if the three Musketeers had got out and started on him it would have been THE viral video of 2014.
It interests me that people think that blowing kisses and waving and so on is a clever way forward.
Especially with wife and children in the car.
Either you have never met a truly upset/mental/wired individual or you are extremely confident in your capability to be able to deal with whatever level of escalation occurs.
Yes 99% of these idiots are all steam and no action and a locked car door will protect you but when you finally meet the 1% you live to regret it. I've seen it first hand and it isn't pretty.
The best option is de-escalation and live and let live. Simple as that.
Though some of the fun reading we have on this thread wouldn't be here if everyone did so. I wonder if someone should start a thread "ever been seriously assaulted as a result of road rage" though most probably wouldn't want to admit it?
RW
Especially with wife and children in the car.
Either you have never met a truly upset/mental/wired individual or you are extremely confident in your capability to be able to deal with whatever level of escalation occurs.
Yes 99% of these idiots are all steam and no action and a locked car door will protect you but when you finally meet the 1% you live to regret it. I've seen it first hand and it isn't pretty.
The best option is de-escalation and live and let live. Simple as that.
Though some of the fun reading we have on this thread wouldn't be here if everyone did so. I wonder if someone should start a thread "ever been seriously assaulted as a result of road rage" though most probably wouldn't want to admit it?
RW
Edited by Steven_RW on Monday 23 April 10:10
My brother and I once got in to trouble with a psychopath just for sitting in our car, in a car park, in a car parking space. He was struggling with a three point turn in front of us. We were just sitting in the car staring out of the wind screen, waiting for something or other. Apparently we shouldn't have been looking at him.
Valgar said:
Driving instructor here, all the time.
I just laugh it off, they never have a good response for being laughed at.
Keeps the pupil at ease too
This.I just laugh it off, they never have a good response for being laughed at.
Keeps the pupil at ease too
And I have to say, this morning I was stuck behind a L plated Corsa that was less frustrating to drive behind than most full licensed drivers (he was paying attention and managed to find the accelerator) so kudos to his instructor who was clearly doing a good job.
Being from Australia, road rage is far more commonplace over there. Ignoring it or laughing it off is the best thing you can do. Being sarcastic can simply escalate the situation, even thought it's pretty tempting.
Its best to diffuse, I cut a guy up on a roundabout badly years ago, I was going too fast and slid into his path (Opel Manta, no ABS), the chap did well to avoid me, he looked pretty angry as you would be, we ended up fairly close when we stopped and he gave me the coffee beans, I just nodded back and mouthed sorry which seemed to help.
i have been in other situations and I notice it a lot as I have possibly caused something or at least been complicit, then get all angry about it, red mist descends and it gets all confrontation, then, once you go your own way you feel a bit embarrassed and think what you could have done differently and perhaps it wasnt them in the wrong, at least not 100 percent, embrace that feeling and then try and apply it next time.
Also acknowledge that people make mistakes, I know someone who had been told some really bad news and there day was made worse when some bellend overreacted to a minor lapse in concentration on their part and got very, very aggressive.
being in a car seems to give some of us, including me sometimes, this feeling that we can be aggressive and confrontational, this inspired cartoon sums it up, it to me seems like when a dog is under blanket and gets all cocky as they think you cant see them. I think cyclists get arsey as they get dumpe don so much so next time they get someone try to kill them, or even come slightly near them, you get both barrels.
Also, lets not forget there are some (not that many, most are perfectly nice and reasonable or just a bit grumpy) properly nasty, psychopathic, angry, unpleasant individuals out there, I had a very close overtake by a chimp in an old Astra estate when on my bike, I raised my arm in a gesture of "what was that about", mainly to myself, didnt shout, didnt make any rude gestures and he slammed on and reversed at me, stopped short but I didnt know that, he was just looking for someone to hurt/intimidate I think. Also been chased through Manchester, mate was driving and got cut up, he beeped and we got chased, we pulled up to Collyhurst Police Station and he decided not to hang about.
Someone wise said on here "Best to not react rather than let some ahole become part of the rest of your life", or similar.
i have been in other situations and I notice it a lot as I have possibly caused something or at least been complicit, then get all angry about it, red mist descends and it gets all confrontation, then, once you go your own way you feel a bit embarrassed and think what you could have done differently and perhaps it wasnt them in the wrong, at least not 100 percent, embrace that feeling and then try and apply it next time.
Also acknowledge that people make mistakes, I know someone who had been told some really bad news and there day was made worse when some bellend overreacted to a minor lapse in concentration on their part and got very, very aggressive.
being in a car seems to give some of us, including me sometimes, this feeling that we can be aggressive and confrontational, this inspired cartoon sums it up, it to me seems like when a dog is under blanket and gets all cocky as they think you cant see them. I think cyclists get arsey as they get dumpe don so much so next time they get someone try to kill them, or even come slightly near them, you get both barrels.
Also, lets not forget there are some (not that many, most are perfectly nice and reasonable or just a bit grumpy) properly nasty, psychopathic, angry, unpleasant individuals out there, I had a very close overtake by a chimp in an old Astra estate when on my bike, I raised my arm in a gesture of "what was that about", mainly to myself, didnt shout, didnt make any rude gestures and he slammed on and reversed at me, stopped short but I didnt know that, he was just looking for someone to hurt/intimidate I think. Also been chased through Manchester, mate was driving and got cut up, he beeped and we got chased, we pulled up to Collyhurst Police Station and he decided not to hang about.
Someone wise said on here "Best to not react rather than let some a
hole become part of the rest of your life", or similar. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff