Road Rage - have you ever got out of your car?
Discussion
I did on one occasion back in the 80s. The driver in front had pulled out of a side street in front of me and I beeped and slammed on, narrowly avoiding a collision. He then brake checked me 100m further up the road, got out of his car and walked towards me. I think he felt safe trying to intimidate a woman driving a mini. He got back in and drove away sharpish when I got out as well and he realised I was 6" taller than him.
No.
I had one chap stop in front of me, get out of his car and tell me that I was lucky he didn't crush my head in the car door.
Another chap got very upset when I suggested he was a w
ker for tailgating me really, really close on a dual carriage way. In my rear view mirror all I could see was the grille of his pick up truck. I was already going a reasonable chunk over the speed limit whilst overtaking a convey of HGV's. He suggested that I should pull over - no tah! 
I pulled over as soon as I could and he stopped in the outside of the dual carriageway in an effort to get me to stop...needless to say it didn't and I managed to nip off at the last minute at the next junction. Mentalist.
I had one chap stop in front of me, get out of his car and tell me that I was lucky he didn't crush my head in the car door.
Another chap got very upset when I suggested he was a w
ker for tailgating me really, really close on a dual carriage way. In my rear view mirror all I could see was the grille of his pick up truck. I was already going a reasonable chunk over the speed limit whilst overtaking a convey of HGV's. He suggested that I should pull over - no tah! I pulled over as soon as I could and he stopped in the outside of the dual carriageway in an effort to get me to stop...needless to say it didn't and I managed to nip off at the last minute at the next junction. Mentalist.
Yes, a few times over the years. Not to physically assault someone but to a. ask why they were tailgating me for the last 5 miles, b. to deter someone who was quite clearly following me from knowing my home address, c. when asked to by the Police two or three times. There may have been a few other times I can't recall.
Once, and it wasn't that long ago! I was on the M23, minding my own business just following Google Maps as I was doing an unfamiliar journey.
I was going pretty slowly; it wasn't long after the roadworks and I was in the inside lane. I then overtook a lorry, and then a car in the middle lane so I was then in the outside lane. I had indicated, checked my blind spot; a regular overtake.
Almost immediately after, the inside lane had slowed and I was clearly now in the 'best' lane. What I hadn't realised was that my overtaking was noticed by a driver a few cars back, who I assume had grown tired of a lack of progress in the roadworks beforehand. I assumed - again - that he saw that my progress was undeserved and so undertook a car in the middle lane, then myself to take his rightful place ahead of me.
I didn't think much of it; I wasn't in a rush and he obviously was - no big deal, especially as I was coming off at the next junction.
However, back in the inside lane indicating to come off at said junction, the same driver went from the outside lane to in front of me in one sweeping move. It's the first time I had to brake, pedal-to-the-floor in order to avoid him. Except it wasn't enough, and I just nudged his bumper.
In what must have been a split second, I assumed he didn't see me until the point where I drove into the hard shoulder in an attempt to avoid hitting him - instead he moved to 'cover me off'!
In another split second, I went from panic to pure anger at the thought of someone deliberately putting me in that level of danger on a busy motorway (I hadn't time to check what other people had to do to avoid us) and chased after him as he clearly then tried to speed off.
I did the usual Level 1 Road Rage stuff; flashed my lights and tailgated him gesticulating him to pull over. He clearly had no intention of doing so, but by pure coincidence he was going the same route as Google Maps was sending me so I had plenty of time to have an argument with myself .
As soon as we hit some lights, I then got my opportunity to get out to remonstrate and he only wound me up further by refusing to acknowledge my presence. I then instinctively 'knee'd' his door (it hurt my knee, and did sadly nothing to his door).
As I saw traffic pulling away ahead, I got back in the car and wherever this guy went, Google Maps was telling me to follow! He kept dropping a gear after every roundabout but never got far from me; at this point my non-ape part of the brain was starting to ask me questions like "You could get arrested, lose your job, lose your wife over this" ... you know, the sensible crap.
My mind flitted from wanting to kill him, to calling the Police, to just accepting bad stuff happens to good people occasionally. It then got to a point where he clearly was trying to 'lose me' (I was honestly still following my sat nav route) and decided to pull over as he had no idea where he was.
I parked in front of him to 'block him off'
I then walked up to him again and could hear he was on the phone, to the flippin' Police! Seeing he was on hands-free (so he wasn't all bad...), I could hear everything and started shouting the list of things he'd done, to which point he started covering his phone and then hung up on the lady at the other end of the line.
So then he got out and started having a go at me. There was lots of finger pointing, and then took a step back to give him a decent push in the chest. I also kicked his rear bumper (foot hurt after that, too). Then the sobering realisation that cars were driving past and at this could look pretty bad for me, quickly deescalated things in my head. I called him a c*nt and then got back in my car.
The irony is that, now 34, I have mellowed a lot compared to my twenties and would be the first to slowly shake my head at people remonstrating with each other in the cars.
I was going pretty slowly; it wasn't long after the roadworks and I was in the inside lane. I then overtook a lorry, and then a car in the middle lane so I was then in the outside lane. I had indicated, checked my blind spot; a regular overtake.
Almost immediately after, the inside lane had slowed and I was clearly now in the 'best' lane. What I hadn't realised was that my overtaking was noticed by a driver a few cars back, who I assume had grown tired of a lack of progress in the roadworks beforehand. I assumed - again - that he saw that my progress was undeserved and so undertook a car in the middle lane, then myself to take his rightful place ahead of me.
I didn't think much of it; I wasn't in a rush and he obviously was - no big deal, especially as I was coming off at the next junction.
However, back in the inside lane indicating to come off at said junction, the same driver went from the outside lane to in front of me in one sweeping move. It's the first time I had to brake, pedal-to-the-floor in order to avoid him. Except it wasn't enough, and I just nudged his bumper.
In what must have been a split second, I assumed he didn't see me until the point where I drove into the hard shoulder in an attempt to avoid hitting him - instead he moved to 'cover me off'!
In another split second, I went from panic to pure anger at the thought of someone deliberately putting me in that level of danger on a busy motorway (I hadn't time to check what other people had to do to avoid us) and chased after him as he clearly then tried to speed off.
I did the usual Level 1 Road Rage stuff; flashed my lights and tailgated him gesticulating him to pull over. He clearly had no intention of doing so, but by pure coincidence he was going the same route as Google Maps was sending me so I had plenty of time to have an argument with myself .
As soon as we hit some lights, I then got my opportunity to get out to remonstrate and he only wound me up further by refusing to acknowledge my presence. I then instinctively 'knee'd' his door (it hurt my knee, and did sadly nothing to his door).
As I saw traffic pulling away ahead, I got back in the car and wherever this guy went, Google Maps was telling me to follow! He kept dropping a gear after every roundabout but never got far from me; at this point my non-ape part of the brain was starting to ask me questions like "You could get arrested, lose your job, lose your wife over this" ... you know, the sensible crap.
My mind flitted from wanting to kill him, to calling the Police, to just accepting bad stuff happens to good people occasionally. It then got to a point where he clearly was trying to 'lose me' (I was honestly still following my sat nav route) and decided to pull over as he had no idea where he was.
I parked in front of him to 'block him off'
I then walked up to him again and could hear he was on the phone, to the flippin' Police! Seeing he was on hands-free (so he wasn't all bad...), I could hear everything and started shouting the list of things he'd done, to which point he started covering his phone and then hung up on the lady at the other end of the line.
So then he got out and started having a go at me. There was lots of finger pointing, and then took a step back to give him a decent push in the chest. I also kicked his rear bumper (foot hurt after that, too). Then the sobering realisation that cars were driving past and at this could look pretty bad for me, quickly deescalated things in my head. I called him a c*nt and then got back in my car.
The irony is that, now 34, I have mellowed a lot compared to my twenties and would be the first to slowly shake my head at people remonstrating with each other in the cars.
Rawwr said:
No. Mostly because I'm not an ape.
This. Also I don't think I've ever done anything stupid enough to warrant someone getting out their car and if I have made a mistake I always apologise.
I genuinely can't think of any reason why I would want to get out as well, Life's to short, People make mistakes, move on etc.
Perhaps doing between 20-30k a year makes me a very relaxed and defensive driver.
No, I'm a big chap but really not a ninja.
I did come close a few years ago after a near death experience on the motorbike, I was ready to kill the driver (proper red mist moment, he looked straight at me as he changed lanes on the motorway, effectively pushing me into the outside lane at 70 ish) but had calmed to a more reasonable state by the time they got stuck in traffic.
The issue with the bike is that if you get off it and they panic they could well drive over you or the bike, if you stay on and they panic they could well drive over you and the bike. Plus they had just proved not to be very good at driving.
Settled for the traditional stopping next to the car with the bike bouncing off the limiter for a few seconds looking at the driver as the people in the car did the "just look ahead, they might not attack" bit..
I did come close a few years ago after a near death experience on the motorbike, I was ready to kill the driver (proper red mist moment, he looked straight at me as he changed lanes on the motorway, effectively pushing me into the outside lane at 70 ish) but had calmed to a more reasonable state by the time they got stuck in traffic.
The issue with the bike is that if you get off it and they panic they could well drive over you or the bike, if you stay on and they panic they could well drive over you and the bike. Plus they had just proved not to be very good at driving.
Settled for the traditional stopping next to the car with the bike bouncing off the limiter for a few seconds looking at the driver as the people in the car did the "just look ahead, they might not attack" bit..
Only once.
Younger by a decade, had some driver in van tailgating me and getting annoyed as I stopped for the amber lights not braking heavily mind because of said idiot.
I got out in busy traffic and he began ducking down in his seat. At the time it made me feel better.
But wisdom of years would say there was plenty of opportunity to let this idiot get by. And I do that now instead if pushed I will pullover to the side of the road which tends to waste even more time.
I am sick of tailgating as whole and never will understand it.
Younger by a decade, had some driver in van tailgating me and getting annoyed as I stopped for the amber lights not braking heavily mind because of said idiot.
I got out in busy traffic and he began ducking down in his seat. At the time it made me feel better.
But wisdom of years would say there was plenty of opportunity to let this idiot get by. And I do that now instead if pushed I will pullover to the side of the road which tends to waste even more time.
I am sick of tailgating as whole and never will understand it.
My missus was driving through Carlisle, we lived in Portinscale, Nr Keswick and she was a little unsure of the rules when leaving a central Carlisle car park and she ended up (slightly) cutting up a another motorist, who 'bibbed' and waved at her.
Feeling 'confident' in her metal box, she mouthed something and 'veed' him off.
Next thing, she realised he was following her, bibbing his horn and shouting.
Because of the traffic they were both travelling very slowly
She turned right, he turned right.
She turned left, he turned left.
Then she realised they were in a dead end.......
He stopped right behind her. She stopped and wound down her window 2".
He got out of his car, walked up to her front door, tapped on the window, put his hand on the roof as if to grab something and said (through the 2" gap at the top of the window)
" 'ere Love, you know you driven out that car park with your 'andbag' ont roof ov 'yer car!
Feeling 'confident' in her metal box, she mouthed something and 'veed' him off.
Next thing, she realised he was following her, bibbing his horn and shouting.
Because of the traffic they were both travelling very slowly
She turned right, he turned right.
She turned left, he turned left.
Then she realised they were in a dead end.......
He stopped right behind her. She stopped and wound down her window 2".
He got out of his car, walked up to her front door, tapped on the window, put his hand on the roof as if to grab something and said (through the 2" gap at the top of the window)
" 'ere Love, you know you driven out that car park with your 'andbag' ont roof ov 'yer car!
Edited by alfaspecial on Monday 18th November 16:31
Yes i have!
Going through some active speed cameras showing 50mph with cruise set at 53mph being tailgated by a hgv within 1ft of my rear bumper.
I spit the next gantry is now showing 40mph so turn the cruise control off and gradually reduce speed.
If I used the brakes I would have become his hood ornament!!
The lorry then swerves into lane 2 and overtakes whilst then trying to side swipe me by pulling in front of me when he hadnt quite passed.
Luckily I took evasive action on the hard shoilder rammed the brakes and somehow missed him!
He then positioned his lorry across the hard shoulder and lane 1 so i got out and started to discuss with the lorry driver who was adamant the limit was 50 and not 40 and it was somehow my fault for slowing down.
Whilst he is shouting at me safe in his cab I am trying to rip the locked cab door open but to no avail.
A couple of hefty kicks to the side of his truck and some nice dents and I return to my car contemplating following the fat fking st so I can make my point.
A few minutes pass and I come to my exit and decide its not worth it so return home.
If i had opened his cab door or he had got out I really dont know what would have happened.
Big tough hard trucker becomes fking pussy when not locked up safely in his cab.
All caused by active fking speed cameras with no obstructions and a truck driver determined to try and injure me.
Im not an angry person but try and kill me and I really dont appreciate it.
Going through some active speed cameras showing 50mph with cruise set at 53mph being tailgated by a hgv within 1ft of my rear bumper.
I spit the next gantry is now showing 40mph so turn the cruise control off and gradually reduce speed.
If I used the brakes I would have become his hood ornament!!
The lorry then swerves into lane 2 and overtakes whilst then trying to side swipe me by pulling in front of me when he hadnt quite passed.
Luckily I took evasive action on the hard shoilder rammed the brakes and somehow missed him!
He then positioned his lorry across the hard shoulder and lane 1 so i got out and started to discuss with the lorry driver who was adamant the limit was 50 and not 40 and it was somehow my fault for slowing down.
Whilst he is shouting at me safe in his cab I am trying to rip the locked cab door open but to no avail.
A couple of hefty kicks to the side of his truck and some nice dents and I return to my car contemplating following the fat f
king st so I can make my point.A few minutes pass and I come to my exit and decide its not worth it so return home.
If i had opened his cab door or he had got out I really dont know what would have happened.
Big tough hard trucker becomes f
king pussy when not locked up safely in his cab.All caused by active f
king speed cameras with no obstructions and a truck driver determined to try and injure me.Im not an angry person but try and kill me and I really dont appreciate it.
Ninja59 said:
And I do that now instead if pushed I will pullover to the side of the road which tends to waste even more time.
Yes, I do that now. Though last time I had the wife and the kids telling me to go as I'd built up quite a queue behind me as the chap waited for a gap in the traffic to get round!eybic said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: No because Kenneth Noye.
I mean just why would you
That was about the time of my indiscretion and was one of the things that crossed my mind making me close the door again.I mean just why would you
But honestly I just think if you're at the point where you're even thinking about it you've lost the plot.
I think one thing that is missing with many drivers these days is the ability to simply hold your hand up or bip the hazards to acknowledge you've screwed up.
Combine that with a subset of people who seem increasingly tetchy all the time and it's not a good combination.
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