Road Rage - Should I be Arsed? Pontless Poll
Discussion
This morning I had an "altercation" with the driver of a Renault Scenic. I won't bore you with the details (there are FAR better examples of crap driving over in the "Worst Driving..." thread!), but basically I acted rationally and clamly, yet got a load of abuse and was nearly rammed into. This guy is clearly not responsible enough to be in charge of a 45mph 2-ton machine in a town centre, so my natural instinct is to try and do something about this. So, here are my (pointless) questions:
1) If I report this to the police, will they give a monkey's? (No damage, no witnesses)
2) Given that I know the answer to (1), should I report it anyway, just to make a point?
3) Should I track down the driver via the DVLA (on some cunning pretext) then firebomb his house?
Answers on a postcard, or on this thread...
Yours,
Un-impressed of Guildford
1) If I report this to the police, will they give a monkey's? (No damage, no witnesses)
2) Given that I know the answer to (1), should I report it anyway, just to make a point?
3) Should I track down the driver via the DVLA (on some cunning pretext) then firebomb his house?
Answers on a postcard, or on this thread...
Yours,
Un-impressed of Guildford
Been here before - I tend to act all "nice" and difuse the situation. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth me apologising for something that I didnt do - but still, if it makes them feel better then it is a small price to pay...
However, reported someone before to the Police and they admit that there is not much that they can do. They have fixed lines for black and white - right and wrong - legal or illegal. What the other person might have done could well be wrong, but unless there is a case to prove and some evidence to back it up they are stuck. Not necessarily correct, but they do have limited resources and they have to focus on things that will bring results (convictions) - an altercation possibly isnt one of those (situations do change of course).
I would go with what Ted said - meet them again on the road and just smile - keep them un-nerved and it works a treat. Have found this works in the past, most people run a mile if they are challenged anyway - then again I am 6'5" tall and NOT thin.....
Cheers,
Paul
However, reported someone before to the Police and they admit that there is not much that they can do. They have fixed lines for black and white - right and wrong - legal or illegal. What the other person might have done could well be wrong, but unless there is a case to prove and some evidence to back it up they are stuck. Not necessarily correct, but they do have limited resources and they have to focus on things that will bring results (convictions) - an altercation possibly isnt one of those (situations do change of course).
I would go with what Ted said - meet them again on the road and just smile - keep them un-nerved and it works a treat. Have found this works in the past, most people run a mile if they are challenged anyway - then again I am 6'5" tall and NOT thin.....
Cheers,
Paul
quote:
quote:
but they do have limited resources and they have to focus on things that will bring results (convictions)
... you probably meant "to focus on things that will bring ca$h" - like speed traps..
Exactly, Speed Fine = 'Conviction' = Better score on the league table = Public Not protected in any way shape or form. Super Govt we have.
The thing that concerns me is are Any of the Political Parties better than each other ? Though I guess the current one thinks that cars are more severe than muggings so they are mugging the car owners.
quote:
Exactly, Speed Fine = 'Conviction' = Better score on the league table = Public Not protected in any way shape or form. Super Govt we have.
The thing that concerns me is are Any of the Political Parties better than each other ? Though I guess the current one thinks that cars are more severe than muggings so they are mugging the car owners.
Absolutely, Which of the three green alternatives do you vote for? They all want to protect our status as subjects and take our cars off us.
quote:
Exactly, Speed Fine = 'Conviction' = Better score on the league table = Public Not protected in any way shape or form. Super Govt we have.
come on lads, be fair. It you got to the Police and report such an incident, and they act on it, whats going to happen? The y call in the other guy, he'll lie to make the girders bend, and then thats it, the police can't do anything.
You need witnesses to back up a case like this.
Rgds, WalterU
Maybe the situation is made worse when you have a decent car?
I've noticed that on the 2 occasions I picked up new cars on the day the reg changes, that people cut you up more...
So possibly if you drive a nice sporty number, they feel like damaging it out of jealousy?
Sad situation.
I've noticed that on the 2 occasions I picked up new cars on the day the reg changes, that people cut you up more...
So possibly if you drive a nice sporty number, they feel like damaging it out of jealousy?
Sad situation.
Report him/her.
Although the police cannot prosecte him, they may well have a word with him . . . and the police turning up at the family dining table will make him think twice about doing it again . . . bursts his little 'I can do anything I like' bubble.
If I feel someone is being intentionally dangerous and/or unreasonably threatening I will call the police on the mobile. In my experience the Police will usually have a word.
If you do nothing he/she thinks it's acceptable behaviour, they may well be worse next time.
All it costs you is a 'phone call . . .
Fd
Although the police cannot prosecte him, they may well have a word with him . . . and the police turning up at the family dining table will make him think twice about doing it again . . . bursts his little 'I can do anything I like' bubble.
If I feel someone is being intentionally dangerous and/or unreasonably threatening I will call the police on the mobile. In my experience the Police will usually have a word.
If you do nothing he/she thinks it's acceptable behaviour, they may well be worse next time.
All it costs you is a 'phone call . . .
Fd
quote:I'm not sure I agree with that.. when I drive my Primera, I get quite a lot of abuse from other road users (horns, lights, finger etc..) every time I overtake on a 2-way road, usually by people still several hundred yards away as I pull back into my lane.. and yet in my TT last weekend I scorched across West Sussex overtaking everything and didn't get a peep out of anyone. Kind of disappointing really - I'd grown to enjoy the feeling of knowing I'd annoyed a moron..
Maybe the situation is made worse when you have a decent car?
That said, I can see how some people might find a TVR or a Porker ostentatious, whereas they may not see a TT that way.. I dunno really.. not justifying these w***ers, but 'know your enemy' and all that..
quote:as pathetic as it is I can believe that.. it's that old chestnut about people in this country resenting rather than admiring success and any signs of it.
I've noticed that on the 2 occasions I picked up new cars on the day the reg changes, that people cut you up more...
Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 23 January 20:57
Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 23 January 21:03
Have had similar experiences. Bought W plate Elise few weeks ago 
and was taking it for a run - was behind another car (safe distance) when approaching a dual carriageway and started to accelerate towards him. Right at the last minute the git shimmied towards the outside lane (nothing in road that he had to avoid etc)- shit me right up and had to hit anchors hard. Was really pissed and as i pulled along side gave a bemused wtf look - thing was, i then noticed he had his girlfriend/wife sat next to him in his car - wtf is all that about - silly c*$t was messing with his nearest and supposedly dearests life as well as mine - just shrugged and sped off thinking wots the point - people like that just aint worth arguing with.
Have also had the joy of driving a beat up black mk1 fiesta for 6 months whilst between cars. Was in it once when a postal van tried to cut in infront of me as the exit narrowed off a roundabout (others waiting patiently etc). Stuck to bumper infront like glue whilst he started shouting all the obscenities under the sun at me. I just wound down my window, smiled at him and politely said 'does it look as though i give a f*$k about this car' - oh i laughed hard as he got more and more irate - but he wouldnt try it on.
and was taking it for a run - was behind another car (safe distance) when approaching a dual carriageway and started to accelerate towards him. Right at the last minute the git shimmied towards the outside lane (nothing in road that he had to avoid etc)- shit me right up and had to hit anchors hard. Was really pissed and as i pulled along side gave a bemused wtf look - thing was, i then noticed he had his girlfriend/wife sat next to him in his car - wtf is all that about - silly c*$t was messing with his nearest and supposedly dearests life as well as mine - just shrugged and sped off thinking wots the point - people like that just aint worth arguing with. Have also had the joy of driving a beat up black mk1 fiesta for 6 months whilst between cars. Was in it once when a postal van tried to cut in infront of me as the exit narrowed off a roundabout (others waiting patiently etc). Stuck to bumper infront like glue whilst he started shouting all the obscenities under the sun at me. I just wound down my window, smiled at him and politely said 'does it look as though i give a f*$k about this car' - oh i laughed hard as he got more and more irate - but he wouldnt try it on.
quote:
and yet in my TT last weekend I scorched across West Sussex overtaking everything and didn't get a peep out of anyone. Kind of disappointing really - I'd grown to enjoy the feeling of knowing I'd annoyed a moron..
That said, I can see how some people might find a TVR or a Porker ostentatious, whereas they may not see a TT that way.. I dunno really.
We have the opposite experience.
Girlfriend drives a TT and we get a lot of gip in that car, hardly any in the TVR. People see the TVR coming and move out of the way (guess they respect it), whereas I've had a number of people deliberately get in my way in the TT. Girlfriend has loads of people try to cut her up/race her when she's alone in the TT. Surrey Police (b'stards) have also picked on her.
I think people see the TT as more of a poseurs car.
T/.
quote:
quote:
and yet in my TT last weekend I scorched across West Sussex overtaking everything and didn't get a peep out of anyone. Kind of disappointing really - I'd grown to enjoy the feeling of knowing I'd annoyed a moron..
That said, I can see how some people might find a TVR or a Porker ostentatious, whereas they may not see a TT that way.. I dunno really.
We have the opposite experience.
Girlfriend drives a TT and we get a lot of gip in that car, hardly any in the TVR. People see the TVR coming and move out of the way (guess they respect it), whereas I've had a number of people deliberately get in my way in the TT. Girlfriend has loads of people try to cut her up/race her when she's alone in the TT. Surrey Police (b'stards) have also picked on her.
I think people see the TT as more of a poseurs car.
T/.
This could be a gender thing. Er indoors tells me all sorts of tw**s cut her up and get into wild rages when she overtakes. Usually old men in big Volvos. I have experienced some of this as her passenger. Had to get out and have a word with one of them.
Its bizzare isnt it.
I have never had any real bother in the Tiv, had a few numpties in fleet cars goad me into putting my foot down but nothing that could be construed as road rage.
However, even if 'er indoors takes it 5 miles down the road to see friends she is almost guaranteed that at least one or two blokes (and it usually is) cut her up or are generally abusive.
Sorry state of affairs really.
Matt.
I have never had any real bother in the Tiv, had a few numpties in fleet cars goad me into putting my foot down but nothing that could be construed as road rage.
However, even if 'er indoors takes it 5 miles down the road to see friends she is almost guaranteed that at least one or two blokes (and it usually is) cut her up or are generally abusive.
Sorry state of affairs really.
Matt.
Don't understand it at all myself - I'm always dead impressed when I see a woman driving a TVR - I've known a few who were too timid to get in anything bigger than a pug106.
Incidentally I saw a woman driving T17 SCN (a tuscan.. duh) round the M25 this morning..
And if anyone here knows her & she got shit today it wasn't from me !
Incidentally I saw a woman driving T17 SCN (a tuscan.. duh) round the M25 this morning..
And if anyone here knows her & she got shit today it wasn't from me !
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