Would it have been right to run him over?

[TurboBalls]

Hi,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I had an incident a few weeks ago which has divided opinion of my friends, family and co-workers so I thought I'd share it here.

I was driving with the wife and had the 18 month old in the back too. On the road someone pulls out from a junction in front of me, I had to lift off but not brake, not a big deal I thought. Then someone follows him out the junction causing me "slam the anchors on" narrowly avoiding a collision.

So to express my feeling I flashed my lights and made (what I considered to be appropriate) hand gesture, letting him know just what I thought of him. He then proceed to pull off the road (immediately) and try to get out and have a fight about it. (by the time he started to open his door I was off).

This got me thinking about when (if at all) I could have essentially used my car as a weapon to defeat said foe? (by defeat I basically mean run him over to get away)
What if he got out before I got away? and started charging back up the road towards my car! What if he got out with a weapon (large spanner or something)? What if he blocked me in? (I would have hit him but would the fuzz have thrown the book at me?)

I understand there are a lot of what if's and buts regarding these type of situations but I appreciate you time in reading this and responding

Thanks

P.S. I'm 6'2", 17 stone and did kung fu (hard core kung fu!) for 4 years so "toe to toe" I feel I could have taken him but that's not the point, I don't what to fight... I'm happy with just running away... but is it ok to run away in a car if that car has to drive over the top of the "bad guy" to get away?

[TurboBalls]

La Liga said:

A collision with him when your intention is to get away is different from deliberately running him over. The latter will require a greater threat and greater justification given the likely injury outcomes.

A lot also depends on how you felt and what threat you perceived, but any force needs to be reasonable in the circumstances.

I like this answer best but thanks to all who took the time to.

I don't own a company or have any facial hair so despite the hardcore kung fu training getting away is my preferred option

[TurboBalls]

ruggedscotty said:

want to run him over..... well for a start take the keys off of you - as you are not fit to be in charge of any vehicle.

This day and age we all have a social responsibility - yes that cretin that pulled out took a liberty - thats the state of roads today - if you want to start a fight or engage in a fight then so be it....

Id be considering anger management courses - ;-)

I wanted to get away, (I had my 18 month old in car) but if it's a choice between putting my family in danger and maybe even killing someone... IF the threat was big enough then ... splat... bye bye

• not that I'm saying by pulling out nearly causing a collision warrants the death penalty but if you try to start a fight with someone in a car and they drive away and run over your foot then though, it would be your own stupid fault

[TurboBalls]

ferrariF50lover said:

... lts of stuff ...

steady on, there's no way my car could do anywhere near 150!

as I said earlier "if you try to start a fight with someone in a car and they drive away and run over your foot then though, it would be your own stupid fault"

LoonR1 said:

Maybe start the whole process by not giving someone the * sign and you'd be amazed how these things don't escalate.

good point ....