Have you been the recipient of Road Rage?

I was on the receiving end of it today.

Going though a road I let a car cross to turn right, off the main road, into a side road. I was going fairly slowly due to traffic so saw no reason why not. Anyway, a van behind beeped and obviously came quite close to hitting the back of my car. I guess he was going quite nippy and hadn't expected me to stop.

Anyway slightly further down as we came to a junction he pulled up alongside and starting hurling a lot of abuse. I was quite surprised by the viciousness of it. After shouting come incomprehensible words, I could only make out some swear words, references to my personal appearance, the recommendation that I learn to drive, more words beginning with f, and all sorts of hand gestures. I was ignoring him so couldn't catch a lot of it. Then he drove off while gesturing some more.

First time It happened and although I have heard of it, and see it third hand, I was surprised quite how nasty and personal he was. Still not entirely clear what I did because I was driving very slowly when I stopped anyway.

How many times have others experienced it?

[jb66]

All the time, it's quite a shock sometimes as the reactions from the angry motorist are unproportional to the event.

[dilli-theclaw]

Someone pulled up next to me while I was posting some books back at the post box the other day.

All I know was he was in a small blue car - but as soon as he pulled up he wound down the window and let rip into me about how disgusted he was (in very foul language some of which even I'd not heard before) that the road he wanted to take was closed.

I just said I was sorry to hear that - he wound up his window and drove off up the road.

Very random.

Firstly ,i would congratulate you on being aware of traffic in front of you enough to leave space for other traffic to cross so many people don't do that which leads to congestion

secondly ,yes that has happened to me loads of times especially at juntions which have slow moving traffic in front and i leave room for other cars to enter the flow of traffic

It does amaze me how blinkered some drivers can be ,they see nothing past a few feet in front and show no awareness of what is happening around them ,i know that driving instructors will tell you to "claim your road space "but some drivers take it to a whole new level

[swoop101]

Try driving a large vehicle for a living, you get used to the idiots.
my son has a great saying:
Welcome to planet earth... population...ME

[superbiatch]

I had a gun waved at me through a window by a mad woman in a 4x4

Needless to say I drove straight to a police station and gave them the details, nothing further ever came of it.

I go out of my way to not get involved in anything these days although you still get the odd maniac and I was even threatened by another lunatic woman in the asda car park who was heavily pregnant around Christmas, her mother was in the passenger seat laughing! Honestly, there are some right cranks about

Originally Posted by superbiatch

I had a gun waved at me through a window by a mad woman in a 4x4

Needless to say I drove straight to a police station and gave them the details, nothing further ever came of it.

I go out of my way to not get involved in anything these days although you still get the odd maniac and I was even threatened by another lunatic woman in the asda car park who was heavily pregnant around Christmas, her mother was in the passenger seat laughing! Honestly, there are some right cranks about

absolutely SB

Kenneth Noye springs to mind ,i watched a documentary last night on the crime channel about him ,you just don't know when things will get realy bad

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by martyh

absolutely SB

Kenneth Noye springs to mind ,i watched a documentary last night on the crime channel about him ,you just don't know when things will get realy bad

My ex-hubs used to kick off at the wheel on a daily basis, I'm sure it would only have been a matter of time before someone gave him a serious hiding. It worked quite well for him actually, as I was always the one to drive because of it

[haydnwalker]

I've had it happen to me, in much the same situation as you Damien.

There isn't, unfortunately, alot that can be done about other drivers behaviour...

I just do as you do, and ignore it. The worst one I had was a cyclist... I overtook him (leaving about 10 feet between me and him) and at the next junction he was calling me all sorts of foul words...the only reason I could comprehend, was that he didn't like cars passing him...so rather random

[Russ]

I just blow them a kiss, they love that

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by Russ

I just blow them a kiss, they love that

If its a man and hold my little finger up and wiggle it insinuating he's got a little widgey

I just visualise them wrapped round a lamp post..Makes them very easy to ignore.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by haydnwalker

I've had it happen to me, in much the same situation as you Damien.

There isn't, unfortunately, alot that can be done about other drivers behaviour...

I just do as you do, and ignore it. The worst one I had was a cyclist... I overtook him (leaving about 10 feet between me and him) and at the next junction he was calling me all sorts of foul words...the only reason I could comprehend, was that he didn't like cars passing him...so rather random

I've been pelted with coins from the window of a car while out on my bike. The only reason I could think of was that me going 20 mph in a narrow lane wasn't fast enough for him. That's despite the fact that he deliberately followed me into a side street while using his horn copiously...

[Russ]

I admit I get annoyed by drivers who have no concept of lanes, generally weaving between them and often driving between each lane, right on top of the white lines. This happens a lot in Leicester and often by non-whites. I mentioned this to a traffic cop once and he said it's often because they learned to drive in countries where there aren't many lanes and where the emphasis is on "getting there by any means necessary".

[tweetiepooh]

Aren't there times when you wish you were a policeman?

I had some idiot coming up behind, undertaking and the like. I got to a line of traffic and proceeded to overtake at the speed limit with him behind for quite some time. When clear I pulled over and he pulled along side and before speeding off made a rude comment on me holding him up.