Bizzare experiences with road rage

[oli collett]

Following a bizzare experience of a driver who got incredibly wound up by my driving earlier, I thought i'd start a thread to share those experiences of other people's unexplained road rage.

In the past I've seen drivers stick their fingers up at an oncoming car whilst they are overtaking and about to give the other driver a near-death experience, and i'm sure we've all had a minor slip-up which has invoked fury in another driver, but what I saw today was quite bizzare.

I had just re-joined the M1 from some services and was stuck behind a Lorry on the inside lane (3 lane motorway). I checked the middle lane and there was a car approx 80m back, checked again and they clearly weren't going particularly fast so I indicated, accelerated whilst slipping into the middle lane and carried on accelerating (for all of 1 second) until up to a "reasonable" speed to get past the lorry. As I pulled into the middle lane, I noticed the driver behind, still well in the distance flash their lights at me as if to indicate I had pulled out in front of them. This struck me as odd, given that they hadn't had to slow down and there was still a very reasonable distance behind, so I just shrugged, carried on overtaking the lorry (car behind still at a similar distance) and traffic on the inside lane, only to notice as I overtook the last car in the queue in my mirror was the same car right up my tail now flashing his lights like a maniac.

As I go to pull in after overtaking the traffic, he pulls in just before me and accelerates alongside to signal to me in a manner which resembled a method of self-stimulation, much to my bemusement. I paid little attention because I noticed up ahead traffic was building up and I had to slow down. As I slowed down behind the car in front, this person alongside me, who I should point out never looked across - and looked like the stereotypical 60 year old "wouldn't leave your kids with him" type - decided to pull into my lane, forcing me to slam on my brakes to avoid going into the back of him. I beeped my horn and was able to pull out and go around him, whilst he persisted in his hand-indicating.

Has anyone ever come across an incident like this? I'm still going back over it and I'm lost as to what more I could have done. Even if I had misjudged his speed (and it would have needed to be a gross misjudgement, bearing in mind distances and time involved, and it's a bit unbelievable considering the car was a very old Passat) he still could have pulled into the outside lane and avoided the unnescassary build up of rage by pulling into the outside lane.

The only explanation that I can think of was that this person's judgement of both speed and distance was utterly awful. Now I take into account that it could have been my misjudgement, but based upon the fact that the distance remained constant between us whilst I was going past the lorry, until he decided to speed up and tailgate me, I find that highly unlikely!

 

[Edward01]

This struck me as odd, given that they hadn't had to slow down and there was still a very reasonable distance behind, so I just shrugged, carried on overtaking the lorry (car behind still at a similar distance) and traffic on the inside lane, only to notice as I overtook the last car in the queue in my mirror was the same car right up my tail now flashing his lights like a maniac.

Were they blue flashing lights? Cause I think your suppose to stop for them!!

 

[Rilot]

It takes all sorts. I've had people get out of their cars and attempt to engage me in a bout of pugelism because I overtook them.
Just ignore them and give them a wide berth.

 

[Tute]

considering the car was a very old Passat

Sums it up really.

Drivers of these are predominantly *****.

 

[Meridian]

This struck me as odd, given that they hadn't had to slow down and there was still a very reasonable distance behind

It's quite possible that your idea of a reasonable distance is not theirs. Having seen the varying distances people like to drive from the vehicle in front, ranging from the next county to the car in front's driver's back pocket, it would seem one possible explanation.


M

 

[THFC]

There really are lots of nob heads on the road.

I had a woman flash me and give the obligatory hand signal once for alledgedly cutting her up . I presume this was the case even though she was 20m away and about to slow for a speed bump and crossing. I swung into the turn and was flashed. Unreal

I've had worse but this one was poor judgement on her behalf.

 

[oli collett]

It's quite possible that your idea of a reasonable distance is not theirs. Having seen the varying distances people like to drive from the vehicle in front, ranging from the next county to the car in front's driver's back pocket, it would seem one possible explanation.


M

Possibly - but i'd dread to think how that person copes with changing lanes in traffic!

 

[Iamzod]

Not too long ago on the way to my girlfriends house i went to overtake a truck in the Pug 406 i had at the time, funny thing was the bloke in the mitsubishi shogun behind me put his main beam on & hit his horn as i overtook the truck. All he acheived was blinding me for a couple of seconds & making me thing "WTF???"

 

[Justintime]

I've had a guy come after me, overtake me and jump out of his car running to me because i assumed since he was stationary, had his hazard lights on and was in a bus lane during enforcement time, that he broken down and i could turn out into the main road from the side street, nope and he took off without even looking and almost t boned me but i blew my horn to signify my presence and then gave him the one fingered salute after he shouted something foreign to me. When he realised i probably was'nt going to stop and was aiming over a ton of steel at him he quickly lost the chicken game. No way i was gonna fight that dude, he would've beat me to a pulp

 

[Berger]

Yup, had one last night when we both pulled out of a row at Tesco at the same time, I was in the one to his right so about 25m away. Yet he goes ape with full beams and gestures at the traffic lights wanting me to get out the car, he looked about mid 50s with glasses and his mrs with him.

Being mature I sat there, then when the lights changed popped it into reverse, reversed up to his front end so he couldnt drive around me and sat there for a few seconds to really hack him off good and proper.

 

[ajgoodfellow]

I had one about a week ago

Driving on the Canterbury ring road (which is predominately a dual carriage way) and overtook a Clio in the left hand lane. When we came up to the roundabout (a few hundred yards on), I pulled over as I needed to go left at the next roundabout.

As I went past my passenger said that she was giving me the finger and yelling at me - I ignored this

After I'd pulled into the left hand lane, she pulled out into the right hand lane and came along side me. We went round the roundabout together and then she cut in behind me following very closely behind and yelling.

She proceeded to chase me so I pulled over into the courtyard of a block of flats and she blocked me in with her car

She then proceeded to yell, scream and violently gesture at me saying that I'd cut her up! I tried to explain that I hadn't but she continued to yell over the top of me - I asked if she was going to let me speak and she said no!

She then said that I had terrified her kids in the car! Surely her swearing, yelling and poor driving did that

After about 5 minutes of this (by this point my passenger had got out to see what her problem was) she said that she had taken my number plate and drove off!

It took a fair bit to keep my temper too as I'd just worked an 11 hour day and I was knackered and did not appreciate being yelled at when I'd done nothing wrong!

 

[Justintime]

Yup, had one last night when we both pulled out of a row at Tesco at the same time, I was in the one to his right so about 25m away. Yet he goes ape with full beams and gestures at the traffic lights wanting me to get out the car, he looked about mid 50s with glasses and his mrs with him.

Being mature I sat there, then when the lights changed popped it into reverse, reversed up to his front end so he couldnt drive around me and sat there for a few seconds to really hack him off good and proper.

I've done similar childishness Some impatient pleb wanted me to run over a schoogirl crossing the sainsburys exit whilst the light was green, he clearly saw her but still proceeded to beep and flash me then shout at me that i was a f'in moron, after she'd cleared my car i still sat there with the brakes on and let it run red (it was only him and me, would'nt have done if others were waiting). Really gambled with that one, but turned out to be some old dude who did'nt have the guts to come out and confront me after

 

[LostPhil]

If I'm honest, I get wound up really easily by inconsiderate driving. Trying to get out of the habit at the moment though. (EDIT: never actually go into a real fit of rage, don't worry, keep it to myself = ) )

Two things that really tick me off are not indicating at roundabouts and cars following closely behind me right against the lane markings when I'm doing the speed limit. Grrrrr.

Actually, that second one is getting much more common now. At least if I'm trying to get somewhere quickly I'll leave plenty of room behind the person in front.

One incident against me was when I was following a couple of cars on the dual carriageway, A11. Next to a Whymondham turnoff, one indicated to come off and the other kindly pulled up beside them to say their goodbyes, slowing down and blocking the road in the process.

Went to overtake, flashed once to let them know people were waiting (wasn't just me) just as the car pulled off up the slip road. 2nd car pulled over but then sped up after I went past, flashing, cursing, the lot. Followed til there was a queue then tried baiting me when they were alongside.

Paid no attention, what's the point? Seriously though, wasn't even a quiet time on there, what did they expect?

 

[collisster]

today I had rage, coming up to some traffic lights in really heavy traffic lights, I needed to change lanes to turn left. I managed to find a gap, looked at the woman in a focus indicated she looked back and then accelerated into the gap, I thought WTF thats just plain stupid, I had to hold up another bloke to get into another gap.

She was behind me after that because she also needed to turn left so I proceeded to annoy her

 

[Torch [P4]]

had quite an upset woman yesterday on the way to work, i was at a roundabout in the outside lane to go straight on as she darts up the inside and holds station next to me (we were both stopped alowing traffic from the right). I get the feeling im about to be cut up because she wasnt indicating to turn right, so i pull away giving enough room incase she is going right. Turns out she was trying to cut me up but my car was more in front than hers so she was forced to give way to me, the hand gestures that followed amused me greatly as clearly she was in the wrong.
Coming into a 40mph bypass she starts weaving side to side as if to try and pass me (on single carrigeway with barriers either side), again i dont let this bother me but she is clearly getting madder by the second.
My next roundabout is a right hand turn for me as its into our works industrial estate so i start indicating right and in the right hand lane, she also takes the right hand lane yet again but not indicating. meanwhile someone else takes up the left lane going straight on, so we all pull into the roundabout and yet again she tries to cut up the guy in the left lane LOL and fails.

 

[NathanE]

I overtook some cars the other day and someone coming the opposite way felt it necessary to put his main beams on (it was a sunny day..) and hold the horn button down... there was plenty of space and it took him a further 5 seconds or so to pass after I had already completed the overtake

The other week I cut someone up slightly on a roundabout, but it's a very common spot for cutting up. He gave me a quick beep which was fine and I gave a thumbs up out the window. Done and dusted I thought... Then about 3 miles further down the road I turned off into a side turning and as he went past he too held down his horn. This was some whipper snapper in his 08 plate Fiesta ST too.

It's genuinely funny when people get riled up over such small and petty everyday occurences.

 

[Fr0dders]

some people have a real problem with with overtaking

ive been in similar scenarios when ive pulled in front of traffic on the inside lane. They've not had to brake or anything, and theres been plenty of room, but it still didnt stop them wildly flashing their main beams for no apparent reason

 

[deko]

im pretty terrible with my road rage, usually its people not indicating off a roundabout when im waiting to come on. a wee peep of the horn and a quick signal that they masturbate themselves usually does the trick, most of them put the blinkers on and pretend im not there.

ive only got out the car once to somebody, some dobber who took offence to me overtaking him and sped up, i still got in front and came to a halt, nearly went into a bus because of this guy.

 

[BigglesPiP]

I've never had one of these incidents.

I've had people flash at me, gesture, the usual tailgating because I'm doing 30, but never any insane manoeuvring or someone going out of their way to express their displeasure at me.

 

[MrMatteh]

I had an odd one recently

driving slowly up my road (one way, single lane). Spot a parking space. indicator on, slow down some more and stop just past the parking space. i.e. to do a parallel park. Not an unexpected thing to do in a 20mph zone residential street

as I was doing this, i had some guy in a ford explorer (i think? 4x4 anyway) right on my bum. As soon as i stopped (i.e was going to park) he drove right up behind me, blocking me. then just floored it round me.

I might've called him a rude word and shouted asking what his hurry was

as i then started to reverse in to my spot he slammed on his brakes and reversed back towards me. his passenger window then went down. I dunno if he was trying to shout at me (couldn't see because of the tints and he was still ahead of me) of if he then realised I wasn't actually being a pillock who was just randomly stopping, i was actually *g* parking.. on a residential street... imagine that .

His window went back up and he sped off.

so either i totally missed his road rage or he realised he was in the wrong... wierd!