Reply to: Road Rage Experiences

[doodab]

When I was young I recall some hooligan essentially forcing our car off the road and then confronting my father about some perceived violation of right of way or another, complete with angry snarling dog.

I think they should make some sort of mental stability exam part of the driving test TBH.

[SueEllen]

When I drive to London to visit the aged parents I can't help thinking that something happens soon as you get inside the M25. Suddenly the level of aggression rises. The same things applied when I paddled The Thames in my kayak a couple of years back. No problems until London, then we had fishermen threatening violence, people in inflatables trying to intimidate us by driving straight at us, drunks in power boats pulling out without looking, you name it. Everyone in London seems to be two steps away from losing their temper.

Yep the levels of aggression do increase.

More interestingly it's worse in some areas than others so it's always good to know side roads particularly in some areas as some people really will not give way.

I was in a very rough part of London a few years ago and we escaped down a side road leaving two men - one in a beemer the other in an audi both refusing to reverse so they could progress. From the sounds of it they were more willing to get out of their cars and beat each other up.

Oh and all the cars had children in them.

[doodab]

If the tyre shop is at the end of the motorway due to them closing the nearest tyre shop to your client that is not on a motorway route then you are going to have to drive down the motorway to get to it.

It's fine driving on the motorway at 50mph - the M25 has speed restrictions most days of the week in rush hour limiting you to less than that.

Yes it is, to get home or whatever, but my impression was that the poster didn't get his puncture on the way to work on Friday. He's probably been driving around like that for weeks. He'll probably keep driving around like that until his car fails the MOT, which it will if he doesn't get a proper tyre fitted.

[doodab]

Everyone in London seems to be two steps away from losing their temper.

And that's the calm ones.

There is a baseline level of stress caused by factors such as the high ambient noise levels, lack of personal space when commuting and general need to queue for absolutely ******* everything. Most people will deny this and claim they have "adjusted" and "cope well" but the reality is they are seething with rage.

London turns people into *****. It's a fact.

[SueEllen]

That's because the purpose of the emergency tyre is to get you to the tyre shop to get your proper tyre fixed. If you are driving around on it long term then you are a nuisance to other road users.

If the tyre shop is at the end of the motorway due to them closing the nearest tyre shop to your client that is not on a motorway route then you are going to have to drive down the motorway to get to it.

It's fine driving on the motorway at 50mph - the M25 has speed restrictions most days of the week in rush hour limiting you to less than that.

[socialworker]

When I drive to London to visit the aged parents I can't help thinking that something happens soon as you get inside the M25. Suddenly the level of aggression rises. The same things applied when I paddled The Thames in my kayak a couple of years back. No problems until London, then we had fishermen threatening violence, people in inflatables trying to intimidate us by driving straight at us, drunks in power boats pulling out without looking, you name it. Everyone in London seems to be two steps away from losing their temper.

[doodab]

I am currently on an emergancy tyre and cannot exceed 50mph.

Lorries seem to go mad about it and beep their horns at me etc.

*sigh*

That's because the purpose of the emergency tyre is to get you to the tyre shop to get your proper tyre fixed. If you are driving around on it long term then you are a nuisance to other road users.

[doodab]

It's actually funny seeing cyclists have road rage when you know full well that they can't be seen in a lorry or a vans mirrors due to how they have positioned themselves.

As a cyclist this amazes the crap out of me as well. You need to learn to ride safely and keep yourself safe, not get apoplectic when you put yourself in harms way. What annoys me are the ones who cut down the inside of long vehicles and then seem surprised when they get squeezed as it turns. You can illustrate this to a 5 year old with a few bits of lego, it's not rocket science.

[NotAllThere]

Mods please move to General.

Friday pm syndrome (again...)

Done.

[BolshieBastard]

Just got back from taking BB's senior son to Manchester. Fracking ejit in a pug on the motorway doing 70mph in the lane 3 for over 5 miles and showing no inclination to move over to lane 1.

Lanes 1 & 2 completely empty! Like the driver's ******* head!

Honestly, Im convinced the number of drivers on the road who have never passed a driving test or had someone else sit it for them is grossly underestimated.

[SueEllen]

I am currently on an emergancy tyre and cannot exceed 50mph.

Lorries seem to go mad about it and beep their horns at me etc.

*sigh*

Had that on the M3 once.

To be honest after you have driven through London and realise that some people in certain parts have no manners at all - idiots whether they are a lorry or a car who can't use an outside lane to overtake you on a motorway can get lost.

It's actually funny seeing cyclists have road rage when you know full well that they can't be seen in a lorry or a vans mirrors due to how they have positioned themselves. There is no point banging on the back of a 40 tonne lorry when you decided to try and undertake on the inside and there is no room.

[doodab]

As regards roadworks, it pisses me off that drivers dont follow the AA advice and allow cars into line like a zip instead of preventing people pulling in.

Well exactly, everyone is in the same boat and a bit of give and take goes a long way.

[BolshieBastard]

Joined the M56 from the M6 heading west. Traffic from Mancland was heavy so the junction was very busy and moving at walking pace. In lane 2 was an audi a4 (twat driver) who wanted to force his way into lane 3 in the shortest possible time.

Said a4 twat driver tried to force in front of a Zafira driver who tooted him and flashed his lights to say frack off, Im not letting you in. a4 twat thinks better of it rather than having his tulipheap bent by a vauxhall, stays in lane 2 and forces his way in behind the Zafira. a4 twat driver then toots horn and flashes lights at Zafira now in front of him.

At this point the traffic flow picks up to about 15 - 20 mph with Zafira driver opening his door and gesticulating over to the hard shoulder. As the traffic moves on, Zafira driver and a4 twat driver make their way across lanes 1, 2 and 3 to the hard shoulder.

I presume they had an amenable discussion but as the traffic was now speeding up, couldnt see what developed further. I did consider pulling over to the hard shoulder myself and see some fun unfold but as they say, the hard should is a dangerous place to park so decided better of it.

As regards roadworks, it pisses me off that drivers dont follow the AA advice and allow cars into line like a zip instead of preventing people pulling in.

[nomadd]

So what road rage experiences has anyone else witnessed, been involved in or even started ?

Bought a motorbike 2 weeks before I started contracting, as I knew I would be moving around between client sites. That was 25 years ago. I'm still contract, and I'm still commuting around (London) by motorbike.

Your "road rage" experience is what I term "daily commute."

Seriously, until knives and guns are drawn and police helicopters called in, I don't even consider these incidents worth mentioning when I arrive at the office.

[northernladuk]

Mods please move to General.

Friday pm syndrome (again...)

again... and again...