Cant stop remonstrating with drivers

[leemo]

In the last couple of weeks I've seen some really aggressive and appauling driving -- someone passing me 30mph faster leaving about 6 inches. Today someone 'overtaking' me on the lhs as we turned right at a junction casuing me to swerve.

The problem is that I beleive for my own preservation I should let it pass but I keep remonstrating with the drivers in the heat of the moment. This escalates the situation, and although nothing serious has happened Im worried Im going to end up assaulting someone or criminal damaging their vehicle or getting beaten up myself.

Does anyone have advice on how to keep cool?

Maybe I should invest in a camera so that next time I can let it pass knowing that I can report the driver to the police? Is the likely to have any effect?

 

[gaz]

Breathe in. Count to 5. Breathe out and continue on your journey.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Breathe in. Count to 5. Breathe out and continue on your journey.

I had the same problem and it ruined my cycling pleasure. It almost came to blows on a few occasions. End of the day it is not worth it.

 

[steve52]

befor the event they dont know you ,during the event they dont see you , or see you but you dont regiters as a person just a thing in there way, its not personal, when you shout at them thats the moment it becomes personal, and in there cocooned little world you are the intruder and the aggressor, maybe not fair but this is the case, so be aware plan escape do all you can to avoid confrountation, and live long, (ps if this dosent work rip there arms of and beat them with the soggy ends, but never on any account let it spoil your ride

 

[Angelfishsolo]

(ps if this dosent work rip there arms of and beat them with the soggy ends, but never on any account let it spoil your ride

 

[Ian 74]

My moment of enlightenment came when I was faced with an old guy with a beard who drove past me honking like a goose possessed, I was confused and angry the rage came upon me like a blanket of angry wasps... I flicked the fingers up and swore some bad words... He screeched to a halt, jumped out of his big 4x4 and proceeded to get in my face like a bull seeing red. After attempting to have a reasoned conversation I could see by the throbbing viens in his neck that we were at an impasse. I realized that at any minutes the old man may attack me, this left me in a dilema I don't want to hit anybody let alone an old man (all be he an angry old man).


Conversation over (never satisfactorily started in my opinion) I looked at him and asked him if he would get back in his car and go away, luckily for both of us he did.

So... It doesn't matter about the rights and wrongs of the situation, my response had put me in that silly situation (it took about 10 miles and a big hill to finally calm me down). Now I just give a big cheery wave and a hearty smile as people honk, speed past 2 close and generally hurl abuse at me. If I want to fight I'd have taken up boxing.

 

[fossyant]

There are quite a few loonies out there, so best not get too worked up. It never works engaging them is discussion. No-one is ever wrong !

What you may have thought was way too close (eg elbow brush) they thought they gave you loads of room.

Smile and wave !

 

[Hip Priest]

Yes, it's often difficult to keep your cool, but it's for the best. I had an incident the other week on a deserted country road. I noticed two speeding cars coming the other way, little Corsas full of lads. The first one pulled over into my lane and drove towards me to intimidate me. I kept my eye on an escape route (a grass verge) should he try to come too close, and kept my cool. I've no doubt that if I'd shouted or gesticulated, I'd have been looking at a beating off two carloads of lads, with nowhere to run. self-gratification artists though, eh?

 

[numbnuts]

it's all in the day of a life of a cyclist

 

[Ian 74]

This thread is going very Zen I likey.

 

[Ibbots]

call out Gouranga and be happy

 

[chris grace]

I stopped shouting at drivers and now just shake my head safe in the knowledge that will soon find the accident they are rushing to be in.

 

[XmisterIS]

The best I can do is to tell myself before I set out that I will get cut up, expect it, it's normal. Makes it less infuriating when it happens! Just like getting on a motorbike - I'll always remember my instructor telling me, "ride like they want to kill you" - i.e. defensively!

 

[upsidedown]

I was in a similar situation, then i bought an Airzound. I found that because i had it i anticipated things a lot more and i only used it twice, both with pretty severe consequences involving physical confrontations.
I sold the Airzound before it got me killed and since then i've been much calmer, accepting that most people don't even acknowlege cyclists as legitimate road users, so there's not much you can do.

I tend to notice positive interactions now and filter out the bad.

 

[BentMikey]

It's the beauty of a camera, not only are you yourself encouraged to behave better, but you have their number, and a little consequence for them too. Makes it easy to be calm about it, and then it's nice when a particularly bad bit of driving is on YouTube, and you get posts of sympathy from other cyclists. People are lovely!