Confrontation with a motorist: I did nothing wrong this time

[potsy]

The thing is, Matthew's initial "provocation" was nothing. Unless you're suggesting that we should restrain ourselves from displaying any kind of reaction at all to other people's poor driving (not so much as a glance or a shake of the head), I don't see how Matthew's response could reasonably be described as provocation at all.

But he does seem to attract this kind of situation, no?
I agree, a 'normal' driver and it would have been fine, but people like the nutter in the vid don't take kindly to be criticised by a 'child'

 

[MontyVeda]

A line of white paint is no more "designed to be driven over" than a red light is to be driven past

....

this gets my vote for bullshit comment of the day

 

[dawesome]

The car shows as uninsured. You'd prefer uninsured drivers evade detection?

 

[gaz]

an idiotic reply Gaz.... can you really compare a line of white paint which, for all intents and purposes, is a guide designed to be driven over, with a red light or the barrier at a level crossing?

As Mr. T would say "You crazy fool!"

I thought an idiotic response was worthy of an idiotic post.

 

[Hip Priest]

The thing is, Matthew's initial "provocation" was nothing. Unless you're suggesting that we should restrain ourselves from displaying any kind of reaction at all to other people's poor driving (not so much as a glance or a shake of the head), I don't see how Matthew's response could reasonably be described as provocation at all.

It wasn't nothing, though I agree it was minor. But once the guy had told him where to go and started to drive off, Matt inflamed it again by yelling his number plate out. Then he put the icing on the cake by shouting 'see ya'.

There is no excuse for threatening violence, and the guy was obviously a bit of a nutter, but if Matt carries on hectoring motorists over petty trangressions then he's going to get hurt.

 

[Hip Priest]

The car shows as uninsured. You'd prefer uninsured drivers evade detection?

Wow. That's an ALMIGHTY straw man.

 

[oldfatfool]

The car shows as uninsured. You'd prefer uninsured drivers evade detection?

In that case sorry Matt, no wonder the bloke was happy for you to have his number, no Insurance, probably no tax,possibly no license and DEFFO not registered to him.

 

[dawesome]

That's an automatic 6 points, quite apart from the assault. I'd suggest it's a good thing the maniac is caught before someone really gets hurt.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Don't say anything to anyone! It's just not worth it, you never know who they are, what their state of mind is and what they are prepared to do over nothing. The key is to protect your self, if you aren't a 6ft 3 rugby player then people will try and bully you if they think they have a chance against you, just like the guy in the video did.

Couldn't agree more with this. Normally I don't like to get involoved in heated discussions on Internet forums, but after watching the video I just had to add my voice to the many that are telling Matt to learn to button it. Sorry Matt - believe me I never intentionally say anything to hurt someone's feelings but in this case I feel that the consequences of your cheek could really result in more than mere hurt feelings. Just learn to ignore bad driving - the police usually get them in the end anyway (and to be honest his corner cut didn't look that dramatic to me). Your provocative nature does clearly wind people up. In 30 years' cycling I've never had an incident beyond the occasional rude remark shouted out of the window or the odd piss take. It could be luck, I know; but somehow I don't think it is.

 

[Gary E]

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of the incident the guys reaction was OTT.
Yes, maybe Matt should have turned the other cheek but then so should the bloke.
Looks like a little man picking on a kid to me, very brave!

 

[dawesome]

Just learn to ignore bad driving - the police usually get them in the end anyway.

Hollow laugh

 

[ManiaMuse]

One time I was walking along the pavement while singing (weird I know but there was no-one about...) and momentarily glanced at a driver who pulled up, got out of his mercedes and started screaming at me 'EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME SIR!."

I ignored him, didn't look back and eventually his wife and children started shouting at him for making a fool out of himself.

There are some serious nutters in this world, not just on the roads but everywhere, who do not take much to set off. Best advice I can give is to focus on your positioning and awareness when cycling and treat drivers (and other cyclists) as part of their machines rather than people with personalities.

While cycling your priorities should be to anticipate other road users doing unpredictable things, positioning yourself to try to prevent them doing unpredictable things, and to remove yourself from danger if they do attempt said unpredictable things. No point getting wound up if someone does something stupid but ultimately hasn't harmed you as you are more likely to get distracted from anticipating other road users doing unpredictable things. After all cycling is about getting from A to B safely in good time or just for pleasure, no need to let some argumentative motorist slow you down, compromise your safety or spoil your mood.

I know some people here say drivers need to be educated, and there are probably some who do benefit from being told their driving is poor. However there are some who are willing to get out and threaten you with violence and the thing is you can never tell what you are going to get if you provoke them. If someone does get out and approach you then you need to make sure you are willing to take them on or plan an escape route because you never know when it might get nasty. In my opinion it is just not worth it, just cycle on and pretend it didn't happen, be more zen or something...

 

[Hip Priest]

One time I was walking along the pavement while singing (weird I know but there was no-one about...) and momentarily glanced at a driver who pulled up, got out of his mercedes and started screaming at me 'EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME SIR!

I went out for a late night run in the dark once. I saw a car coming out of a petrol station with no lights on, so I pointed to his lights in the universal 'mate, you've forgot to put your lights on' manner, and he went MENTAL.

"What's your f-ing problem?"
"Just letting your know your lights are off."
"What's it got to do with you?"
"Nothing, I was just trying to be helpful."
"F-off you c-"
"Err....sorry"

 

[Enid Agnus Dei]

I used to love working on buildings sites as it meant I cycled to work and back in steel toecap boots, a taxi driver cut me up one morning and when I caught him up at the traffic lights I asked him if he needed glasses or was he just in too much of a rush to even see me?

As ever the same old story, didn't see you, come on 7.30 bright sunny morning hi vis jacket on....

I decided he wasn't going to say sorry or even be honest so as a parting gift put a nice dent in his car to remind him the next time he sees a cyclist to not cut them up, yes maybe I was wrong to kick his car but a small price for him to pay compared to what might have happened had he knocked me off and injured me.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

While cycling your priorities should be to anticipate other road users doing unpredictable things, positioning yourself to try to prevent them doing unpredictable things, and to remove yourself from danger if they do attempt said unpredictable things. No point getting wound up if someone does something stupid but ultimately hasn't harmed you as you are more likely to get distracted from anticipating other road users doing unpredictable things. After all cycling is about getting from A to B safely in good time or just for pleasure, no need to let some argumentative motorist slow you down, compromise your safety or spoil your mood.

This is very, very good advice.
Also, someone earlier on told you that you should remove the video from the site. In my opinion this is a very good idea (and don't put it on youtube either). The guy could very easily fall on the video and I imagine he's a local (sounds it). It doesn't seem too unlikely that you two could cross each other's paths again.