Confrontation with a motorist: I did nothing wrong this time

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Dan B

Disengaged member
It is possible to look at the traffic coming from two different directions, and make a judgement call on that. He was no spring chicken, and would have used his experience to judge whether he could make the gap without causing significant risk to others.
How much experience and judgement is needed to believe that pursuing Matthew down the road, overtaking inconsiderately and making threats of violence is appropriate behaviour? Approaching the age of 40 I worry that I may not have many years left before I have to kill myself, if that is the otherwise inevitable outcome
 

Peowpeowpeowlasers

Well-Known Member
is cutting over the dashed white lines of a junction really poor driving?

See the solid white line at the edge of the give way markings? If you crossed that on a driving test, you'd fail instantly.
 

Linford

Guest
See the solid white line at the edge of the give way markings? If you crossed that on a driving test, you'd fail instantly.

It isn't against the law to do it though. HGV's cut corners all the time

We can split hairs over this, but ultimately, the OP was baiting the bloke, and like a cock, the bloke rose to it. 6 of one, half a dozen of another IMO
 

Peowpeowpeowlasers

Well-Known Member
A bored traffic officer might well pull someone over for cutting the corner like that. Those lines exist for a reason, in fact their inclusion is mandated by the Traffic Signs Manual.

I don't do victim blaming, thugs and bullies need to be found and removed from civil society. I'd have probably said nothing too but I'm not going to criticise Matthew for arguing with a shoot, uninsured driver and being threatened with physical violence. I hope the police take his complaint very seriously.
 

Dan B

Disengaged member
It isn't against the law to do it though. HGV's cut corners all the time
And they go the wrong way around mini-roundabouts, and they turn left from the middle lane. That isn't because they can, that's because they have to.

I
We can split hairs over this, but ultimately, the OP was baiting the bloke, and like a cock, the bloke rose to it. 6 of one, half a dozen of another IMO
Er yeah, whatever you say. I'd have put the proportion nearer 2/10 or 1/11 but obviously I did not realise that reading out 7 letters and numbers was such a common way of saying "shut your mouth or I'm going to knock you out in a minute"
 

benb

Evidence based cyclist
Location
Epsom
It isn't against the law to do it though. HGV's cut corners all the time

We can split hairs over this, but ultimately, the OP was baiting the bloke, and like a cock, the bloke rose to it. 6 of one, half a dozen of another IMO

What rubbish. The driver's response was grossly disproportionate. More like 1 of one, 11 of another.
 

Linford

Guest
What rubbish. The driver's response was grossly disproportionate. More like 1 of one, 11 of another.

and from the responses here from more experienced people, learning to bite your tongue is sometimes the best thing you can do. I'm not defending the driver for being a cock, but then many people can and do this sort of thing and no harm comes to others.

I'm sure that the OP would not have mouthed off to a couple of blokes walking the other way on foot through a park if he saw something he didn't like.

I would suggest that sometimes, the right thing to do isn't always the wisest, and an 8 stone teenager isn't perhaps best equipped to dish it out.
 

Dan B

Disengaged member
I would suggest that sometimes, the right thing to do isn't always the wisest, and an 8 stone teenager isn't perhaps best equipped to dish it out.

That still isn't "6 of one, half a dozen of another" though. Not unless you're completely unacquainted with basic numeracy
 

Glow worm

Legendary Member
Location
Near Newmarket
I was over in North Wales a couple of weeks ago, you notice a few things about the language.
ambulance =ambiwlans
Taxi = Tacsi
Burger = byrger
When I saw the vid, my first thoughts were "OMFG - they don't all talk Welsh all the time"
or was that actually Welsh and should be reported : "I'll ram that byke up your fwcking noes"

And 'Way Out' signs are always seemingly only intended for a bloke called 'Allan' - what about the rest of us?!
That bit of coastal N. Wales is v. Anglicised due to proximity to the English north west. Our Angry Friend on the vid sounded English. Once you get inland or along to Bangor/ Caernarfon & beyond you'll mainly hear Welsh spoken. Great country and wonderful language.
 

Linford

Guest
That still isn't "6 of one, half a dozen of another" though. Not unless you're completely unacquainted with basic numeracy

I'm not in any way condoning the threats the driver made, but if the OP had not mouthed off, it would have remained a non event. His actions escalated it and neither party had the good sense to button it. six of one.......
 

glasgowcyclist

Charming but somewhat feckless
Location
Scotland
Hi Matthew,

use this experience to learn that sometimes even non-threatening behaviour can yield unexpected results.
Next time you feel like expressing your view vocally, think back to this video and consider whether there might be a better course of action.

GC
 

Dan B

Disengaged member
I'm not in any way condoning the threats the driver made
Clearly this is not true, because you are claimning that the utterances the cyclist said - "you cut the corner", "drive properly" and reading out the numberplate - are equally as bad. Do you really believe that? Are you saying you'd have been equally happy to take the place of either participant in the exchange? If so, really, all I can say to you is LB52 OUY and I mean that in the strongest possible terms
 

Linford

Guest
Clearly this is not true, because you are claimning that the utterances the cyclist said - "you cut the corner", "drive properly" and reading out the numberplate - are equally as bad. Do you really believe that? Are you saying you'd have been equally happy to take the place of either participant in the exchange? If so, really, all I can say to you is LB52 OUY and I mean that in the strongest possible terms

He obviously took the OP reading out his numberplate as an open threat that he would be reporting it to the police - which in all honesty would not have resulted in a conviction.

Two wrongs don't make a right in this situation, and I feel that the way he antagonised the driver was inviting trouble.

If you do this sort of thing yourself, you had better always carry a camera with you as you will need corroboration that the other party threw the first punch.
 
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