I made a New Years resolution not to engage with crap drivers and instead to just rise above it, and so far it's been a big success. I'm much calmer on the roads and I'm enjoying myself much more. But today I had to say something.
I was waiting at a set of traffic lights, in primary, with one car in front of me. My lane was left-turn only, then to my right there's a straight-ahead lane and two right-turn lanes. The lights go green, and I turn left, keeping primary because the road's narrowed by roadworks. Behind me, a car in the straight-ahead lane turns left, and then proceeds to try and shove me out of the way, despite the fact we're only going at walking speed and I was effectively tailgating the car in front. I turned around and stared at him but he didn't stop. I gave the "back off" signal and he still didn't stop, so in the end I resorted to a very loud "what the f**k are you doing?!".
He wound his window down: "what's your problem?"
I took a deep breath, calmed myself and said "you've turned left from the wrong lane, and now you're trying to run me off the road!"
Now, I was expecting him to be aggressive, or be defensive, or tell me to pay road tax and ride on the pavement. His actual response totally threw me: "Oh yeah, I was. Sorry about that."
So he was fully aware he was running me off the road, but only after I shouted at him and pointed it out to him did he realise that's the wrong way to drive
I can cope fairly well with the really aggressive drivers; you can normally spot the nutters a mile away and give them a wide berth. It's the ones who are just so breathtakingly stupid that really scare me...
Oh well, at least I've got a week off work now so I can avoid the busy roads and go play on the country lanes instead
I was waiting at a set of traffic lights, in primary, with one car in front of me. My lane was left-turn only, then to my right there's a straight-ahead lane and two right-turn lanes. The lights go green, and I turn left, keeping primary because the road's narrowed by roadworks. Behind me, a car in the straight-ahead lane turns left, and then proceeds to try and shove me out of the way, despite the fact we're only going at walking speed and I was effectively tailgating the car in front. I turned around and stared at him but he didn't stop. I gave the "back off" signal and he still didn't stop, so in the end I resorted to a very loud "what the f**k are you doing?!".
He wound his window down: "what's your problem?"
I took a deep breath, calmed myself and said "you've turned left from the wrong lane, and now you're trying to run me off the road!"
Now, I was expecting him to be aggressive, or be defensive, or tell me to pay road tax and ride on the pavement. His actual response totally threw me: "Oh yeah, I was. Sorry about that."
So he was fully aware he was running me off the road, but only after I shouted at him and pointed it out to him did he realise that's the wrong way to drive
I can cope fairly well with the really aggressive drivers; you can normally spot the nutters a mile away and give them a wide berth. It's the ones who are just so breathtakingly stupid that really scare me...
Oh well, at least I've got a week off work now so I can avoid the busy roads and go play on the country lanes instead
Take care on your week off, see Chart 5
