My first confrontation and why it will be my last.

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Davidsw8

Senior Member
Location
London
I just popped out to the co-op to fetch some milk (hardly a commute I'll admit). I left my road and joined the main(ish) road which is a downhill number (Belstead Road if you're local) and sat in primary by the middle line and immediately indicated to turn right as I only join this road for a brief time. It's worth noting that the right turn is on a sharp left bend in the road.

I was aware of a revving engine behind me, and soon enough discovered that it belonged to a blue Ford Galaxy and said vehicle accelerated and overtook me, leaving very little room before shooting down the side street I was about to take.

Needless to say it put the s***s right up me. Within a few hundred years the traffic naturally stopped and I found myself next to the car. The three young girls in the back were pointing at me and trying to get the attention of the driver. The driver stared straight forward and started sounding his horn and the stopped traffic.

The driver wound down his window, and much against my better judgement I said 'cor, what have I ever done to you?

Him - I did nothing wrong, you pulled out and I thought you were going straight on so I passed you.

Me - I was indicating

Him - I did nothing wrong

Me - okay, we'll put it down to a misunderstanding

Him - There will be a f***ing misunderstanding if I get out of this car

At which point I turned my bike and headed the opposite way, this was not a situation that was going to end well if I stayed where I was.

So now I have a pounding headache from the adrenaline and mr **** is now doubt now even more wound up and in control of two tonnes of death. I doubt the children in the back enjoyed the exchange much either.

Just. Not. Worth. It.

I wish I hadn't been too shaken to forget to make a not of his registration number though :sad:


You were really very polite and I think you totally did the right thing.

I hate this kind of thing too and always feel awful afterwards. I find it SO difficult to not at least mutter something though and people even get massively wound up with a simple look and slight shake of the head. People will never take kindly to being criticised for the driving, there is no good way of doing it.

He clearly knew he was in the wrong but was unable to admit it for whatever reason.

There really does need to be zero tolerance when it comes to bad driving/cycling etc. This isn't the first time this guy has been an idiot and it definitely won't be the last, I just hope no one gets hurt because of him.
 
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Andrew_Culture

Andrew_Culture

Internet Marketing bod
You were really very polite and I think you totally did the right thing.

I hate this kind of thing too and always feel awful afterwards. I find it SO difficult to not at least mutter something though and people even get massively wound up with a simple look and slight shake of the head. People will never take kindly to being criticised for the driving, there is no good way of doing it.

He clearly knew he was in the wrong but was unable to admit it for whatever reason.

There really does need to be zero tolerance when it comes to bad driving/cycling etc. This isn't the first time this guy has been an idiot and it definitely won't be the last, I just hope no one gets hurt because of him.

Indeed, my parting shot was going to be to say 'please don't kill anyone' but I thought better of it.
 

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
Because next time I will keep my trap shut and make a metal note of the licence plate. Unless I end up getting run over at low speed like a clip that popped up on here once, in which case I might make more of a fuss.
I think that's a good way to go in the future. Sometimes I imagine all these "drivers" are sent to test us, or perhaps allow us to practice our patience.
 

Maz

Guru
Reading through some of the replies on how you would exact your retaliation has given me a good laugh. Thank you. ^_^
In reality, if anything, maybe a roll-eyes and a quiet 'tut' would be closer to the truth.
 

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
Because I only get one night a week that I can sit up late chatting and wooing my wonderful wife, and because I opened my gob I wasted that evening by having a headache.
Apologies Andrew I was answering Joey, you've more than adequately answered. I asked as your thread ("and why It'll be my last") title suggested that you'd either got a good thumping or that something else nasty had occurred.

Glad neither was the case.
 
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Andrew_Culture

Andrew_Culture

Internet Marketing bod
Apologies Andrew I was answering Joey, you've more than adequately answered. I asked as your thread ("and why It'll be my last") title suggested that you'd either got a good thumping or that something else nasty had occurred.

Glad neither was the case.

Oh right! No problem, I've had a few thumpings in my life but general try to avoid them! The last time I got a hearty few to the chops they were delivered by a bouncer who was running security at an event I was putting on, I was trying to stop him strangling one of my punters (seriously!) and he objected with his meaty fists. Worst of all I then had to pay him before him and his fellow apes would leave. Got the farkers banned from council premises for that little number. Passive Aggressive? Moi? Nah, just dislike being decked by people I employ to try and prevent general crowd muftyness :smile:
 

Miquel In De Rain

No Longer Posting
I would probably have given the nescafe wave and if things got dicey would have found an escape route a car couldn't use.I also can't keep my trap shut sometimes.:whistle:
 

womblechops

Well-Known Member
Location
Hayes, Kent
It's always hard work having to bend down to talk through a window - especially if you're on the passenger side. It's just not a particularly Oscar Wildesque way of conducting an argument, hunched over and waving arms whilst trying to hold a bike up in the middle of traffic (which is usually just moving off from lights).

Much better to open the car doors - all of them and just ride off!
(NB: don't do this if the car has passengers in it as you will get flattened)
 
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