Regional Road Rage?

[TrevorM]

I've read many of the posts on CC with tales of motorist behaviour - horn blowing, verbal abuse, throwing things etc. I have never experienced any of this. The worst experience I have had was today when a motorist overtook me (safely) then put on his hazard lights for a few seconds presumably to suggest I should have been on the cycle lane. Many times I have had WVM staying behind at a safe distance on narrow, windy roads and only overtaking when it was safe.

So is N. Ireland just a more cycle friendly place? I would be interested to know if anyone else sees any difference in motorist behaviour around the UK? Any other NI cyclists here? What are your experiences of NI drivers?

 

[PaulSB]

I don't know if NI is especially different but my own experience is I rarely encounter the sort of incidents many report on here. I can think of two incidents this year when I've been out with the club, one when a 4 x 4 cut us all up by overtaking and the second when a farmer in a landrover hurtled towards us on a single track lane forcing some into the hedge and himself to do an emergency stop - his explaination was "I live here"

When I'm on my own I can't recall the last incident though I have been knocked off a couple of times but this is an accident rather than road rage. Once had some kids throw a bottle of water over me as I laboured up a hill. I've always thought the road rage thing tends to be more a southern feature, especially London, and also one for cities. Living in a fairly rural area we seem to have a little more time and perhaps les traffic.

 

[Moodyman]

I'm the same as you two.

Occasionally, I'll get kids in Corsas doing kiddish things, but not the sort of road rage that people report on here

 

[Toshiba Boy]

Similar experience. Many years cycling in Warwickshire, over twentyfive+ years (commuting and general fitness/Sportive/Triathlon riding) only had two road rage incidents, one in Coventry City centre and one in a very quiet South Warks village one summers evening.

Since moved down to West Somerset, even more quiet, with the vast majority of drivers incredibly "well behaved" and courteous. Having said that, do make a point of being (a) Confident and well positioned on the road, but (b) Waving traffic through (especially on the lanes/back roads) as soon as safe to do so, and (c) Always thanking courteous driving (so do wave thanks quite a lot round here!).

 

[vernon]

I'm always intrigued by the stream of incidents recorded in the cycling forums and wonder if I share the same planet as the complainants. However it's relatively easy, I think, to explain the dissonance between reported negative experiences and one's lack of negative experiences.

Which is more likely to be recorded and shared; the careful considirate motorists contributing to incident free rides or the occasional maverick who does something, often minor and inconsequential, that gets reported as attempted murder? As all of the negative comments seem to follow on from each other in forums that funnel them e.g. 'commuting' on this board and 'on the road' on the CTC board.

What is more alarming is the number of folk who justify their subsequent direct action, usually damaging the car of an 'offender' as a salutary lesson for the driver who will think on before 're-offending'. Their sentiments defy logic.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I have never experienced total road rage in that I felt physically threatened, but Lincolnshire drivers are far too impatient. It is a rare ride that I don't have someone try to pass too close or on a blind bend. I have been treated to moving verbal abuse and horn blowing when I've taken primary and held up an idiot for ten seconds. (But then hey, said idiot has at least seen me).

Most recently a lorry driver subjected me to verbal abuse when he tried to squeeze between me and the kerb when I was turning right and prevented from doing so by on-coming traffic.

So in answer to your question, having never experienced such abuse/dodgy driving anywhere else I have ridden, then yes I think regional c**p driving is alive and well and living in Lincolnshire.

 

[4F]

Only 1 real incident in 20 odd years. Some nutter parked up and came running down the road waving his fist shouting "You F******G come here"

My crime was a sarcastic "Thanks" after he had just cut me up. I seemed to inflame the situation by laughing and at him

 

[gavintc]

I do not know about regional, but it is certainly a national issue. Over here in Italy, road rage is almost unheard of and definitely 'not cool'. Things will happen to you in a car on a daily basis, the Neapolitan answer is to ignore it completely. Even on the bike, you just inwardly smile if you get cut up. If it is really bad, a quick shout is all that is appropriate. Under no circumstances, should you make an issue. I was advised that one of the reasons, is that you do not know who is in the other car and it is best not to know.

 

[Brains]

I commute in London, so frequent abuse of all types is so normal it barely even registers any more.
Over the years I've had the lot; missiles, eggs, water, bottles thrown at me
Deliberatly cut up more times than I can remember
Utterly abysmal examples of driving (and I've done a lot of 3rd world road travel)
Inconsiderate and dangerous driving on a daily basis

I have also done a fair bit of touring in Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Austria, Eire, Switzerland and the UK
The number of the above types of incedents whilst touring I think I could put on one hand over the years.

So I think road rage, inconsiderate driving, deliberate cut ups etc are 'regional' in as much as they typically apply to urban drivers and drivers who use the vehicle for urban work.
I have noticed that over the years professional drivers (lorries and busses) have improved around cyclists.
Taxis and WMV are a mixed bag, some OK, many not very good and a number downright dangerous.
Commuting cars overall are not good, but with exceptions in both directions.

 

[dellzeqq]

I think the answer to the question is, yes, it varies from place to place. One can only guess the reasons why, but southeast London is definitely worse than southwest London, and Berkshire is, I am sure, worse than Sussex.

 

[Blue]

So is N. Ireland just a more cycle friendly place? I would be interested to know if anyone else sees any difference in motorist behaviour around the UK? Any other NI cyclists here? What are your experiences of NI drivers?

I'm NI based and I would agree that actual road rage is rare, although I did experience a couple of incidents 3 or 4 years ago. Nothing recent though, thank goodness.

Simple bad driving around cyclists, now that's a different matter. I feel that NI motorists are 'blind' to cyclists and I frequently feel that my safety has been put at risk. However, hyper-vigilance has saved the day every time so far!!

 

[guitarpete247]

Here in rural Leicestershire I've not had a problem with drivers. There are lots of horses using the roads round here so I think drivers are used to giving room to slow moving traffic in a safe way. The horsey types are also very considerate as they want consideration themselves.
I had a woman, in a 4x4 recently, stop and give me plenty of time to go passed her before she pulled across into her driveway. She also gave me a smile and wave as I put my hand up to thank her.
I do see a lot of cyclists round here and always slow down to, only, overtake when it is safe but do wish they would realise that riding 2 or more abreast, holding up traffic really doesn't endear them to car drivers. Perhaps they are allowed to ride 2 abreast but a little courtesy from some bikers would improve drivers opinion of them.

To change the subject slightly. I've just been on holiday in Jersey and found the drivers there the most considerate and friendly I have ever come across. They stop at every crossing for peds and they have a system at junctions to "give way in turn" which improves traffic flow at busy junctions.
This is a concept that probably wouldn't work over here in Britain as most drivers refuse to give way even when they haven't got right of way.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I know what Magnatom posts in the Glasgow area, but I have to say that incidents involving me are pretty rare, and I haven't had any since I started cycling again (touch wood).
In fact, since starting again I have to say that a lot of drivers are actually quite considerate towards me and will wait, and this surprises me after reading all the horror stories on here.

Actually, reading this forum, I think I have come to expect a horror story, but it has never happened yet (touch wood), hence why I'm always surprised by the kindness of drivers.

I do not know about regional, but it is certainly a national issue. Over here in Italy, road rage is almost unheard of and definitely 'not cool'. Things will happen to you in a car on a daily basis, the Neapolitan answer is to ignore it completely. Even on the bike, you just inwardly smile if you get cut up. If it is really bad, a quick shout is all that is appropriate. Under no circumstances, should you make an issue. I was advised that one of the reasons, is that you do not know who is in the other car and it is best not to know.

When in Italy with our Italian friends in the north (Millan), they seemed to make out that just about everyone drove like a looney over there anyway, so they probably wouldn't notice much.
The husband seemed to be the exception and drove quite carefully, so he'd point things out to us, and yes, his fellow drivers usually did leave quite a bit to be desired by their performances, I can personally vouch for THAT!.

Also he was of the view that anyone south of about Naples was clearly insane!.

 

[PBancroft]

Never really had any major incidents of the kind some people write about on here. The other day a skip truck overtook me as a car was coming the other way - of course he pulled back left and I nearly went under his wheels. Damned scary - I had to get on the verge to get out the way. Am sure it was just poor judgement on the driver's part, rather than an intent to kill. Still, I haven't heard back from the company about that yet... I should chase them up...

I think once in three years I've been given the finger, but then people do that to other drivers all the time so I didn't really think twice about it.

 

[dmoan]

So is N. Ireland just a more cycle friendly place? I would be interested to know if anyone else sees any difference in motorist behaviour around the UK? Any other NI cyclists here? What are your experiences of NI drivers?

I share your experience. I find that while riding in Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular, I experience none of the problems described by on these forums. I've actually had people sitting behind me for so longer that I've had to slow down and wave them past, so reluctant did they seem to pass closely! I have never been 'buzzed' by a bus or 'left-hooked' by a lorry!

The only actual 'issue' I have ever had was some verbals with a black taxi driver who was stuck behind me while I took a very strong primary through a contra-flow. It saddens me to see so many pavement cyclists in Belfast, when drivers are becoming so used to them mixing in heavy traffic and with the bus lanes making cycling into the city a pleasure.

My experience and observation of driving in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland is (remarkably!) that drivers in Northern Ireland are less aggressive in general, more likely to wave other road-users though and to let drivers join the the road from side roads. Perhaps our roads are just quieter?