Just had some idiot try to run me off the road ...

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

So, there i was driving to work, and some idiot comes up the back of me, so close that i cant even see his headlights, and starts gently accelerating and decelleration, so he is almost hitting the back of my car, but missing it by an inch or so, then moving a few feet or so back, then starts doing it again.

My partner in the car, looks out the back window and gestures to the driver that he is to close, and move back. He just lifts his thumb frantically to the side, in a gesture for me to get out of the way.

The road i am on, is the parkway, the main road from the South of Canberra into the city, its a dual carriage way, i dont want to move lanes, as :

1. The lanes split about 800mm's up the road, the left lanes goes north, and the lane i am on goes into the city, so i am doing the speed limit on the lane i want (need) and i cant move.

2. At that time in the morning, the roads are packed, and if i moved over, i would never get back into the lane i need.

He then starts to edge closer to me again, like something out of a movie, and just misses my bumper, when i am able to jump onto the lane i need to get into the city, the first thing he does is swerve at me as he passes me, forcing me onto the hard shoulder at 110K's. what was worse, was he had his wife and family in the car... i did get his license plate number, but what can i do about it?


Australia is a great place, and i am so very lucky to be here, i even went into the Dept. of Immigration yesterday, as its getting close to the time when i can apply to be a citizen!! Like i said, there are many great things here, but unfortunately, driving manners and habits are not one of them, i can honestly say, despite having some of the biggest, widest, best and emptiest roads in the world, i have never seen such attrocious speeding, tailgating, intimidation, and recklesness as i have seen here, and i just dont get it. Maybe i am generalising, i have heard Canberra is famous for its bad drivers, but to try and ram someone off the road?

hmmmm ....

[casstony]

AFAIK - report the incident; the Police serve the appropriate punishment for that offence; if the offender challenges it, you go to court to give evidence. So it all depends on whether you can be bothered with a potential court appearance. I've been in similar situations but didn't want to deal with the stress of going to court. The roads would be safer without such bad drivers though.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I sympathise with you Duncan. Sydney and Canberra drivers are aggressive beyond reason. I work from home these days as I was sick of relaying tales of near misses to my other half evey evening when I finally made it home.

By comparison - I was down in Melbourne Thursday last week, and all day the drivers were all reasonably courteous, allowing each other in when necessary, and keeping to the limit without getting childish about it. I know that's a small sample space to comment about (those drivers around me), but the whole driving atmosphere was different - more relaxed.

Time to move to the country for me....

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

By comparison - I was down in Melbourne Thursday last week, and all day the drivers were all reasonably courteous, allowing each other in when necessary, and keeping to the limit without getting childish about it. I know that's a small sample space to comment about (those drivers around me), but the whole driving atmosphere was different - more relaxed.

You were lucky

I've learnt - just get out of their way - there are much more important things in life than who occupies what space on the roads. Let him (usually a "him") have his accident elsewhere. You'll forget it quickly if you don't prolong the agro.

[starlooker (Duc)]

You should report the incident to the police, and give them the plate number too. That's what serious cyclists do when drivers try to intimidate them.

Then if this idiot does the same thing again, and gets reported again, the police have a history of dangerous driving for him on their records, and will pay him a visit.

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by starlooker

You should report the incident to the police, and give them the plate number too. That's what serious cyclists do when drivers try to intimidate them.

Then if this idiot does the same thing again, and gets reported again, the police have a history of dangerous driving for him on their records, and will pay him a visit.

sounds like a sterling idea !!

[AstralTraveller (David)]

I'm very sorry to hear of your experience. I've also encountered some aggressive drivers in Canberra but nothing like that. I think fortunately the percentage of total idiots on the road is actually quite low - they just stand out like sore thumbs. Try to imagine if even 1% of drivers were like that dropkick; there would be an accident every km.

Up until recently I drove an old diesel landcruiser. On roads with no passing opportunities I would often develop quite a 'following'. The great majority of drivers were only mildly irritated by my presence and managed to behave themselves. (I, in turn, took every chance to let them pass, sometimes pulling over for a minute to let them through). However I did get the occassional tailgaiter (sometimes I couldn't see their bonnet). In that case I simply lifted my right foot and dropped 10km/h, if that didn't work I'd drop another 10. I was quite willing to come to a stop and engage reverse if that is what it took to get my point across but I never had to go that far before the message got through. Of course I had the advantage that no one would want to run into that beast.

Perhaps you should move down here. Wollongong drivers are the nicest people in the world , perhaps it's all that nice soothing cloud .

[TrevorW]

I've heard similar cases where people just buy an old car insure it for 3rd party then when you get a guy like this they touch their brakes slightly and let them hit the back of them.

This way they claim insurance, whiplash, repair damages and the guy gets fined for dangerous driving.

[Nesti (Mark)]

I feel that you should go to the police and make a report. Chances are, he's got a string of other stuff.

If he hasn't ,and you don't, then the next person he does it to, doesn't really have much of a case really, and nor do the police.

In this instance, if its not about you, it may be about the next person, who, more than likely, is just like you; trying to get to work in one piece.

True???

BTW. Up until 2 years ago, I was racing bicycles, which meant 30hrs a week on the saddle. I realised a long time ago that some people are just killers in the making, they throw beer bottles at you at 5am, run you off the road, or pull in front of you getting the kids to school. A bus driver once ran me into his own passengers waiting to board his bus! They lodged a complaint and he lost his job.

Mind you, these people are the first to have a shave and put on a suit when they go to court.

[TrevorW]

Like you Mark I rode up too 60klm a day and had similar incidents, hoons trying to run you off the road etc gave up when I got hit by a car.

I commute to work and even thats a hassle.

To me this is more than just dangerous driving and they should be charged accordingly. Definitely report the idiot.

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

Try riding a motorbike. I have similar experiences with idiots trying to get me off the road everything from bottles and cans to containers of chips in my lap at 100kmh people passing me doing ridiculous speeds to get around me and then slowing to less than the speed limit the moment they get in front. I think its the competative mindset that "I must be in front no matter what"

Adrian

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by AdrianF

I think its the competative mindset that "I must be in front no matter what"

Dont you just love it when some idiot pulls out of a sidestreet forcing you to brake so you dont hit them, when a 3 second wait could have had them on the main road unchallenged.

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Dont you just love it when some idiot pulls out of a sidestreet forcing you to brake so you dont hit them, when a 3 second wait could have had them on the main road unchallenged.

Geoff, thats the story of my life. And i usually find a smile and a "sorry" makes it all ok. Its the fact that the incident is ignored by the offender, as if it never took place, and all of a sudden everyone has "blinkers" on, that really gets me mad

[mozzie (Peter)]

yer duncan you certainly get sick of the idiots i have a similar story but i wasnt moving i was at the intersection to our housing estate turning right onto the pacific hwy the traffic was heavy and in my 2 tonne truck i need a bit of time to get accross this lady behind me was getting impatient and after 1 more minute she drove up the inside of me(luckly no one turning in)and went straight out into the traffic cars were going everywhere she didnt even care and on the back seat were the 2 kids absoultly stuppid so i done the only thing i could give her the middle finger and abused her how stupid i havent seen her again if i did i would have went to there house and told her husband to give them kids a cuddle and be greatful there still alive
after all that by the time we got to coffs 15 k,s away the first set of lights she was 5 car lenghts ahead
mozzie

[Jen]

:driving :
Yeah its a crazy world we live in everybody is always in a hurry.
I would not have the patience to live and work in the big cities I think i would definately use public transport
Living in the country now is much better except for occasionally you will get an elderly driving up the wrong side of the street

[Jone5y (Steve)]

Originally Posted by erick

You were lucky

I've learnt - just get out of their way - there are much more important things in life than who occupies what space on the roads. Let him (usually a "him") have his accident elsewhere. You'll forget it quickly if you don't prolong the agro.

x2 for this approach. Get out of the lunatics way (obviously that did appear difficult in your situation) and let him go and harass someone else.

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

About 6 years ago I was in the left lane at a set of lights and just drove off normally, no planting the foot. The left lane merged with the right lane on the other side and my car was more than a length in front of the guy in the right lane...I put my indicator on and merged across. The guy behind honked the horn, flashed his lights, overtook me then cut me off. Because of the traffic behind me, I had no option but to stop. He gets out of the car and starts hurling abuse at me...by then the traffic had eased and I just drove around him and put the pedal to the metal...as best you can in a 10 year old Pajero...and left him with a perplexed look on his face. I think he was expecting an argument...I was expecting to just leave him to his own temper!

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by OneOfOne

About 6 years ago I was in the left lane at a set of lights and just drove off normally, no planting the foot. The left lane merged with the right lane on the other side and my car was more than a length in front of the guy in the right lane...I put my indicator on and merged across. The guy behind honked the horn, flashed his lights, overtook me then cut me off. Because of the traffic behind me, I had no option but to stop. He gets out of the car and starts hurling abuse at me...by then the traffic had eased and I just drove around him and put the pedal to the metal...as best you can in a 10 year old Pajero...and left him with a perplexed look on his face. I think he was expecting an argument...I was expecting to just leave him to his own temper!

I would agree with that Trev, let him stew.

It seems to be something that i only see here for some reasons. I have driven across the USA, from NY, to Miami, to LA and back, i have driven around Paris, London etc. and never seen this. I think the problem here is 2 fold.

Australians are spoiled !! The roads here are wider than anywhere i have ever seen, have good roadmarkings, and are well laid out, and TBH people here dont seem to know how to accomodate other peoples driving. In Europe (and especially the UK where there are more cars on the road than people in Australia) People have learned to accomodate other drivers. Myself and my partner, who was born in England, but left there are the age of 8, recently went to the UK. She hadnt been back in years, so we did a road trip, and i drove the entire length of the country, from Southern England to the Scottish Highlands, about 10 hours (i know, nothing to you guys ) she was amazed at the amount of cars on the road, on how small and skinny the road where (most of them are relics from Roman roads) but the thing that amazed her the most, was that despite the massive amount of traffic, no one tailgated, everyone kept a distance from the other car, when roads merged, there was an unnofical "1 in, 1 out" rule. At first she was scared when she seen how hectic the roads where, but then she agreed that it worked very well, despite the volume of traffic.

People here (i guess i can only speak for Canberra) are spoiled with huge, big wide open roads. When i drive home, i leave a respectable gap from the car in front, but that doesnt seem to matter here, as people see it as a gap to slide into (usually at high speed, and within very close proximity to me) so, i end up easing back, and giving me some distance incase i need to brake, and then ANOTHER car slides across. The tailgaiting that goes on here is quite frightening, but because no one here, EVER lets anyone in or out, then everyone is desperate to not lose thier place, so they stick to each other like glue, and at high speeds, and its absolute suicide, and this is the only place in the world i have ever seen it. So people dont budge, or let others in, so people tailgate, and this just aggravates the problem.

Another thing that really annoys me is this "FORM ONE LANE" what it should say is "TORA TORA TORA" because there seems to be a mad dash to get in front, with people flying up the hard shoulder to try to press some sort of advantage. i just dont get it, i really dont. Wait your turn and you will get there. Even driving through NYC was easier than Canberra, and the list is endless ...

LOL. This is the only place in the world where i have been overtaken on a roundabout, isnt that madness? its the only place in the world where i have frequently get overtaken from the left AND the right. Its the only place in the world where the cost of petrol gets set by the store owners mood that day, and that REALLY gets up my nose.


This is a fantastic place, and i love so many of the things here, the smallest coin is 5c what a great idea! saves huge whisky bottles filled with old copped coins you never use. I love the fact that my bags get packed for me when i go shopping, i love the scenery, and the cost of living, and so many things ... but i think quite alot of Aussies should be made to drive for a week somewhere else in the world, then they would appreciate the roads that they really have here, and not put other drivers at risk, through being in too much of a hurry

rant over

[Ric]

Glad your alright Duncan, people like that obviously don't deserve to have a licence and his IQ probably matched his shoe size.

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by Ric

Glad your alright Duncan, people like that obviously don't deserve to have a licence and his IQ probably matched his shoe size.

Or his favourite AFL players jersey number....... which ever is the lowest.





Adrian
sorry couldnt resist.........