Road Rage....

Peter Ward · #1 24-03-2010, 01:36 PM

Pulling into a store's driveway today (having stopped with indicators flashing) I gestured to a driver leaving the same driveway that he go first, as I needed to negotiate the steep kerb at an angle to avoid scraping the nose of my (quite low) F-Car.

We waited.

He eventually got the message, pulled out alongside me stating "Learn ....... the road rules mate!"

I simply responded, "Mate, I know them, but have to go at an angle so I won't scrape the spoiler... couldn't do that with you there"

He then turned his wheel and feigned ramming the back end of my car by crossing over to my side of the road...much to the bemusement of the drivers in four cars now lined up behind mine....turned away at the last second....and drove off in his rust ridden Commodore shouting some more obscenities....

Leaving me thinking "what was that all about !!??"

Sign of the times?

DavidU (Dave) · #2 24-03-2010, 01:53 PM

Pure jealousy Peter, don't worry about it.
I have to go very slowly over speed humps because the car is so low and I cop it often.

Baddad (Marty) · #3 24-03-2010, 02:01 PM

Hi Peter,

Yes, I can understand where you're comming from. I have had similar things happen to me.

But I want to tell you about this incident.

Two young ladies (P plate) pull up at a railway crossing. Cars and red light intersection immediately after the level crossing. They wait for the red light to change. (no train yet)

They had stopped where the boom gate would hit them if a train came.
(Okay I made it obvious)
I was immediately behind them. I stopped well short of their rear. Just in case of the remote chance a train came. Then they had space to back up.

The idiot in this was behind me gesturing to me to go forward and close the gap.

The lights and bells activated. The look of sheer panic on the girls faces was priceless.

They backed out of the boom gate trajectory and gestured thanks to me.

The idiot behind me covered his face with his hand.

I'd say he was hoping the ground would open up and hide him.

Yes. I agree with you Peter, a sign of the times.

Cheers Marty

Phoenix (Steve) · #4 24-03-2010, 02:01 PM

Yep... we are generally a courteous lot on foot - place us in our metal monster and for some they become one. Sorry about that Pete.

Cheers, nix

Peter Ward · #5 24-03-2010, 02:56 PM

Hey...what can you say?

Sympathy was not on my mind, but I wondered if that Bogan had any idea that rear quarter panel he was going to ram would cost him (or his insurer) more than the total net worth of his VK Holden....

probably not

lacad01 (Adam) · #6 24-03-2010, 03:03 PM

Unfortunately some people's brains mysteriously vaporize the moment they sit behind the wheel of a car

AstralTraveller (David) · #7 24-03-2010, 03:03 PM

I had something fairly similar happen when trying to get into a driveway that was a bit narrow. I had to stop or either hit the fence post or the rear of the car in the driveway. No real agro but it was an issue for the car coming out because I was blocking his view of the road. He didn't like it but no one in their right mind tries to ram an old troopie with a shiny new car.

On the other hand I do wonder whether vehicles that cannot traverse standard driveways and speed humps in the normal manner really should be road registered?

supernova1965 (Warren) · #8 24-03-2010, 03:13 PM

not an argument I hope

GrampianStars (Rob) · #9 24-03-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

...... standard driveways and speed humps.....

no such thing as Standard driveways
& Concrete humps put on perfectly good roads

should be able to sue whoever installs them on the road

Peter Ward · #10 24-03-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

....I do wonder whether vehicles that cannot traverse standard driveways and speed humps in the normal manner really should be road registered?

Good point, but neither are an issue with my car....it happily negotiates speed humps... but requires I actually slow down for them (to avoid spinal injury

).....and standard driveways, no-problemo.... Steep drive's just need a little caution to avoid that expensive crunching sound.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #11 24-03-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrampianStars

no such thing as Standard driveways
& Concrete humps put on perfectly good roads

should be able to sue whoever installs them on the road

Sydney Buses sued Ryde Council over the "traffic calming measures" (ie speed humps and roundabouts) they put on a bus route and the damage they caused, even when the drivers were really cautious.

sheeny (Al) · #12 24-03-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Leaving me thinking "what was that all about !!??"

He saw red!

Its a special type of insanity, road rage. It affects more people than are prepared to admit it.

The trouble is the road is full of all sorts: incompetent drivers, angry drivers, frustrated drivers, etc. Sounds like the dude you encountered was on the edge anyway... a red Ferrari was like a red rag to a bull!

The best you can do is try to take into account the other whackos on the road, make allowances and try to keep cool and not be part of the problem.

You done good, Pete!

Al.

JD2439975 (Justin) · #13 24-03-2010, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lacad01

Unfortunately some people's brains mysteriously vaporize the moment they sit behind the wheel of a car

Which is kind of scary considering what they just sat behind the wheel of.

Ric · #14 24-03-2010, 04:46 PM

I've encountered a few road ragers over the years. When your on a motorbike it becomes a very scary situation.

When my life is at stake I just back off and they can have as much road as they want to enjoy their little power trip.

AstralTraveller (David) · #15 24-03-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Good point, but neither are an issue with my car....it happily negotiates speed humps... but requires I actually slow down for them (to avoid spinal injury

).....and standard driveways, no-problemo.... Steep drive's just need a little caution to avoid that expensive crunching sound.

I suppose I should have expected a nice reasoned response. I never catch anything!

Did I read somewhere that Tendulkar has a _raised_ Ferrari so he can negociate the local roads??

Nesti (Mark) · #16 24-03-2010, 05:17 PM

I've been addressing this exact same issue of late. Two weeks ago I was riding my bike up Welshpool Road into the hills for training. I counted no less than 16 smashed bottles along the 4kms from the base of the hill to the top. Mind you, in the bicycle lane I might add. Did someone just "accidentally" drop them at regular intervals?!

This isn't actually an issue pertaining to just motor vehicles or bicycles, nor is it soley traffic related, it's an issue of our modern society...western society mainly. It's as though a good portion of society actually want conflict.

In the last 4 trips to Thailand I have not once seen a single road rage tantrum...nothing! Bangkok for all its traffic jams, noise and smokey air is heaven compared to the hostility on our roads. Phuket driving is indescribable in parts, but still no rage.

So why is it that over there someone can pull out in front of a vehicle and that's a part of life, yet here if you pull out 100m ahead they yell "ramming speed" and bang the drum faster.

There's also a level of stupidity, by this I actually am talking about lack of intelligence. In Peter's scenario, he had to wait...wouldn't someone waiting make you question, and think? (I once had a VL Group A...front air dam was very low).

I watched people at the broken down traffic lights the other day after the storm...It was like watching that computer game 'Frogger'...not much courtesy and I've got a 4x4 so I'm first.

Baddad (Marty) · #17 24-03-2010, 05:25 PM

Hi Peter,

Just having thought about it a little: I think its a case of that "tall poppy syndrome". Some people can not accept that the "Tall Poppy" deserves to have what they have not. It often manifests itself as pure unadulterated jealousy.

You gotta' be prepared for that, driving an elite Italian job.

Tell me Peter, because its red does that make it go faster than drab colours?

Cheers Marty

RobF (Rob) · #18 24-03-2010, 05:26 PM

Its getting to the stage we're I almost dread driving home now - something I really dislike about Brissy getting bigger and meaner. Some idiot always cuts in front if you leave a decent gap between car in front, or rides your bumper in traffic (as if you can go any faster). Or races between cars where 2 lanes merge. Nothing worse than arriving home after a hard day with a bad taste in your mouth because someone else was short tempered. You try not to let it affect you, but a bit does somehow.

I was in Hobart recently, and kept getting suspicious everytime someone stopped for me to cross a road (by foot). Part of me suspected they were just wanting to run me down

They kept SMILING at me too......

Phoenix (Steve) · #19 24-03-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Hey...what can you say?

Sympathy was not on my mind, but I wondered if that Bogan had any idea that rear quarter panel he was going to ram would cost him (or his insurer) more than the total net worth of his VK Holden....

probably not

I hope you have better luck than I Peter. Some dill hit me from behind many moons ago and totalled their car while doing a fair bit of damage to mine. He was uninsured. Through the courts I got about $10 a month from him for about 7 years! Woohoo!

Peter Ward · #20 24-03-2010, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Through the courts I got about $10 a month from him for about 7 years! Woohoo!

Happily my insurer would cover such an event....

BTW in regard to an earlier post....to quote Kevin B Wilson....of course it's fast...mine a red one fella!