To think that there is an increase in aggressive and intolerant drivers on the road?

[FlameGrilled]

I know how driving threads often go on Aibu so I'm tentatively posting.

In the last few weeks, I've been on the receiving end of several aggressive drivers and I'm feeling rather got at. Sometimes I've actually made a mistake like accidentally getting into the left hand lane at an unfamiliar junction to go straight ahead when it was left turn only and the right hand lane was straight ahead. I didn't cut anyone off and kept as far left as possible to give space and indicate my mistake but another driver still leaned on their horn for a couple of minutes. Other times I've been forced into evasive action by other drivers but still been beeped at. Today I was trying to reverse out of a car park at the edge of the road and a car came at speed round the bend and I stopped the second I saw him but he still saw fit to sit behind me beeping like mad and waving his arms, I'm not sure why because I'd already seen him and was stationary. He clearly just wanted to shout at me.

I can recall many aggressive incidents over my years of being a driver but not so many close together. I'm on the receiving end of other's driving mistakes on a daily basis, often more than once a day but I try to be understanding as we're all human and make mistakes, even good drivers. If someone has clearly made a mistake, like getting into the wrong lane, then I hang back and allow them in, I don't get cross with them. If I see someone trying to get out of a difficult car park, I hang back and let them out. Why would I want to add to their problems? I reserve my judgement for the blatantly dangerous drivers, those who speed or tailgate but even then, I don't beep at them as chances are, these are the drivers who don't care anyway.

What has happened to people's ability to be understanding and patient? Has anyone else noticed this?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I've not been driving that long.

but I am tailgate on nearly a daily basis. honked at constantly for not zooming off at 60mph the second the amber light shows. people literally zoom past ne whilst I'm. doing the speed limit right at the end of where the lanes merge. and been. over taken.on corners just because my 1.2 isnt as fast as their car.

I also think.my car is invisible.ot must be cos several times this week I've been driving down the street witg obstructions on the other side and they just keep driving past me witg literally cms between us rather than.wait in the perfectly good large gap they just drove past.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Oh I just remembered an incident that happens a few weeks ago.

there are usually two cars parked on the side of the road near my house. now yku can't see round the corner as it bends round to the right slightly. so I always slow down in order fir me to have tome to react should a car turn into the road as I wouldn't see the car until it turned into the road and thanks to the parked cars I have to be on the wrong side of the road to get to the junction. I had a car so far up my arse that as I slowed down he had the nerve to honk me quite aggressively. ..

[Mrskeats]

Definitely you are right
I've been driving for 30 years and don't enjoy it any more
Must see an accident each week too

[ThomasHardyPerennial]

I agree. A lot of drivers (and people in general) seem to have very little patience these days. Is a little courtesy really so hard? It shouldn't be .

[SoleBizzz]

O have been driving since 1997 and I no longer enjoy city driving. Too many road ragers. It's horrible.

[ToxicBits]

There's an increase in tailgating twats and fuckers who don't know what indicators are I know that much

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I get overtaken whilst overtaking.

I try and give cyclists plenty of room and of course not go speeding past them. only fir someone else to decide they can't wait 2n seconds and overtake the pair of us

[Twunk]

I returned to the uk recently on a short trip - about a year since I last came back and I genuinely did notice a lack of courtesy on the road. Lots of tailgating, aggressive lane changes and blocking etc.

[BillBrysonsBeard]

More cars plus everyone in a rush maybe? I've definitely noticed it too. I always wonder at the people on threads who criticise people who don't drive... Imagine how it would be if every adult was driving!

[NoahVale]

some silly woman flashed her lights at someone to come out in front of me, without my seeing. i had to rapidly apply breaks, the person who came out and I made eye contact, she moved back and allowed me to carry on and the silly woman made a point of shaking her head at me as she drove by.
so very passive aggressive, somehow worse than honking the horn.

[KathyBeale]

My mum just told me that today she was driving down a road with parked cars on either side so space for one car in the middle. There was a car coming towards her, so she pulled into a space in the parked cars to let it pass - and the car behind her overtook her and almost smashed head first into the car coming the other way!

Yes to tailgating and I am annoyed with cars overtaking buses or cyclists when there is no room, driving into the traffic coming the other way and causing those cars to stop.

[crunchyfrog]

I'm a learner. Driving to work this morning got stuck behind a tractor, the man behind me got very cross. Tractor pulled in, for the next 5 miles this guy drove literally inches behind me, then overtook at speed going up a steep hill on a blind corner, and made gestures at me as he did so.

Clearly either couldn't see the L plates, kr was just an arse.

[NoahVale]

i have only just started regularly driving again after being carless for a while, i think being behind the wheel does cause aggression, if you are not careful.

[SewSlapdash]

Agree. It's been noticeable in the last three years or so. I live in a part of the country where people are generally easy going, compared to where I grew up (grew up in the SE). But even here now there's an increase in that tish behaviour - using the wrong lane because it's quicker then trying to force their way in to the lane they needed because they can't be bothered to wait, tailgating, no indicators, aggressively cutting me up, not letting people out and a total lack of lane discipline.

[StubblyLegs]

There is also an increase of shit/unlicensed/unskilled/illegal drivers on the road from whom, I suspect, are where a lot of the aforementioned behaviours stem.

I witness shite driving on a daily basis and it's so fucking horrific, that it's painful to watch. So many near misses involving the fuckiest of fuckwits.