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Original poster

Tell me about your episodes of road rage after the witch I just encountered has left me fuming.

83 replies

IaskBoringQuestions · 06/09/2020 15:06

In my 18 years of driving I’ve maybe had about 8 episodes of road rage but today’s topped them all and made me so angry.
I feel like I need to type it out and read others examples to calm down.

I was in a busy car park (probably the scene of most road rages!) awaiting to park in a spot.
The woman in front stopped dead and did nothing. I wondered why.
I decided to reverse to see if she was wanting to back into a space next to us.
She did. And as she came level with my window she shouted “If you would fucking move you stupid cunt”

Well. She ignited my fire within and my rage boiled over. I couldn’t believe the way she spoke to me when I had done nothing wrong (no way I could have known her intention as she didn’t indicate etc)

I got out of my car and said EXCUSE ME! How dare you speak to me like that when I’ve done nothing wrong

She was about 25 years older than me and looked like a real life witch. She said “you stupid fucking cunt learn to drive”

Even though I do swear I chose to be the bigger person and use words rather than swearing and I said “how was I supposed to know your plans and how did that warrant a load of abuse, you horrible rude woman”

I walked away and she shouted cunt.

And I couldn’t let her have that as the last word so I said “you are lucky my kid is in the car as I would drag you out of that car and show you who is a cunt”
And I drove off.

Why do arseholes like this exist.

Tell me your examples?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 06/09/2020 15:51

[quote IaskBoringQuestions]@sunshineandshowers21
Child not children.
She was asleep so didn’t hear.
I didn’t ask for people to slag me off here.[/quote]
I'm sure your child didn't hear anything. Some people are just too rude to let it go, she deserved what she got. Stupid woman.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 06/09/2020 15:53

I dunno - I hate bullies like the woman you encountered, OP, who think they can just shout their mouth off with no consequences. I've have been tempted to say something back too.

FredaFox · 06/09/2020 15:55

I was with you until you got out the car and threatened her yourself
You behaved terribly
If I were an observer I’d be thinking that you were the cunt

FinnyStory · 06/09/2020 15:56

Hmm, I think 8 episodes in a lifetime, especially when the "witch" is 25 years older, so presumably you're not that old is a lot, so maybe you do need to consider you might be part of the problem.

I've had one in 40 years of driving, when a man refused to back despite him being much closer to a passing place than I was. I calmly told him he was closer to a gap than I was until a transit pulled up behind me and he didn't seem to feel the need to argue with the burly occupants.

picklemewalnuts · 06/09/2020 15:56

Her behaviour was bad, yes.

You might find it helpful to be more aware in car parks. Every car is basically about to manoeuvre. They are pulling in or out of a space. They need a car length at least between you and them.

Leave more space, you'll get less rage.

CitizenFame · 06/09/2020 15:56

Good for you OP. You did the right thing in that situation.

fatgirlslimmer · 06/09/2020 15:59

Over 40 years of driving, never had an episode of road rage. Been called a cunt, told to fuck off, beeped at, cut off, had to brake suddenly etc etc.

But what is the point in retaliating? You got back in your car angry and driving like that is dangerous, you’re still angry now, why let it affect you like that? I ignore it, their ignorance has no affect on my life, and concentrate on driving, parking, whatever.

Any road rage that I have witnessed has made both parties look stupid or endangered other drivers. You would have been fucked had she got out of her car and lamped you, especially with a child asleep in the car.

Babyroobs · 06/09/2020 16:03

@fatgirlslimmer

Over 40 years of driving, never had an episode of road rage. Been called a cunt, told to fuck off, beeped at, cut off, had to brake suddenly etc etc.

But what is the point in retaliating? You got back in your car angry and driving like that is dangerous, you’re still angry now, why let it affect you like that? I ignore it, their ignorance has no affect on my life, and concentrate on driving, parking, whatever.

Any road rage that I have witnessed has made both parties look stupid or endangered other drivers. You would have been fucked had she got out of her car and lamped you, especially with a child asleep in the car.

People should not have to put up with being verbally abused for no reason at all. and people need to know it is not acceptable. Good on you to be able to be so passive, I would not be because I would be cross for not defending myself.
Moondust001 · 06/09/2020 16:03

Many, many moons ago, a car slammed into my rear end. The bloke driving it got out of the car and started screaming and shouting abuse at me, threatening me and calling me all sorts because he had hit my car due to me being stationary in the middle of the road. It was absolutely true. I was very definitely stopped in the middle of the road. It was something I did every time I approached a traffic light on red! I pointed that out very politely, and suggested that if he had been watching the road then he might have seen both my stationary car and the red traffic light. Or, in fact, the six police officers who observed the whole thing coming out of the police station that it happened outside of!

MrsDrudge · 06/09/2020 16:04

You didn’t ask to be judged OP you asked for examples of road rage from other people.
I hope writing it all down has helped you vent and feel better and your weekend improves.

SecretWitch · 06/09/2020 16:05

You’ve been involved in road rage incidents 8 times? Perhaps have a word with yourself, op. You actually sound vile to be honest.

Babyroobs · 06/09/2020 16:07

@SecretWitch

You’ve been involved in road rage incidents 8 times? Perhaps have a word with yourself, op. You actually sound vile to be honest.
One episode every 2.5 years ??
Seriouslyconfused3 · 06/09/2020 16:08

I must be psychotic because I get terrible road rage Blush can’t believe some of you don’t get it at all

WorraLiberty · 06/09/2020 16:08

And I couldn’t let her have that as the last word so I said “you are lucky my kid is in the car as I would drag you out of that car and show you who is a cunt”
And I drove off.

So you gave it the biggun from the safety of your own car?

I've seen that one go horribly wrong more than once, when they've been dragged out of the car or their windows have been put through.

You should really be more careful, especially when your child is present.

FinnyStory · 06/09/2020 16:10

What have you gained from your outburst OP? Or the other people saying they would "have" to defend themselves. It must be exhausting to be so angry all the time.

20viona · 06/09/2020 16:15

OP id if given her a mouthful too if she spoke to me like that!

noraclavicle · 06/09/2020 16:16

Interesting to see the anonymous people describing someone they don’t know as ‘vile’ or an ‘arsehole’ and yet feeling themselves to be made of superior stuff...

Babyroobs · 06/09/2020 16:18

@noraclavicle

Interesting to see the anonymous people describing someone they don’t know as ‘vile’ or an ‘arsehole’ and yet feeling themselves to be made of superior stuff...
Typical mumsnet at the moment unfortunately. I got called 'dim' yesterday for expressing an opinion. This site is becoming dreadful.
FinnyStory · 06/09/2020 16:19

"One episode every 2.5 years ??"

That seems like a hell of a lot to me, it's certainly not my experience.

Fink · 06/09/2020 16:21

I've had one episode, years ago. It really shook me up. I entered a roundabout and accidentally pulled out in front of another car who had priority. Just bad judgement on my part. The other car had plenty of time to react and braked. Didn't hit anything, just had to brake a little unexpectedly. No harm done, or so I thought, just a silly mistake. I held up my hand in a 'sorry' gesture and carried on.

The other car followed me for 7 miles, swearing, beeping the horn, giving me the finger. I just carried on driving normally and didn't react. Eventually I pulled into the supermarket car park where I was going and parked. The other car parked next to me and both adults got out and started shouting at me through my window then the man yanked my door open and started screaming in my face. I calmly explained that it had been a momentary lapse of judgement, for which I was sorry, but which had caused no accident or damage. He carried on and tried to make me get out of the car for a fight. Luckily I saw that there was a police car also in the car park, so I walked over to it and they drove off.

Babyroobs · 06/09/2020 16:22

@Fink

I've had one episode, years ago. It really shook me up. I entered a roundabout and accidentally pulled out in front of another car who had priority. Just bad judgement on my part. The other car had plenty of time to react and braked. Didn't hit anything, just had to brake a little unexpectedly. No harm done, or so I thought, just a silly mistake. I held up my hand in a 'sorry' gesture and carried on.

The other car followed me for 7 miles, swearing, beeping the horn, giving me the finger. I just carried on driving normally and didn't react. Eventually I pulled into the supermarket car park where I was going and parked. The other car parked next to me and both adults got out and started shouting at me through my window then the man yanked my door open and started screaming in my face. I calmly explained that it had been a momentary lapse of judgement, for which I was sorry, but which had caused no accident or damage. He carried on and tried to make me get out of the car for a fight. Luckily I saw that there was a police car also in the car park, so I walked over to it and they drove off.

Seriously what is wrong with people ?
WitchesGlove · 06/09/2020 16:23

The best thing to do is start filming it, you can either shame her on social media, or go to the police, because you can’t just go around calling someone a cunt, what if it had been a vulnerable elderly person?

When I was an 18 year old with anxiety and learning to drive, some people were like this to me if I made any mistake. It really affected me and I think affected how long it took for me to pass.

I’d have called her worse than a cunt.

merryhouse · 06/09/2020 16:24

Well to be fair that's not road rage. But moving on...

You really don't have to respond to people who call you a cunt. Particularly when you're safely inside your car (unless she's really under the influence of road rage she's not going to smash your window). Roll your eyes and feel sorry for her life.

I passed my test in 1998 and have never got into an altercation with another driver. I don't recall either of my parents (38 years and 60 years driving) doing so either - we had plenty of minor bumps (it was the seventies Grin) but no shouting matches.

Closest husband has got (that I'm aware of) is furious gestures at a guy who cut him up on a mini-roundabout (half-stopping to make said gestures being slightly more dangerous than the original manoeuvre, which should tell you something...)

fatgirlslimmer · 06/09/2020 16:24

@Babyroobs
People should not have to put up with being verbally abused for no reason at all. and people need to know it is not acceptable. Good on you to be able to be so passive, I would not be because I would be cross for not defending myself.

I agree, however I’m not passive I just refuse to engage with idiots, I wouldn’t feel the need to defend myself. I also don’t think jumping out of your car and threatening someone is an acceptable way to respond or behave.

IDespairOfTheHumanRace · 06/09/2020 16:27

Next time perhaps just smile sweetly, head tilted to one side and say:

"At least a cunt has warmth, depth and usefulness - qualities which you sadly lack!"

As a matter of interest did you notice whether or not it is easy for her to manouvere and park a broomstick?