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Original poster

I am fuming, and have to vent: drivers who hoot from behind.

37 replies

Treaclemine · 07/07/2023 10:20

I'd dumped a friend for a train and set off home. The station road had several cars queuing to join the main road, which was stationary at a roundabout. Gradually they moved, and the cars ahead of me joined the stream to the left. I was a going right. When I got to the head of the queue there were two cars stopped across most of the roundabout, leaving room for a car, but on the left. One of them was holding on the clutch, and kept moving to and fro. I felt it sensible to wait until he went. The car behind hooted, but I took no notice. Thyey queue moved on and was replaced by a continuous flow from the right, with no gaps to use. Hoot again. Then they thinned out, but not, in my opinion, enough.
Double hoot. I was just about to get out and clarify the highway code as to who gets to choose when to move when she pulled into the left lane, passed me, and took off at speed. Blonde, driving an SUV. Not what I expected. I gave her a long blast as she went, and caught up the other side of the town at the traffic lights on to the M25.
Why do people who can't see the traffic situation attempt to impose their will on those who can, and whose insurance would say "You were joining a stream of traffic, it's your fault."
And then on a lane I had a big car on my tail, with no room to avoid the cars we met. He knew the road, as he went up a drive, thankfully, but why must they push at the car in front.
It only makes me drive slower.

OP posts:

BruceAndNosh · 07/07/2023 10:27

You can see the road better than they can

Sirzy · 07/07/2023 10:30

From your own account it does sound like you where being very hesitant - especially if she managed to overtake and get out.

i wouldn’t have beeped but when people are very hesitant going out in traffic it is frustrating.

Original poster

Treaclemine · 07/07/2023 15:52

The cars on the roundabout were approaching without stopping. There were gaps, but not big ones, and my car, a latest model Skoda Fabia has a known fault, a tendency to stall, due to the start/stop system (which I didn't have engaged, but it's done it without it). Don't buy one. She wasn't to know that of course, really had to get to Essex, not that she gained anything after speeding through the town.
Oh, and when she drove round there was a gap in the traffic, the first one, but I'm pretty sure she cut across a car on the roundabout which she could not see, because I was in the way. Oh, I forgot, SUV visibility.
I wasn't hesitant. I wasn't moving into traffic. And in other instances, in my old car, at T junctions where the road approaching cannot be seen from the cars behind, people do it. And if their frustration leads to hooting, they aren't safe, they shouldn't be driving in the grip of emotions like that.
Just think that "hesitant" car can see more than you and may have absorbed Advanced Motoring.

OP posts:

RicherThanYews · 07/07/2023 15:56

I agree with you Op. I was trying to merge with traffic by turning right at a junction but the cars going left and right were bombing it and there were 3 other junctions impeded by illegally parked cars so visibility was dreadful. I got honked at for a solid 10 seconds by the driver from behind 🙄

LakeTiticaca · 07/07/2023 16:00

Happened to me just an hour ago. Waiting at a junction where a road curved round and the traffic on the road curving has right of way.Some knobhead kept honking, I assume it was at me, I took no heed.
Happened once at a petrol station. 1st pump out of order so I used the second one. Bloke behind me was honking like crazy for me to move up to pump number one. In the end he screeched round me, pulled up at pump 1, then realised why I hadn't used it
Isn't Karma great sometimes 🤣🤣

echt · 07/07/2023 16:01

Wankers. It’s always a right-hand turn that only you can see the full situation yet the ones behind know so much better than you.

Original poster

Treaclemine · 07/07/2023 18:35

And would you believe, two more occurrences today. Must be Friday. I am going to go up a lane when two vans come down. I always reverse down at this one because its abominable trying to reverse up it. And the first van keeps coming, on and on so I can't see his number plate, it scares me. I have to watch the bend in the lane and the pond the other side of a rickety fence which I have to be close to to allow them space the other side. It feels like coercion, being hounded, and they will do it. They don't gain anything by it, could just as easily keep their distance.

The other was really odd, There's a little waiting place outside Waitrose which I usually use as I'm only going in for a few minutes, if I can. There was one car in there and room behind it, so that's what I did. And got hooted from behind by another car that couldn't quite get in. I had a little leeway, so started the car again and moved up to what seemed really close. Hoot. When I got out, muttering sotto voce about if another person hooted..... In this time hooter had moved up, to about two inches from my car. And this is the peculiar bit. Walked in with the trolley, and looked out of the window. Both cars had gone.

There was another hoot, not at me, but at a roundabout where my stream was turning left, the main road was turning across us to the left and some were going straight ahead. I was second in the queue, when a loud blast from behind came.
The car in front responded by crossing to go ahead, at the same time as a car turned to go down the left road. I'll swear I saw both of them jump. If they had hit, it would have been the hooter's fault. I hope they didn't think it was me!

OP posts:

SinnerBoy · 07/07/2023 19:27

LakeTiticata

Happened once at a petrol station. 1st pump out of order so I used the second one. Bloke behind me was honking like crazy for me to move up to pump number one. In the end he screeched round me, pulled up at pump 1, then realised why I hadn't used it.

Oh, I've had that! I had one where I pulled up, realised it was off and rolled the bike back. I'd just started filling up when an Audi pulled up and the bell end started honking and giving hand signals. I decided to be awkward and left the bike there when I paid.

I got back and he was out of the car, hopping mad and purple faced, ranting, "Why didn't ye move forward?!"

"Because I needed petrol."

I rode off and he shot forward into the first space, then someone pulled in behind him! Ha ha, dickhead!

noglow · 07/07/2023 19:36

Blonde, driving an SUV. Not what I expected

Genuinely interested what hair colour you did expect.

WonderingWanda · 07/07/2023 19:57

Honestly, you do sound like an overly cautious driver op. Nothing more annoying than people who won't edge out in very heavy traffic, take up enough space for multiple cars or wait forever for a non existent gap at a roundabout. From a blonde with an SUV 😉

VeronicaBeccabunga · 07/07/2023 20:20

I got hooted at from behind earlier today. I was turning left onto a main road where there are road works with traffic lights further down so the traffic was coming along in big groups, all close together.
I was tempted to get out and very slowly check that my tailgate was shut 🙄
As it was I very carefully drove up the main road at very slightly under 30 mph once there was a gap and the impatient whatsit behind me followed me out.

NeedleFeltedFox · 07/07/2023 20:26

If you need a trolleys worth of shopping you shouldn’t be parking in that waiting area. Honestly sounds like you might be the problem

CuriouslyDifferent · 07/07/2023 20:54

Heavy traffic you have to edge out.

The fact she was able to get around you and out, suggests you might have started focussing more on behind than in front.

There’s a general rule I believe is good to go by.

If it’s one car tailgating you, they are the problem.

If there’s a queue of cars tailgating, you are the problem.

I also find that some slower drivers aren’t fully aware of speed limits. So for instance there are changes in lane speeds, they go from 30 to 60 then 30. I’ve found slower drivers who don’t move beyond 39 frustrating. 60 isn’t the requirement, but one shouldn’t be doing a flat 30 in a 60, it’s likely to cause frustration behind.

Roundabout…. Approach and be aware of what’s coming from the right. Don’t stop even if there’s nothing coming from the right. It’s so common where i live, and on one particular roundabout (more of a T junction roundabout with 100% visiabiiit) it’s faster to go in the left lane and undertake the stopping driver when you can see nothings coming and they start braking down from 20 to stop.

Returning to your situations…. If it’s happening a lot, I suspect it might be as much you as much idiots.

Carsarelife · 07/07/2023 20:57

The other day I stalled it at the lights. I tried to start my car when I realised it wasn't going to start. I put my hazards on when suddenly the car behind started beeping really loudly. Did he think I was parking there? I don't know. I managed to start the car on the 4th attempt so turned my hazards off - guess what he was still beeping

yipeeyiyay · 07/07/2023 21:08

What does being blonde have to do with anything?

ShirleyPhallus · 07/07/2023 21:10

Your use of “hooted” is really making me smile.

Twit-twoo!

noglow · 07/07/2023 21:20

yipeeyiyay · 07/07/2023 21:08

What does being blonde have to do with anything?

Yes I really want to know what hair colour OP was expecting

SirChenjins · 07/07/2023 21:34

Why are you using the waiting area as a parking space? That’s not what it’s there for.

If there’s a queue of cars tailgating, you are the problem Definitely this.

OP, I understand it’s frustrating to be peeped at but from your description it does sound like you were quite hesitant. I would never peep someone but I’d be throwing a few choice phrases your way from behind my windscreen.

eurochick · 07/07/2023 21:49

You sound like a pretty hesitant driver. You shouldn't drive under a situation you are not comfortable with, but you have to accept that more confident drivers will get frustrated.

PriamFarrl · 07/07/2023 21:58

Why are you parking in a waiting zone, which I’m guessing is more for picking up/dropping off than getting a trolly load of shopping?

Theunamedcat · 07/07/2023 22:00

There is confidence and stupidity

I was driving back from Wales suddenly the heavens opened and an ocean dropped onto my roof my windscreen wipers were ineffective against the torrent I slowed the fuck down fast a car got up my arse blasting the horn sped past me giving me a long blast ranting off most likely anyway its a sixty road and they scoot off a few minutes down the road the rain has pretty much stopped and we drive past them in their ditch

Confidence vrs stupidity

(And he was climbing out on his phone so clearly ok)

Frenchthing · 07/07/2023 22:05

Parp parp!

HeddaGarbled · 07/07/2023 22:10

You both used your horns incorrectly. Anyone using their horns out of impatience or temper is in the wrong, and risks escalating road-rage.

Mummysalwaysright · 10/07/2023 09:31

@Treaclemine is clearly the person at fault here. I cannot believe she would get beeped at 5 times a day or whatever it is, just by "nasty" drivers in SUVs etc.
She is clearly pottering around in a world of her own in her little Skoda whilst holding up people who have things to do and places to get to. The sooner we have compulsory retests for older drivers the better IMV.

CalistoNoSolo · 10/07/2023 11:52

Hesitant drivers really piss me off, you're holding everyone up and causing even more congestion. If you're not confident in heavy/rush hour traffic stay off the road.

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