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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

think he wanted to make citizens arrest!

26 replies

2blessed2bstressed · 19/01/2011 15:35

Was running late to pick up ds2 from school and whilst jamming earring into ear managed to stab myself in the cheek with earring...cue swearing and surprising amout of blood...grabbed wad of tissues and clamped to side of face, got in car and set off with ds1. Half way to school the car in front of me slowed to about 10mph and I noticed driver furiously gesticulating in rear view mirror - he drove like that for several hundred yards then indicated right and as I pulled past him he was shaking his fist at me, and still gesturing wildly.

I suddenly realised what his problem was - he thought I was using a mobile phone as I had my hand at the side of my face. I waved the bloodstained tissue at him, but I don't know if he saw or not.
Now, my question is this, whilst I get that it's illegal to drive using your phone - I wasn't - and anyway, wasn't his behaviour really over the top, and verging on careless driving since he was so busy looking at me, he certainly wasn't concentrating on the road ahead of him?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 19/01/2011 15:37

I don't think you were in a good position to judge him and likewise neither was he to judge your driving. Put it down to experience and ignore.

bupcakesandcunting · 19/01/2011 15:39

YABU for not giving him the two fingered salute to show him you were not on the phone.

ShatnersBassoon · 19/01/2011 15:40

You were both doing reckless things while driving, but no harm was done. Forget about it, and don't worry about your earrings next time you're late for the school run.

Original poster
2blessed2bstressed · 19/01/2011 15:40

Not overly bothered, and not judging - just bewildered that people take these things upon themselves - it would never occur to me to get so het up Confused

OP posts:
compo · 19/01/2011 15:40

Well maybe you shouldn't have beendrivibg with just one hand? It's not much safer than yakking on phone

MrSpoc · 19/01/2011 15:41

scurryfunge - why is she not in a position to judge him?

The guy was a twat. you should of pulled over and told him what for.

SuchProspects · 19/01/2011 15:42

YWereBothU. He should not have let his ire interfere with his driving to that extent. You should not have been driving one handed-mobile phone or not.

Original poster
2blessed2bstressed · 19/01/2011 15:42

Grin at shatners. I know, but it's just a reflex thing, grab watch and earrings otherwise not finished being dressed!

OP posts:
TakeItOnTheChins · 19/01/2011 15:44

It isn't the TALKING on the phone that's the problem - that's why hands free kits are legal - it's the fact you're driving with one hand. Which is what you were doing. Which is why he was cross.

YABU to object to being told off, but YANBU to wonder how vigilant HE was being in the process of telling you off.

MrSpoc · 19/01/2011 15:44

its not illegal to drive with one hand but it is if you use a mobile whilst in motion.

scurryfunge · 19/01/2011 15:44

Because she doesn't know for sure what he was intending/raving about and the OP was driving just as carelessly if her hand is permanently stuck to her face. In the grand scheme of things it is one of those mindless incident that can escalate into road rage. Smile and ignore.

compo · 19/01/2011 15:44

Maybe he wasn't a twat
maybe his wife, grandaughter, brother or friend had been killed by a twatty driver on a mobile phone

scurryfunge · 19/01/2011 15:46

MrSpoc, you can still commit an offence of not having proper control of your vehicle, phone in your hand or not -it depends on what you are doing.

MrSpoc · 19/01/2011 15:46

no excuse to have a go at someone who did not have a phone in thier hand.

next time when he feels like being a twat he should make sure that the person has a phone in thier hands first.

Original poster
2blessed2bstressed · 19/01/2011 15:46

Ok (suspect might be starting to overthink, but going for it anyway), do any of you think he'd have been so mad if I'd been smoking, or drinking from a can of juice, or changing the cd...all of which involve one-handed driving, none of which are illegal?

OP posts:
MrSpoc · 19/01/2011 15:48

if a coppr pulled you over and said you were not in proper control of your car because you had one hand of the wheel. then that would be laughed out of court by a judge.

scurryfunge · 19/01/2011 15:48

They are offences if you can show you do not have proper control of your vehicle, 2blessed.

He was over the top and would have not been concentrating on the road in order to have a go at you -that is why it is best to leave these idiots alone or call police if he is threatening you.

scurryfunge · 19/01/2011 15:50

That is not what is being said MrSpoc -if a police officer can show your actions meant you were not in proper control of your vehicle then you can be reported and if the evidence is there you will not be laughed out of court.

MrSpoc · 19/01/2011 15:54

but if the judge asked and the copper said. the defendant only had one hand on the steering wheel then the judge will laugh it out of court.

I agree it does depend on the circumstances but not have one hand on the wheel would not be one of them if conducted on its own.

GwynAndBearIt · 19/01/2011 15:57

No, I wouldn't have acted like that - but some people do - I don't think it's that unusual, maybe he was thinking "I've got someone right on my arse AND she's on the bleedin' phone"

Actually it was a bleedin' tissue but he wasn't to know that.

Original poster
2blessed2bstressed · 19/01/2011 15:57

I maintain that I was in proper control of my vehicle at all times m'lud, and I did remove my hand from face to manouevre roundabout, and replaced it when I realised I was still bleeding. Got a Mr Bump plaster on it now Smile

OP posts:
GabbyLoggon · 19/01/2011 15:57

The police call the shots on what gets investigated.

Some people are suprised at what is ignored

Citizens arrest? very, very rare. That tells a story,

cheers "Gabby"

scurryfunge · 19/01/2011 15:58

MrSpoc, and if your granny had balls she'd be your grandpa.Grin

It is not an offence per se (as already explained)to have only one hand on the wheel but if the police officer can show it was detrimental to the driving then it matters and you could be stuck on. It is do do with being in control of your vehicle.

mariasmate · 19/01/2011 16:01

MrSpoc Wed 19-Jan-11 15:48:32

if a coppr pulled you over and said you were not in proper control of your car because you had one hand of the wheel. then that would be laughed out of court by a judge.

people have been done for
a) blowing their nose while at traffic lights

b) eating an apple while driving

Not laughed out of court

MrSpoc · 19/01/2011 16:07

the one about blowing thier nose in traffic lights was in the paper and didnt the copper get done?

And i am sure that it is an effence to eat whilst driving.

Also how did you all know my granny had balls? i thought that was a best kept family secret.

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