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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that there's rarely an excuse for beeping at people in the car?

52 replies

pyjamaramadrama · 17/03/2014 15:39

Coming back from school run turning right at a t junction, cars were flying down the main road both ways so no opportunities for me to go. Car behind me wants to go left, the road is too narrow to let him past and he'd have unlikely been any quicker anyway. I'm talking the space of 20 seconds.

Big burly bloke behind starts beeping, waving his arms sticking his fingers up, saying shouting which I couldn't hear.

I still couldn't go because of the traffic so was stuck there with him honking and yelling.

I really don't know what his problem was, I went at the first opportunity, and even if he thought I was too hesitant, is there really any need to act like that? I find it intimidating and a bit frightening.

I honestly never beep at people, I've had people pull out in front of me, I've had people literally walk out in front of me, cut me up on islands. I really can't be bothered to beep and shout I just figure they've made a mistake.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 17/03/2014 15:42

You weren't in the wrong. He was being an aggressive bully.

The horn is only supposed to be used to warn people you are there, not in an aggressive intimidating manner.

AlpacaLypse · 17/03/2014 15:44

In twenty five years of driving I have used the horn about three times, once to alert a Range Rover that I was behind her before she reversed into me. (Which failed - she still dented my front bumper with her tow-bar, grrrr...), and twice at pedestrians stepping in the road without looking, one of whom was drunk and the other a teenager with a hoodie pulled right over and earphones in.

Ludways · 17/03/2014 15:57

I beeped at my dad this morning, he was crossing the road in front of me and ds got excited to see him. Lol

Other than that I've only ever beeped if I thought someone was going to hit me.

He was being an arse. I once had a similar situation where I thought a woman was seriously going to injure herself, she was hitting the steering wheel and waning her head around. I told to to get a bloody grip then went, lol.

Original poster
pyjamaramadrama · 17/03/2014 16:08

Didn't think of that ludways, I've beeped at my mum when I've seen her walking back from the shops. Grin

I did have a man literally run straight out in front of me once without even looking to catch a bus on the other side of the road. I had to full on emergency stop and he still didn't notice. I did shake my head in disbelief and thanked my lucky stars that I had my wits about me.

I hate ignorant, aggressive tossers, the type who overtake dangerously and then meet you at the traffic lights anyway.

I'd have liked to have asked this guy what his problem was, but I'm too much of a wimp.

OP posts:
Ludways · 17/03/2014 16:18

I made sure I wasn't too close to him this time, I once pulled up behind him and beeped my horn, I nearly sent the poor old sod on his way, lol.

5Foot5 · 17/03/2014 16:56

YANBU for being annoyed at the impatient tosser beeping at you this morning.

However, YABVU to beep at your Mum when you see her in the street.

As DramaAlpaca says, the horn should only be used to warn people you are there.

One of my pet hates is walking along and suddenly hearing a horn blaring out behind me making me jump out of my skin. Then when you look round it is just someone grinning like an idiot and waving at their friend who they have just seen on the other side of the road. Grr Angry

Original poster
pyjamaramadrama · 17/03/2014 17:03

True 5foot5, in my defence she was carrying heavy shopping and is a bit deaf, so I was doing a little bit of a good deed giving her a lift.

OP posts:
alemci · 17/03/2014 17:25

yes yanbu. some people can't wait a minute and it is horrible. they are really unpleasant.

I always think would they pay for my repairs etc if I did pull out and have an accident due to their impatience so wind your neck in.

ReindeerBollocks · 17/03/2014 17:28

I beeped today as there were cars going through a red at a cross roads and the lights on my side were green. I had lots of cars up my backside honking at me, because I wasn't prepared to go and end up in an accident.

Beeping worked, the cars stopped going through the red lights, which then made it safe for me to go.

Other than that I only use it as a warning of an accident.

Linguini · 17/03/2014 17:58

I can't stand these pushy sorts. You were not doing anything other than waiting to turn right, it is his obligation to wait behind you. U get this like mad in London, they will beep at your for turning right, for going slower because you are driving past a school, I've been beeped at madly because I was slowing for an ambulance passing! Not a cyclist at least so I don't get shouted at for no reason. It is unacceptable. YANBU

tallulah · 17/03/2014 18:12

We moved from an area where people beep all the time, to one where nobody beeps. What bugs me is that when people do beep (and it's usually people not from here) it's always them in the wrong.

A junction that goes from 4 lanes to 3 and consequently they don't line up properly and you have to pull slightly to the left as you go through, woman behind DH was next to us but then tried to pull forward into the same lane - moving slightly right. She was wrong but sat there beeping him.

At the hospital a woman had stopped across the exit from the car park, on the other side of the road, clearly reading a map and drifting along very very slowly. I waited for her to move but she didn't. So I pulled out. She beeped. I was very tempted to get out and have a word.

KatieScarlett2833 · 17/03/2014 18:18

I beeped today when a van reversed practically into my lap.
He didn't see me because he didn't fucking look

ipswichwitch · 17/03/2014 18:51

I have only ever beeped to make others aware of my presence (when they should clearly have known I was there too).
Would hate to drive in countries like Egypt or the US (well, New York anyway), where beeping is pretty constant. Aparently in Egypt there are different beeps which all mean different things - it's like a whole different language!

KiwiBanana · 17/03/2014 18:53

Don't let it get to you, he's the one that'll give himself a heart attack stressing himself out about daft stuff like that!

Original poster
pyjamaramadrama · 17/03/2014 19:07

That's true kiwi, perhaps I should have turned around smiled and waved.

OP posts:
Tanith · 17/03/2014 19:15

Many years ago, I drove a Lada. It had a few eccentricities, like the radio working when it felt like it and the fan blowing hot and cold at whim (often at the same time!).

One of its endearing little features was that the fuse would blow every time I used the horn. It trained me to only ever touch the damn thing when I really, really had need to.

ooerrmissus · 17/03/2014 19:22

I beeped at other cars twice on the way back from school. Silly twats drifting into my lane at traffic lights. On the second occasion I just leant on the horn for about 30 seconds. I know the horn is supposed to be to make other drivers aware of your presence. These dickheads weren't aware of anything, even with the horn. Just as well I don't have surface to air missiles or they would gave got one of them too.

Actually I'm lying, I then had to beep at an older driver who was sitting at a junction not moving. There was nothing coming in either direction, she'd just stopped to have a think about where she was going. She moved off after I beeped to point out she'd got three cars behind her- at about 10 miles an hour. That was only a little beep though not a full on 30 second job.

RiverTam · 17/03/2014 19:24

to play devil's advocate - I've been stuck behind someone turning right at a T junction, as you describe, and they have positioned themselves so badly in the road that no-one turning left can get through - even though they should be able to. Maybe that was you?

His reaction was ludicrously extreme, though.

lastnightIwenttoManderley · 17/03/2014 19:33

I failed my first driving test...for not using my horn! People cycling three abreast on the road in front and weaving all over the place. Apparently I should have used it but I didn't want to seem like some loon with anger ishoos to the examiner!

Now its mostly in towns or on the motorway when people decide they want my lane whilst I'm in it... Always tempted to use my horn with the middle lane hoggers but I figure they're generally oblivious to what's going on around them so wouldn't make much difference...

Sounds like you had a right pillock behind you!

cathpip · 17/03/2014 19:35

I beeped at the lady sat at the traffic lights, that were on green but she had not noticed the cars moving in front of her as she was too busy texting on her phone! She did flick me the v's but she had also been sat there about 30 seconds oblivious to what was going on around her. (It was not a nasty beep just a quick toot toot). Aggressive beeping is not on though.

plentyofsoap · 17/03/2014 20:23

Very old lady. Island. Wrong direction taken to go round the island. She did not notice my beeping....

Mmmbacon · 17/03/2014 21:07

Ha, I had to chase down a van driver today, blowing my horn and flashing lights like a mad woman, he had passed me out and I realized his back door was wide open, pulled up alongside when he finally slowed down, I think he thought I was mad he overtook, he had a really what is this mad bat doing look on his face, I rolled down my window and told him his rear door was open and he started laughing and thanking me,
I never beep for stupid things, just usually really dangerous crap,

kerala · 17/03/2014 21:12

I got beeped at for letting a teenager walk across a zebra crossing Hmm. What did he want me to do mow the lad down?

MissBetseyTrotwood · 17/03/2014 21:17

People round here regularly use their phones in heavy traffic and are often so engrossed in them they don't notice traffic ahead has moved on/lights changed. If I can see they're on their phone I beep.

Op's man today sounds like a twonk tho.

Chipandspuds · 17/03/2014 21:35

It may be wrong but I've started beeping back at the twats who beep me. I get fed up of it, I've been driving less than a year and because I'm driving DH's car they expect me to drive like an idiot and get annoyed because I drive at the speed limits not over.

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