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AIBU?

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Original poster

Woman threw water at me

396 replies

ijustheartdietcoke · 04/03/2017 21:45

I was cycling and came to some trafficlights. A woman was looking at her phone so I banged on her window and shouted get off your phone. She tried to throw water at me and drove off, would police be interested?

OP posts:
LakieLady · 05/03/2017 15:44

If someone banged on my window while I was stationary at lights, I'd be thrown into a total panic.

I might even be so scared that I'd open my door and knock them off their bike, believing myself to be in danger.

somewheresomehow · 05/03/2017 15:48

since when have you been the phone police, how about concentrating on what your doing and leave the drivers alone
she was in the wrong to be on her phone and you were wrong to bash on her window

ClemDanfango · 05/03/2017 15:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Minesril · 05/03/2017 15:58

Everyone saying how scared the poor woman was:

As a cyclist i ALWAYS stop at traffic lights. And if someone was next to me in their car clearly not paying attention, i'd be fucking terrified. A tap on the window might be scary but not as scary as sitting on a bike thinking that a car is about to go into you! And at least it might make the selfish driver think about their shit driving.

BillSykesDog · 05/03/2017 16:13

She didn't tap on the window though did she? She banged and shouted. And as people have said multiple times, a flustered angry driver who's fresh from an altercation is going to be even more dangerous than a motorist glancing at their phone.

CountClueless · 05/03/2017 16:15

It wasn't a tap, it was a bang, and then shouting. IF you are doing that as a cyclist, you are the problem.

And at least it might make the selfish driver think about their shit driving

The driver showed no evidence of either selfishness or shit driving. They were stationary for a start. They were sitting minding their own business when some lunatic on a bike starts banging on their window and shouting...which is more likely to cause an accident than anything else.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 05/03/2017 16:22

Banging and shouting certainly isn't the best. As much as anything it will just put people's backs up and not help to make them think. A tap on the window and calmly asking not to does often work, and if anything they'll be embarrassed by getting caught out. Those who respond to politely being asked with abuse are complete dicks.

IamalsoSpartacus · 05/03/2017 16:33

Is it OK for pedestrians to kick or thump bicycles if we think their riders have endangered public safety, e.g by riding on the pavement or not obeying 'cyclist dismount' signs at gates?

A bit less aggro all round, please. Leave policing to the police.

jazzandh · 05/03/2017 16:34

People in the wrong rarely enjoy having the error of their ways pointed out politely ime!

If it made her jump because she WAS NOT paying attention to the surrounding road users whilst stopped at the lights all well and good!

People checking theor phones at lights - don't pull off having assessed what is going on, bike, pedestrians etc - they don't have the time, too interested in their social media.......

CountClueless · 05/03/2017 16:36

If the driver being distracted on her phone means she would be dangerous when setting off from the lights, then the cyclist banging on car windows and shouting at people was equally if not more dangerous if the lights changed.
I presume then that those of you applauding her would be happy for a pedestrian to knock on her helmet and shout in her face about not paying attention while at the lights?

No, thought not.

Minesril · 05/03/2017 16:47

Agree she shouldn't've banged. But looking at your phone when you should be looking at the road does make you a shit driver. And ignoring a law which is there for the safety of others does make you selfish.

SoleBizzz · 05/03/2017 16:47

Knock on her helmet Grin

SoleBizzz · 05/03/2017 16:47

If she was wearing one Shock

frumpet · 05/03/2017 17:46

rOtring , sorry I mean't pulled over in a town , engine switched off , handbrake on , so essentially parked up , just without removing the keys from the ignition .

LucklessMonster · 05/03/2017 18:30

As a cyclist i ALWAYS stop at traffic lights. And if someone was next to me in their car clearly not paying attention, i'd be fucking terrified. A tap on the window might be scary but not as scary as sitting on a bike thinking that a car is about to go into you! And at least it might make the selfish driver think about their shit driving.

Good grief. How do you get through life?

Livelovebehappy · 05/03/2017 19:23

what did you expect to get from this confrontation OP? Clearly someone doing this in the privacy of their car, wrong or not, is not going to wind the window down and thank you politely for banging on her window and then apologise to you for using her phone whilst stationary. You would have known you were not going to get a good reaction, and could have put yourself in danger. Just unnecessary, and was never going to achieve anything apart from aggressive confrontation.

MadMags · 05/03/2017 19:40

As a cyclist i ALWAYS stop at traffic lights. And if someone was next to me in their car clearly not paying attention, i'd be fucking terrified

You're far too nervous in that case, and shouldn't be on the road.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 05/03/2017 19:58

Yeh cos banging on someone's helmet or kicking their bike is totally comparable to knocking on someone's car window.

PickledCauliflower · 05/03/2017 20:04

I would not advise banging on drivers windows.
Most people wouldn't react well to this (even if they are using mobiles when they shouldn't be).
You have no idea who you are dealing with - this is how road rage incidents kick off. You could be putting yourself in danger by doing this, even if the other party is in the wrong.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 05/03/2017 21:29

I'd be bloody nervous too looking at the number of people who clearly think it's fine to be on their phone whilst behind the wheel of a vehicle weighing a tonne Hmm

The fact there's been a clearly detailed anecdote of this happening in this thread and people have just glossed over it shows exactly why the laws needed increasing. Unless you're an on call neurosurgeon. That phone call / text really can wait until you pull over.

PickledCauliflower · 05/03/2017 21:35

I don't think the reaction on here is that it's ok to drive whilst on your phone, it's the position the OP put herself in that would concern me.
I just don't think it's wise to bang and yell on drivers windows.

I've seen altercations between people on roads, it's terrifying. The police do need to deal with mobile phone use and driving, getting into heated confrontations with others really isn't the answer.

postmalone · 05/03/2017 22:26

The law on mobile phone use is pretty clear and there's been a lot of coverage about it in the media over the last week.

That said it's pretty astonishing to see so many posters who clearly think the law doesn't apply to them or that checking your phone when stationary is ok! Hmm.

You can't use your phone unless your car is parked, even if it's in a cradle, or you're using it as a satnav (I think the exception is if you get a notification there's a quicker route). You should only make/ receive calls if you have hands free, and keep any conversation to a minimum.

It just isn't ok to use your phone. I applaud the OP for making a stand. I see people using their phone every time I'm out in my car and in many cases very poor driving results, because they've only got one hand on the wheel, or are not concentrating on what they're doing.

I'd tell someone to get off their phone had I been the OP. I have in the past shouted (as a pedestrian) at someone holding their phone and driving. Got a mouthful of abuse but at least they put down the phone.

dementedma · 05/03/2017 22:34

If a cyclist banged on my car window they would be lucky if a face full of water was all they got!

feckitt · 05/03/2017 22:35

The op banged on her window, didn't break it, what's the problem? Yes, it is up to all of us to stop people using their phones while driving. I drive on the motorway a lot and see so many people on their phones it's incredible. If I am ever a passenger I watch for people on their phones and gesture for them to stop using them. I think they are so dangerous to use while driving.

dementedma · 05/03/2017 22:37

Do they gesture back feckitt