Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
TinselTwins · 04/03/2017 22:10

Banging on people's windows at a junction is IMO on a par with texing and driving. I don't think you have a moral high ground here (although that still didn't justify her throwing anything in your face)

SharkBastard · 04/03/2017 22:10

What's wrong with a passive aggressive shake of the head and a disappointed look? No need to bang on her window at all! You weirdo

RortyCrankle · 04/03/2017 22:11

Crispbutty
If you had banged on my window being an interfering busy body I would have told you to fuck off and mind your own business.

This, with bells on. Mind your own bloody business.

Userone1 · 04/03/2017 22:12

I get the feeling OP is not for real and just banging on MN window....

RedBullBlood · 04/03/2017 22:13

OK, so driver wasn't paying attention to the lights while stationary. But neither was op if s/he was banging on windows and getting a faceful of water.

MistressMerryWeather · 04/03/2017 22:13

MN:

Sweets101 · 04/03/2017 22:13

I get the feeling OP is not for real and just banging on MN window....

Wink
MuseumOfCurry · 04/03/2017 22:14

People who are using their phones in the car even while stopped are in all probability more likely to be using them while moving and no one can think that's not awful.

How did you arrive at this conclusion?

ExitStage · 04/03/2017 22:15

Its illegal. Simple as that. Would any of you check your phone at traffic lights if there was a police car next to you?

Or do we just pick and choose which laws apply to us?

Zampa · 04/03/2017 22:15

I'm a bit Hmm at everyone defending the driver ...

So she's half way through a text when the lights change ... "Oh, I'm only pulling away from the lights, I'll just press send" ...

In this scenario, she could hit someone just crossing across the road in front of her. Even at low speed, an elderly person could break bones.

Using a phone at the wheel is illegal for a good reason.

Userone1 · 04/03/2017 22:15

lol mistress!

Userone1 · 04/03/2017 22:16

MN lets down cyclists tyres!

Sweets101 · 04/03/2017 22:16

Maybe because both are illegal Museum ?
Sort of like if your car isn't taxed it's presumed more likely you won't have insurance/MOT either IFYSWIM.

winewolfhowls · 04/03/2017 22:17

What about if you are using sat nav on your phone and you are glancing at it when driving? Is this not allowed now?

Sparklingbrook · 04/03/2017 22:17

It is illegal. But it's not down to random cyclists to enforce the law by banging on the window.

BoneyBackJefferson · 04/03/2017 22:19

Zampa
I'm a bit hmm at everyone defending the driver ...

Disagreeing with the OPs actions does not mean that you agree with what the driver was doing.

I am a bit shocked at how many don't know that using a mobile phone in a car is illegal.

MuseumOfCurry · 04/03/2017 22:20

Or do we just pick and choose which laws apply to us?

I'm very happy to ignore laws that I think are silly, yes. I'm not going to sit at a red light for 45 seconds and think wistfully about the music I wish I'd thought to play when I set off, I'll simply find it on my phone and sort it out.

Obviously I wouldn't do this if a police officer were next to me, because I don't want to invite points onto my license (by the way, I have none).

mnbvcxzl · 04/03/2017 22:20

Because museum they clearly don't care it's illegal and are keeping it within reach.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 04/03/2017 22:21

It's been illegal to use a phone while pulled up/ driving since a specific law was introduced, December 2003 if I remember correctly. The change this wee has been a strengthening of the points and fines as that law has been so widely ignored.

Squirting water in the face of another could count as assault. So the motorist has broken two laws, compared to the OP banging on the window.

I'd recommend getting your own camera OP.

mummabubs · 04/03/2017 22:22

It saddens me too to see people adopt the "it's fine because they were at traffic lights" line. It's not. It's illegal for a reason and you can't be paying attention to anything around you whilst staring at a phone. Honestly what conversation or text could possibly be worth at the minimum getting caught and losing your licence/points and fine, to the other extreme of killing someone or yourself?? It's the most selfish driving behaviour in my opinion and I'd have been bloody tempted to (tap) on the window too if I was in the OP's position.

Macaroni22 · 04/03/2017 22:23

sweets101 it's not exactly police time well spent is it?

Joey7t8 · 04/03/2017 22:23

It's much more likely you did it because you enjoyed being sanctimonious and intimidating someone.

I agree with this theory.

MuseumOfCurry · 04/03/2017 22:24

to the other extreme of killing someone or yourself??

Please explain to me how you might kill someone while stationary at a traffic light?

ExitStage · 04/03/2017 22:25

So museum is it ok for everyone else to pick and choose the laws they obey?

Speed limits? Parking restrictions? The age of consent?

cheeeeselover · 04/03/2017 22:25

Whatever happened to common sense? So if I was stopped in a traffic jam and couldn't pull over to park because already at standstill I couldn't use my phone to call someone to pick up my dc from school? Ok so it's illegal but only because they had to make the law all of nothing. It isn't dangerous in that scenario. Same as being stopped at lights.

Op - mind your own business. Focus on policing people who are texting WHILST ACTUALLY DRIVING if that's what your focus is.