to be shocked at this road rage incident that was more or less my fault

[ilovewelshrarebit123]

I was driving somewhere unfamiliar and I turned right in front of a car. This car was driving round a bend very fast, and I swerved as did the driver and apart from being very shaken, everyone was unhurt and no damage at all to our cars.

It was completely my fault and I pulled over to apologise. What happened next was just so shocking and scary.

He ran over to my car screaming and shouting at me, I apologised, said it was completely my fault and asked if he was OK.

He had completely lost the plot and two men in a van pulled over as they could see what was going on. One of them cracked a joke about women drivers trying to lighten things I think, but the driver just wouldn’t calm down and continued ranting, he was flailing his arms around and it was pretty scary.

I accept he had every right to be upset and I apologised several times. I also had my 10 year old DD with me so she witnessed all this. My best friend was behind in her car and she and her daughter also witnessed this.

Next thing a boy in his dressing gown appears out of the angry drivers car, he looked around 10. He approached my window and got right in my face and called me a fucking twat.

The men in the van said that’s not on to angry man and went to get out of the van. Angry man then turned his anger onto his boy!

I just can’t stop thinking about it and I’m so angry with myself for making the mistake. But AIBU to think to think his behaviour was out of order, I’m just grateful the van men stopped as I’ve a feeling it could have been worse.

I took advanced driving lessons last year due to nervousness on the road and I remember my instructor saying to me amongst other things; slow more than you think you need to at junctions and roundabouts, adhere to speed limits, be constantly scanning ahead etc. what stuck is if you follow all these careful driving rules, you will never need to be upset with anyone on the road because you are in control of your car. If someone pulls in front of you, if a pedestrian walks out and you have scanned ahead properly, the anger won't reach you because you are still in control. He said those who shout and curse and get upset are those not fully in control and who are not driving correctly with an ability to stop in most scenarios (obviously there are outliers to this). Don't get upset by one aggressive ass who isn't that good a driver if he gets that upset. You made a mistake, won't see him ever again and he reacted out of his own fear and lack of control.

Kali how is this thread about bikers? Or are you keen to make it so?!

StaplesCorner
Im not, i was agreeing with some points ariana has raised regarding being a biker, is that not ok?
How have i made it all about bikers in all my 2 posts

I have sympathy with the op,but its ok over now.
Nobody was hurt, all you can do now is learn from it.
Rather shocked with the childs outburst though.

A similar thing happened to me a couple of years ago (although completely the other driver's fault- he drove in to the back of me when I had to make an emergency stop due to another driver's error). It was completely terrifying at the time, and two separate witnesses called the police. He was arrested for threatening behaviour and got a fine and community service. Quite rightly too- even if I had been at fault, there was no excuse for the way he behaved. I think some posters on here are conflating a low-level expression of annoyance at other drivers with road rage. They aren't the same thing.

Horrible!, big hugs

Exactly Burnshersmurfs. The driver ran 50 yards towards the car and verbally abused the OP for an extended period of time.

I cycle and you get people turning into you and other dangerous manouevres a lot. It is very easy to lose it in those circumstances, especially because of how vulnerable you are on a bike. But I have heard of occasions where the police refuse to prosecute a driver for something dangerous, even with video footage etc, because the cyclist has sworn at them. Or they say, "We could charge them, but we would also need to charge you with a public order offence too." And that is for a bit of swearing, not the extended period of shouting that the OP talks about.

I wouldn't report it to the police after the incident, but I would have called them when the guy was going off on one. If he was that angry you don't know what he would have done.

What I find disturbing about this incident is that the man’s DS joined in his abuse of the OP. That suggests to me that it’s not an isolated incident, that this was an angry man in general, not just someone who had a scare and lost it temporarily.

The fact that the other drivers stopped to intervene really tells us that his response was threatening behaviour, which isn’t allowed in any circumstances.

It was more than a silly mistake. She could have killed the occupants of her car and the other car. If nobody was hurt so it didn't matter what the OP did, then it doesn't matter what he did either, since no one was hurt.

For me the difference is that the OP has acknowledged she was in the wrong and will have no doubt learnt from the experience. She will almost certainly be extra vigilant and careful in the future not to make that same mistake so you could say that the experience will have made her a better driver.

Does anybody really believe that the other driver will have now calmly reflected on his actions and thought "You know what? I went a bit over the top today and I will try to control my temper better if that happens again. And son, you really shouldn't swear at strangers like that even if you see Dad is upset"

Course not. He is probably still effing and jeffing and won't see that his reaction was wrong. He WILL do it again in a similar situation

Well someone doing pretty much the same as you knocked me off my motorbike last week. Seeee bruising on the ribs, some minor damage, and new helmet needed.

Despite the adrenaline, shock, and anger. I managed not to lose my shit at the driver. If he'd had a quick WTF you doing moment ok fine. But this berating was not ok really.

That said I wouldn't be rushing to report him. I get you will be playing this over and over. But really try to let it go. Over On my way! You'll forget. Hope you're ok op