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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have beeped back

91 replies

lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:36

Okay I am a very nervous driver and don't have much experience of driving on long dark country lanes. So I decided to take the plunge and drive to Wales with my dp but was very nervous about it.
Anyway I did quite well felt good that I had plucked up the courage. However travelling home late at night pitch black roads I did feel disorientated but kept it together I tried to pick up the speed but didn't drive as fast as alot of people do and many overtook me. However one particular lorry driver was driving behind me in a massive intimidating contraction and getting up my arse flashing and beeping his horn aggressively.
It really upset me and unfortunately I felt angry and as he overtook me I kept my hand on the horn back. It knocked my confidence and I now won't travel there again. Aibu.

OP posts:
Original poster
lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:38

.

OP posts:
blackteasplease · 03/03/2018 18:38

Why didn't you take the daytime bits of driving to get used to it and your dp all the late nights? at least until you are confident?

yanbu to beep back imo although it might have been risky!

Original poster
lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:39

He doesn't drive

OP posts:
Original poster
lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:40

It was awful getting so close to me like that in the dark.

OP posts:
Original poster
lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:40

I tried to get his firm name and number plate

OP posts:
Whisperquietly · 03/03/2018 18:40

Pull over regularly if you are nervous and wish to drive slowly. Why should everyone else’s journey be delayed?

ElectricWhale · 03/03/2018 18:41

hahahha. I think that's funny you beeped back. And no, yanbu.
The most aggressive local drivers I ever had to deal with were in Wales, small roads. Not sure what that means! Brave Celtic blood, maybe. I prefer to avoid scraping stone walls, myself.

Original poster
lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:41

I am gutted I didn't because I was gonna pursue it

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 03/03/2018 18:42

He should NOT have intimidated you or beeped his horn. Or tailgated.

How slowly were you driving? Perhaps you need some more lessons?

AuntLydia · 03/03/2018 18:42

In future I would just find somewhere to pull over and let people past. It's what slow moving vehicles usually do on country roads where its difficult for others to pass them easily. Don't let it put you off driving though.

Greyponcho · 03/03/2018 18:43

Shorter journeys on roads you know are the best way to build up confidence, rather than going long distances in the dark and bad weather to places you don’t know.
If you’re not happy driving on country lanes, don’t. Like people who ‘don’t like driving on motorways’ and insist at doing 40, it is hazardous to others and causes problems.
It wasn’t a wise choice on this occasion but don’t let it put you off getting better

Original poster
lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:43

I couldn't help myself because It was an achievement for me and that knob head ruined it

OP posts:
Original poster
lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:44

I think about 50

OP posts:
PatchworkElmer · 03/03/2018 18:45

I guess it depends how slowly you were going vs. the speed limit, and whether the speed was slow enough to mean that you were actually presenting a bit of a hazard to other road users?

Totally understand why you were upset though, and why it’s dented your confidence. I’d maybe suggest trying long drives in the daytime for now. Is Pass Plus still a ‘thing’? If so, it might be worth looking into, to build your confidence in all road conditions.

Original poster
lakia10 · 03/03/2018 18:45

I have been driving quite some time but only do little local journeys to town etc never touched motorway.

OP posts:
FaithHopeCharityDesperation · 03/03/2018 18:46

Why didn't you pull over to let him pass?

AuntLydia · 03/03/2018 18:46

That's odd then. 50 on dark country roads isn't slow at all. The max speed would be 60.

hidinginthenightgarden · 03/03/2018 18:47

YANBU.
Drivers are dicks sometimes. I am often overtaken as drive at the speed limit.
Keep practising, it will get easier as it gets lighter.

overnightangel · 03/03/2018 18:47

@Whisperquietly
Congratulations on being a moron, discouraging safe driving and contributing to the accidents in the recent bad weather.

FaithHopeCharityDesperation · 03/03/2018 18:47

Were you on the motorway doing 50?

Bambamber · 03/03/2018 18:48

What speed was you going and what was the speed limit? If many people overtook you on country lanes you must have been going quite slow which sometimes going too slow can actually be dangerous. It sounds as though you need to get your confidence up before doing journeys like that in the dark again. Although saying that, the lorry drivers behaviour was unacceptable, and no matter how you was driving it doesn't warrant the driver trying to intimidate you in that way. Beeping back isn't really the right thing to do and you do have to be careful as some people can become very aggressive on roads, but I can totally understand why you did it.

In future, if someone is driving aggressively behind you like that, sometimes it's safer to find a safe place to pull to one side and let them pass. My driving instructor used to always tell me it's safer to have a dangerous driver in front of you than behind you

AfterSchoolWorry · 03/03/2018 18:48

You drove to Wales in this weather? Confused

overnightangel · 03/03/2018 18:49

I was on the A69 between carlisle and Hexham yesterday, cars abandoned by the road from the previous few days carnage, was doing maybe 52/53 in a 69 zone and had a truck right up my arse for about 25 miles. Unacceptable

FrostiesMum · 03/03/2018 18:50

You have to drive to the conditions of the road. If it was dark and a country lane then 50 is reasonable. I saw some terrifying driving last week from a couple of lorry drivers. Don’t feel bad about him beeping.

Whisperquietly · 03/03/2018 18:51

@overnightangel Driving so slowly that lorries are overtaking you is NOT safe driving. Pulling over regularly to avoid frustration in other drivers is.

I’m not the moron Grin