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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have gestured at this aggressive driver who was trying to intimidate me?

36 replies

ManicUnicorn · 23/07/2018 14:26

Driving home just now along a road that is and always has been 40mph a twat with a meet me in McDonalds haircut, in a souped up white estate car that he looked barely old enough to drive, came racing up behind me and was literally touching my bumper. I'm not kidding he was that close. I refused to speed up, and it and it was impossible for him to pass me. The girl in the passenger seat seemed to find this hilarious.

The road then goes into 30mph and this continued until he finally eased right off. I the. turned left into my road and as I did so I slowed right down, stared right him, mouthed the word 'wanker' and did the accompanying hand gesture. I received the finger in response. He was also mouthing something but I couldn't see what.

I wouldn't usually do something like that, but he was driving so fucking dangerously in a built up residential area during the school holidays when there are kids everywhere. I'm now slightly worried he knows where I live and was expecting him to appear on my street. I'm hoping it was all bravado and he wouldn't be half as brave without the protection of his big flash car.

OP posts:

NachoCheese22 · 23/07/2018 14:35

I despise these idiots that drive like they own the roads. I would of done the exact same thing as you. Don't worry about the moron coming back for vengance, his brain is probably too small to remember where it happened, plus you were probably the tenth person that day to of called him out on his behaviour.

MaxPepsi · 23/07/2018 14:37

Meh, I called someone a fucking wanker through our respective open car windows yesterday.
He pulled a highly dangerous manoeuvre all because he was to bloody impatient, and he knew it.
I wasn't even driving. DH was!!

Original poster

ManicUnicorn · 23/07/2018 14:43

Its always men who do it a shame well, isn't it? I don't think Ive ever been aggressively tailgated by a woman. What do they hope to achieve? I have a feeling I'd id been doing 60mph it wouldn't have been fast enough for him. Maybe it's a power thing?

OP posts:

Seniorcitizen1 · 23/07/2018 14:45

I usually switch the lights on - they then panic and brake hard. They usually tend to back off - if not I drive even more slowly

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 23/07/2018 14:45

I would have done the same and have ‘wankered’ for less.

amicissimma · 23/07/2018 14:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 23/07/2018 14:54

Must've been the same twat who kept beeping me the other week. The RAGE I felt was like nothing else. I wanted to drop kick him so hard his teeth fell out. I'm still pissed off two weeks later.

PeppaP · 23/07/2018 14:58

Why risk an accident to do that? Keep your head high and keep driving, difficult but much better for stress levels.

ShowOfHands · 23/07/2018 15:01

If he was driving into you at 40mph, did he not leave a mark? You should have called the police.

BottleOfJameson · 23/07/2018 15:01

I think I would have just slowed down to 5 below the speed limit instead. Hate those wankers, there are roads near me where people feel entitled to drive 20 above the speed limit as they know there are no cameras. They'll happily overtake dangerously and expect everyone else to take evasive action to avoid an accident. Drives me insane.

BottleOfJameson · 23/07/2018 15:02

Makes me want to get a dash cam!

Gatecrasher61 · 23/07/2018 15:05

If he was that close, put your windscreen washers on and spray him with water.

NLBM · 23/07/2018 15:10

I'm off to pick up my first car today after passing my test last week. This thread is making me nervous

VelociraptorRex · 23/07/2018 15:22

I get the red mist with people like that too OP, and I'm very enthusiastic with my gestures if they get that bad. I'm looking for a dashcam at the moment because they get so bad around here. I start driving just under the speed limit when they do things like that. I did once have a woman tailgate me then overtake me and cut me off, she jumped out and tried to get me out of the car so she could have a fight (needless to say she was left aga ding in the middle of the road looking silly when I indicated and pulled out round her and drove off ).

VelociraptorRex · 23/07/2018 15:23

@NLBM don't be nervous, just follow the rules of the road, be polite and considerate and ignore wankers!

wiccamum · 23/07/2018 15:31

I had something similar happen to me this morning. I’m on a duel carriageway (right hand lane) approaching a roundabout. So I do what any sensible driver would do and begin to slow down and indicate as I prep to get into the correct lane to join the roundabout. Except some utter tosspot in a big, grey van has been tailgating me for the last FEW MILES! If I had needed to stop in an emergency he would have been in my boot! And all this at about 65Mph. So as I begin to slow down he just leans on his horn and beeps like a complete twat...no idea why. I just stretch my arm ou the window and flick him the bird. Then he stalls his van and disappears from my rear view mirror. Dickhead

Stirner · 23/07/2018 15:41

@VelociraptorRex - You sound like a danger to other road users.

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 23/07/2018 15:47

I gesture to idiots sometimes, because it makes me feel better.

onanothertrain · 23/07/2018 15:58

He was aggressive to you, you were aggressive to him. What's the issue ?

VelociraptorRex · 23/07/2018 15:59

@Stirner sorry I'm not sure I'm a danger, I try and drive sensibly and I can't understand why me driving at 40 in a 40 zone winds people up so much (doing 25 would be a reason to get cross). When this woman climbed out of her car and tried to make me get out what was I going to do? Run her over? I indicated and drive round her.

NonaGrey · 23/07/2018 16:02

When dealing with a dangerous, aggressive stranger I generally feel
it’s better not to ramp up the aggression - which is what you did.

It’s highly unlikely a teenager is going to follow you and approach you. But your actions made it more likely, not less.

juneau · 23/07/2018 16:06

Aggressive drivers are everywhere these days and 99.9% of them are men (often intimating women, I might add). IME it's usually white van drivers (aka white van twats), or Audi drivers. I don't know why Audi drivers are often utter dickheads behind the wheel, but they are, and I say that as someone driving a car that is as nice and as powerful as the one they are and I don't hang around, so it's not that I'm dawdling, some people men just like to intimidate - or at least try.

notacooldad · 23/07/2018 16:06

I would have just let him past and get on with my day. Sure they are idiots but I can't be added with games if slowing down, speeding up, windscreen wash on etc.

Original poster

ManicUnicorn · 23/07/2018 16:12

I like the windscreen wash idea! Maybe next time lol...

I did toy with the idea with slamming my breaks on as the compo and a new car would be nice, but didn't fancy a dose of whiplash which is what usually accompanies being rear ended .

OP posts:

WarPigeon · 23/07/2018 16:15

Being unladylike aside, as a biker i feel it’s best never to engage with the asshats of the road. At some point your going to meet a crazy, and they will run you off the road.

Alternately rely on the fact cars are predominantly slow and make all the gestures you like😄

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