to report threatening behaviour to the police

[BankHolidayUnpleasantness]

I was out with my dogs walking along a single track country lane in a 30 mph zone by a small hamlet of houses. A car drove up behind me really quickly, so i turned and mouthed slow down at him. He screeched to a halt, reversed and started shouting that he was only doing 30. I suggested that he should drive slower then, as there were walkers (me) and potentially children playing (houses nearby). He shouted a few more words then started to drive off, at which point i made a rude hand sign at him. He then screeched to a halt again, leapt out, stood 6 inches from my face and waved his hand about, threateningly whilst shouting at me. Tbh, i cant remember what he was shouting at this point as i was quite scared. His wife was shouting at him to leave it, and he had a child in the back.
Would ibu to report him to the police for yelling in my face and waving his fist about?

Soooo a car was driving at the speed limit, you mouthed off at the driver, gave him the finger and you think he was in the wrong?!

If he was driving within the speed limit why should he slow down just in case there might be someone walking in the road. Sounds like you thought you were more entitled to be on the road than he was. Maybe its safer to keep to paths or verges.

So you are walking in a 30mph zone, he is doing 30mph, you ask him to slow down because you know it is busy... all okish so far except that you could choose to walk somewhere else if the limit is that high.

You were then equally rude and you were very provocative. He shouldn't wave his fist about but you shouldn't be making rude gestures either.

Well, i suppose i expected him to drive to the environment, so with a walker and dogs on a narrow road, him driving (what certainly felt like) faster than the speed limit, and leaping out and scaring a woman on her own, yes.

Don't ever do this. The road rage potential/distracting the driver just isn't worth it.

I wasn't in his car, so can't say for sure how fast he was driving, but would you not slow down if there were dogs and a walker on a narrow country road? Also, when did it become ok to leap out of a car and threaten a woman?

He got out of his car after you did the finger. Walking with dogs in a narrow lane is pretty daft and could easily cause an accident.

Yabvu you provoked the reaction!

But you threatened him with mouthing off and giving the finger. Why should that be different because he's a man.

You could report it, but you will have to be honest about the fact you yourself reacted in an antagonistic way by making the hand gesture.

Personally, I'd chalk it up to experience.

Yes you can report him for threatening you. But do you know who he is? How would you report him? I had something similar happen recently and the police person I spoke to said if they threaten you enough that you actually believed they were going to hit you then it's a public order crime. In my case they gave me a crime reference no and said they'd follow it up if anything else happened.

Why did you make a rude gesture if he was leaving? You escalated the situation, not him. He was driving off, that should've been the end of it, but you carried the altercation on. If you reported it to the police, which I don't think you should, I doubt they'll be impressed that you gave him the finger or whatever. It really doesn't sound that that was necessary.

@BankHolidayUnpleasantness you won't get any sensible answers on here I'm afraid. But I agree with how you reacted, you drive to the conditions not to the limit and narrow country lanes can be dangerous. My experience is these days you can't tell anyone 'off' for pretty stupid driving without them being threatening. Classic example of when someone is beeped for being on their onward phone and driving dangerously or dangerous overtaking. 9 times out of 10 the reaction is abusive. Rather than take responsibility peoples first response is to deny any wrongdoing in usually a threatening way. I'd say if he had a kid in the car it tells you everything you need to know. Don't let it put you off in future just accept some people are morons and hate being told off. Not sure the police would do anything unfortunately

Also, when did it become ok to leap out of a car and threaten a woman?

Maybe when that woman walks on the road, starts a confrontation and then continues it?

Don't make this a feminist issue when it isn't. You were wrong, and if you involve the police you're likely to get into trouble.

Walking with dogs in a narrow lane is pretty daft and could easily cause an accident

This is sometimes the reality for those of us that live in the countryside with no paths...

There are roads like that where we live and we always walk very close to the edge and be ready to jump against the hedge. Obviously it's disgusting that he screamed in your face, but I don't think the police will take any action. I really wouldn't admonish a stranger for their driving, as you've no idea who they are / how they will react.

Incidentally I drive country roads for miles for work, daily, and I DO slow down for walkers, cyclists and whoever else deems it necessary to take up a road meant for vehicles.

But if I got a response like the one you describe I would be a lot more pissed off than he was! You'd also be fucked as I have a dash cam which proves useful when people behave like dickheads.

The OP was doing nothing wrong walking on the road. Its perfectly acceptable to walk on the roads in areas where there aren't pavements. How do you think people who live in the countryside visit their neighbours, walk between footpaths or down to the pub??

Be a waste of time to speak to the police. It’s just one of those (unpleasant) things

But a speed limit can adjust according to the circumstances.

A motorway limit is 70mph but you can be stopped for speeding at 60mph if the conditions warrant it (went on a speed awareness course with a very cross man in those circs 😂). It had been very wet.

Similarly a 30mph zone might warrant a 20mph limit if there are children coming out of school or dog walkers without pavement ahead.

6 of one half a dozen of the other.

Chalk it up to experience

Sorry how did he threaten you??

You both sound as bad as each other. Why on earth did you give him the finger when you already knew he was aggressive?

Oh my word, you swore first

You sound worse than him. I wouldn’t take kindly being confronted and sworn at because I was driving the speed limit. The speed limits take into account the environment around that particular road, if the roads too fast for you, walk somewhere else. And that’s coming from someone that walks or cycles 85% of their journeys.