To think its just NOT worth the risk!

[peopleareidiots]

A man local to were I live was killed yesterday, from what witness' told the police something happened between the car (with 4 teenagers in ) and the van (male in his 40's) he got out of his van and had an altercation with the 4 people blocking there car in, the driver then ran the man over and dragged him under the car, he was pronounced dead at the scene!

Absolutely horrific and my heart goes out to his family.

When I told DH about it, I said its just not worth getting out to people and having an argument because you never know who is going to be in that car etc! But DH seems to think he still would.

I understand that there is very minimal info on this story, we don't know anything the man could of been threatening them with a knife or weapon for all we know, he could of even jumped in front of the car! but he was still ran down and killed by the driver.

Why risk it when you don't know what people are capable of?

It depends. Ive stood up to people before because I think if no one points out bad behaviour then the perpetrators think it's acceptable. I don't necessarily get them to change what they're doing but hopefully they register that they're in the wrong.

Mind you, I don't go in guns ablaze. I open with "Excuse me..." and ask questions to establish the situation and explain. And I'm (now) older and female so I get more leeway.

And of course I do an internal risk assessment in my head first

I would be very cautious as you have know idea what their state of mind is, you also have no idea if they are armed in some way.

I personally try to never get involved with this sort of thing, but I do live in an area where knife crime is rife and I am small and weak, so I'm wary of ever challenging people or making a fuss. DP on the other hand is the complete opposite. He got out of the car once because he saw one bloke trying to drag another out of his car with small kids in the back, presumably because of some road rage issue, DP grabbed the attacker and restrained him in the bonnet of his car so that the dad and DC could get away. It was terrifying, but DP has always been one to jump in if he sees someone in danger or some injustice, and he is very good at martial arts restraints plus is a massive strong guy, but I worry so much about him getting stabbed or hunted down for revenge if he takes on the wrong person.

I have really noticed an uptick in aggression in drivers over the last 2 years. We've lived on a busy street for 15 years and there's always been beeping at school rush and work rush hours, as the street is quite twisty and parking is permitted on both sides (a mistake imo but hey ho). But now the beeping is joined by shouting, swearing and more and more often people actually getting out of their cars to yell at one another. I would say the yelling is every day now and getting out about once a week.

It's probably not like this everywhere! We are in outer London, in a town with really bad traffic planning. But it is prevalent enough here that I start getting nervous if I have to go out at those times.