Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To be frightened

40 replies

Seablueeyes · 08/10/2019 22:16

I was the victim of road rage today. Someone pulled out sharply as I was driving along a busy road- I beeped my horn to alert them I was there and then drove round them.

I realise I should have probably slowed down to let them out but there we go, I didn’t.

They proceeded to tailgate me for a good few minutes beeping, swearing and driving so close to my bumper. It was quite frightening. They then obviously got bored and drove off.

My car is parked in front of my house 5-10 minutes drive away from where it happened.

I feel frightened that they’ll see it and break in and hurt me or my son. I do t know if they can find my address using my number plate.

Am I being completely over the top? What can I do? I didn’t get their number plate as it was only me and my baby son in the car and I was concentrating on driving.

OP posts:

GPatz · 09/10/2019 08:30

The OP did nothing wrong. There seems to be a new trend of entitlement for people to nudge out into a road, forcing people to stop and let them through, rather than correctly wait for a gap. He was angry because he knows he was in the wrong and you attracted attention to it. Pathetic.

VenusTiger · 09/10/2019 09:19

@Seablueeyes @giantwatermelon it was about 12 years ago and I was pulling out of a road, it was dark, no cars coming, but a car further up the road pulled away at the same time as me, he floored it and was driving up my bum.... he beeped and got angry, I pulled over to pull into Tesco and he followed me in. I parked, he parked and came over to me shouting names and obscenities at me, he was in his early 60s!! I walked quickly into the supermarket and found the security guard and told him, the man saw me with him and turned and left. About 20 minutes into my shop, I stopped and had a thought, what if he’s done something to my car? As he was so angry! I was right, he had... all four sides.
Tesco said their cameras weren’t actually working!! I called my DH (BF at the time who was livid!) so I called my parents too - I honestly felt so upset as though I’d been targeted.
Couldn’t even learn a lesson as I didn’t do anything wrong, plus I didn’t engage with him. I have come to realise, as my DH pointed out, if I were male, he wouldn’t have bothered reacting at all.

AfterSomeAdvice1234 · 09/10/2019 09:33

You were the initial aggressive driver, should they be worried about you too?

Um, not sure beeping at someone not giving way when they should be is aggressive.... OP you were in the right but try to put it out of your mind, and don't worry!

giantwatermelon · 09/10/2019 12:32

@VenusTiger sounds terrifying. I guess the main thing is you weren't hurt. You can replace a car, it's a lot harder to replace a human.

GruciusMalfoy · 09/10/2019 16:09

Some people, I've found particularly men, are just bullies behind a wheel. The other week I was on a roundabout, indicating correctly to come off, and some moron in a lorry was furious because I didn't stop mid-roundabout to let him on?! You just have to shrug and get on with your day.

RiotAndAlarum · 09/10/2019 17:12

initial aggressive driver

Eh? OP it was your right of way, and sounding the horn was a perfectly sensible warning. You were also perfectly entitled to keep driving (rather than slamming on the brakes). Yes, ideally, we should all try to avoid accidents, even when someone does come into our right of way, but when it comes down to it, if you had hit the other driver, it wouldn't have been your fault (although the "angry" response was intended to make you feel it was).

RedSheep73 · 09/10/2019 17:51

I would have beeped them too. I highly doubt they will come and find you, they've probably forgotten exactly which car had the temerity to object to their poor driving already.

springydaff · 09/10/2019 21:13

Beeped them? Bloody hell, you can have no idea what you're talking about. You can have no idea how frightening it is and how aggressive they are

You could certainly beep if you choose but you'd probably get your head ripped off.

Original poster

Seablueeyes · 09/10/2019 21:44

Thanks all for your responses. All been fine today but I have to admit, I’ve been a little more nervous driving round and am still worried they’ll see my car on the driveway and realise where I live.

Like to point out, I’m not normally a nervous person but this has really rattled me! My son is only a few months old so wondering if that’s why. The motherly instinct!

OP posts:

Velveteenfruitbowl · 09/10/2019 21:50

I would probably be scared too but the thing to remember is that you are being unreasonable. You’re scared because you are on edge, not because you have anything to worry about. God knows, you probably weren’t the only person they did that to today. They probably won’t revogn your car and even if they do they definitely aren’t going to care enough to go to the trouble of breaking in and hurting you. If they wanted to hurt you and get themselves into trouble they would have just rear ended you when they had the chance. They didn’t. They won’t. Don’t worry. Try to watch a film/drink some tea etc until your fear subsided.

Idontwanttotalk · 09/10/2019 21:59

"I dont know if they can find my address using my number plate"
Not unless they have access to a police computer.

Don't worry OP. They probably forgot about you within 5 minutes of it happening. Might be worth you getting a dash cam in future though so if it were to happen again sometime with another driver you would have a recording.

springydaff · 09/10/2019 23:07

I'm not timid by any stretch but my road rage attack really unsettled me. I felt like a hunted animal, really frightening.

They won't see your car. They won't be thinking about you. I know it's hard not to worry but please be assured.

The police were amazing when I called them mid-attack. You could call them on 101 to see if they can do anything about it I certainly would iiwy. They will at least reassure you.

Bless you. I do feel for you 🌹

Itallt0omuch · 10/10/2019 07:12

I recently had road rage from a building van for absolutely no reason. I hadn't done anything, he was just driving like a complete bell end behind me, tailgating, then dropping back, flashing his lights, then tailgating again, swerving almost to the other lane, driving right up my arse on the white line. For about 20 minutes. I thought about pulling over and letting him go past but ultimately I'm not being bullied off the road by a man when I hadn't done anything wrong.

I've now bought a dashcam so I am reassured that if anything does happen I'll have evidence. You can buy them incredibly cheaply these days. I work in motor insurance claims and dash cams are the best invention ever. Can't argue with video evidence and I've seen a lot of road rage drivers pinned down and made accountable to their actions because of dash cam.

Dongdingdong · 10/10/2019 07:56

There seems to be a new trend of entitlement for people to nudge out into a road, forcing people to stop and let them through, rather than correctly wait for a gap.

I’ve noticed this. I usually blare my horn and drive round them - no way am I going to stop to let them out when they could just wait their turn.

GetyourFAQSright · 10/10/2019 08:37

It was a man, wasn’t it? (Bet he wouldn’t have dreamt of doing that to another man)

Sorry but I've never understood this thought process by some on mumsnet. Male on male violence is an issue and an idiot driver is just as likely to be an arsehole to anyone he feels has slighted him on the roads.

I remember walking down a road and seeing a taxi trying to get through traffic at a crossroads and someone wouldn't let him out. He clearly couldn't see past the traffic so slowly edged out when a car sped up and started beeping. Both men got out their cars and started screaming and shouting at each other and threatening violence. I was young so kept walking but I was worried they would get in to a physical altercation.

Flip

1 2