Is this my fault? Did I deserve the other driver's abuse?

[Hadharra]

I was in the car waiting to pull out of a junction. I would have been turning right, across a taxi lane and a standard lane and then in to my lane, if that makes sense. Taxi travelling from my left hurtling down the road (definitely way way over the 30mph limit). I edged forwards a little bit didn't see the taxi until last minute so put my breaks on quite hard. However, did not edge out in to the taxi's lane and was still this side of the white stop sign. Taxi driver got a fright and slammed his breaks on causing the passenger in the back to go flying in to the seat in front. Obviously I stopped and got out to see if she was OK. He went absolutely mental at me, told me I shouldn't have moved until I knew I was ready to go, said I've injured his passenger (she was fine just shocked) and he's taking my numberplate and I'll be hearing from the police. He went even more nuts when I told him that actually his passenger nearly killed herself because she didn't have her seat belt on and thank god she wasn't sat behind him and that she's the one he should be angry with, not me. Mumsnet, I absolutely 100% promise I didn't cross the junction line and did not enter the taxis lane, not even by an inch. I guess he was just frightened, but would you have accepted this abuse? Was it justified even though he was in shock? I don't think I've ever spoken to anyone like that. Anyway, I'm not worried about the police one bit because the only person who was even mildly hurt was the woman who didn't have her seat belt on. I'm just really, really shaken due to having been spoken to and literally screamed at like that....

Sorry taxi was travelling from my right!! Typing ridiculously fast waiting to pick my mum up from doctors and trying to calm myself down.

I find taxi drivers to be a special breed of angry.

Might not be a national thing, but around here a good chunk of them are angry and stupid.

Bet he wouldn’t have shouted at you if you were a man, though…

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon

I find taxi drivers to be a special breed of angry.

Might not be a national thing, but around here a good chunk of them are angry and stupid.

Bet he wouldn’t have shouted at you if you were a man, though…

Seriously I can't believe how abusive he was (well, I can). He asked me if I was fucking thick!!

Sounds as if he completely over-reacted. If you didn’t cross the line you haven’t committed an offence so I’m not sure what the police would want to do. Silly woman not wearing a belt. She’s learnt a harsh lesson there.

@Abra1d1

Sounds as if he completely over-reacted. If you didn’t cross the line you haven’t committed an offence so I’m not sure what the police would want to do. Silly woman not wearing a belt. She’s learnt a harsh lesson there.

Exactly. If I crossed in to his lane then of course but, I really, really didn't.

What was the woman thinking? An unrestrained rear passenger could kill the driver or front passenger in an accident.

It doesn't sound like you were at fault and that sort of experience is really, really unpleasant. I hope you're ok, OP.

I was once reversing into a space and the van in the next space started reversing out without looking and dinged me. There wasn't really any damage done to either vehicle but the driver of the van got out and started really swearing and shouting at me. I was quite shaken but someone else in the car park came over and stood up for me which helped a lot. When I thought about it afterwards I realised he was in a work van (not his, national chain) and he was probably really stressed about damaging a work vehicle/getting in trouble at work/etc. Maybe the same goes for the taxi driver.

In your shoes I probably wouldn't have made the comment about his passenger because it never helps to add fuel to the fire... but no, of course his abuse wasn't justified.

You wouldn't have deserved that abuse even if you had rolled over the line slightly.

It wouldn't have been a major issue if he was driving at the speed limit as he'd have had more time to adjust his speed depending on whether you stopped or not.
She wouldn't have got hurt if she was wearing a seatbelt.

I hope you're ok. It can be quite intimidating having a near miss, and especially when it's with an angry twat and you're alone

Hmm the fact that you say you had to apply your brakes hard makes me think you were moving forward faster than you say which may have looked like you were going to pull out in front of him. Doesn't warrant the abuse you received

The passenger not having her seatbelt on is absolutely shocking! Who does that? She's lucky she wasn't seriously injured

@sparepantsandtoothbrush

Hmm the fact that you say you had to apply your brakes hard makes me think you were moving forward faster than you say which may have looked like you were going to pull out in front of him. Doesn't warrant the abuse you received

The passenger not having her seatbelt on is absolutely shocking! Who does that? She's lucky she wasn't seriously injured

Even when you're going 3mph if you slam your breaks on it feels pretty harsh! I wasn't going fast at all.

Similar happened to me years back. The driver of the other car, a man, was verbally abusive and it really shook me up. We didn’t hit, I had edged forward and not crossed into his lane, and all he was doing whilst snarling at me was blocking the road for everyone else. Hope you’re ok OP

If you were still behind a white line and not in the taxi lane then you’re not in the wrong. The taxi driver is also supposed to drive at a speed that allows them to stop safely ( as is every other driver ) The passenger was not wearing a seatbelt at his / her choice so if injured the claim would be reduced. And they weren’t injured anyway.
Forget about him,the police wouldn’t be interested as no one was injured, no damage done and I presume you were both sober. Over reacting shouty man.

He was so vile.

Taxi driver got a fright and slammed his brakes on causing the passenger in the back to go flying in to the seat in front.

Why were they not wearing a seatbelt ? Like the law requires ?

He should have a license plate indicating he is licensed by the local council to operate as a taxi driver - complain to them for a start. He should have insisted that his passenger wore a seat belt - no excuse - even if you were at fault for being so abusive with you.