To think this was disgusting behaviour

[rudeteenager]

Driving down a residential road, 2 lads about 16/17 stroll out in front of me, headphones in, clearly not paying attention to the road. I obviously slow right down and beep loudly to alert them, they barely respond or look up but I see them smirk at each other. Next thing, I hear an incredibly loud shout of, "fuck off!!", look briefly to my left to see a teenage girl of about the same age gesturing at me and shouting profanities. I mean, was that hugely necessary? Absolutely disgusting behaviour. I have a 17 year old daughter and if she behaved that way I'd disown her! What is wrong with some young people today?!

Aggressively revving your engine at a pedestrian who is already in the road to make them think you are going to run them over, regardless of their behaviour, can get you into serious trouble. You're the one in control of a two tonne deadly weapon, not them.

Also she was standing on the pavement to my left, facing the road, waiting for her mates to cross who'd just caused me to have to slow right down - so she saw what happened and why I beeped. Absolutely blot all to do with thinking she might be cat called 🙄

You sound scary. Even as a joke this is more discusting than the teens'.

That's literally what the car horn is for 😂
To alert others to your presence, especially if they might be creating an unsafe situation, as these lads were. They had headphones in as far as I could see (the one nearest me certainly did), and appeared totally oblivious as they strolled casually in front of me. Beeping was absolutely the appropriate response. If you think that deserves to be matched with aggressive swearing then I don't think it's me who's the problem tbh 😂

I would. If someone was beeping at something innocent that was already being dealt with by you slowing down, I'd think oh fuck off dickhead.

@AwayWithLu
Well that was obviously a joke, fucking hell 😂
I sound scary 😂
I sound annoyed, because I've just been aggressively told to fuck off by a random child, so .... 🤷‍♀️

@Blinkii
You might think^^ fuck off dickhead - but would you shout it as loud as you could whilst giving a V sign? 🤔

I can see your point but I don’t think I’d judge the girl who swore more harshly than the two boys who actually caused the problem.

But yes they were, as a group, unreasonable.

It is disgusting. I would never have acted like that as a teen. It reminds me of the time a woman ran into me on the street and then was rude enough to shout at me... A fully grown adult. I don't get why people think this is ok?

@Wingedharpy what's pea henning?

Inappropriate behaviour on your part: As pointed out upthread, according to the new Highway Code they had every right to cross in front of you. And a car horn is a warning signal. Had your brakes failed, for example, you would have been justified in beeping.

So you swear too. And you are communicating aggressively.

What's good for the goose....

Ok no I wouldn't say it, but if you're ok with someone thinking it but not saying it, you must still agree that the situation was already being dealt with and they were walking to the other side of the road?

😂

You were rude to use your horn - that isn't what it's for. They were rude to swear at you.

Ultimately, you're an adult and you started it, so I think you don't have a lot to complain about.

Pick your battles, this is not worth your time or even beeping at the kids.

They will do what they want to nowadays. One day they may have an accident but that will be on them and not you.

@Blinkii
I didn't say I was "ok" with someone thinking it? I asked if your thoughts (whether I agreed with them or not - I don't incidentally), would translate into action as the girl's did. The answer is no. So you can't fully believe her behaviour was reasonable then?

@Stompythedinosaur
That is exactly what a horn is for - to alert others of your presence especially if you want to avoid a hazardous situation. I was not "rude" to beep at pedestrians who strolled in front of my car seemingly oblivious to my presence

Probably she was trying to impress them with her “ I don’t take no shit” attitude.

You see lots of that on MN too, and it often gets commended. Yet depending on how it is handled, it can just come across like this young women did.

Pedestrians have total right of way on the highways in the U.K.

its Inconvenient for drivers, and not sensible to cross without looking, but they do have the right to do so.

As a driver it’s your responsibility to be aware of your surroundings and in control of the vehicle to avoid a collision.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Mate, I can't even.

This is an anonymous forum where I am venting my frustrations. I do not routinely go about the streets shouting "fuck off!!!" and gesturing at randoms, no. Absolutely, definitely not.

Well I'm just more grown up than a teenager so why would I act like one? I'd prob give you the fingers though.

So would I. However kids are often unpredictable when in a 'posse', always have been. It was even so when I was a youngster back in the dark ages. Not all but some. They show off in front of each other. Generally they outgrow it.

I'm sorry you had this experience, op, but it's over now and hardly the sort of thing that happens daily.

Ok then 😆

If I was a young woman who'd been harassed by people preciously beeping at me and then catcalling, yes.