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?!

@LBFseBrom
Thank you for your measured and empathetic reply, I appreciate it. Very thankful it doesn't happen daily as it's not pleasant to be on the receiving end of that type of aggression whether from a teenage girl or anyone else for that matter!

The hazard had been dealt with though by you slowing down. Pedestrians always have the right of way due to being very squishy.

You were beeping 'loudly' to get them out of your way.

@TeabySea
The young girl in question was facing the road, could see me ( a female) driving the car, saw the situation unfold, saw why I was beeping at her mates, and still chose to shout at me to fuck off, whilst looking at me and gesturing.

You're telling me genuinely you think it's possible she mistook for a pervy cat calling bloke in a transit van? Not buying it, sorry.

I wouldn't have beeped either in that situation. You weren't about to hit them, you saw them and slowed down. The situation was manageable and dealt with there was no hazard to other drivers either. The beeping added nothing except it probably startled the girl standing next to your car. It's incredibly loud. She shouldn't have sworn at you but you probably just scared her.

Everyone involved is a bit dramatic to be honest. The lads have the right to cross the road without you beeping at them- you presume they didn’t look and see you. Maybe they knew they could safely cross. The lass opposite didn’t need to swear and flip the bird.

just calm down a bit.

clearly you find this behaviour acceptable.

Absolutely agree.

Also, you behaved disrespectfully. Just down down and allow them to pass. Pedestrians always have right of way (common sense) and there is also this recent change.

There was no need for the aggression (from you) and the girl was right to be annoyed at you. Terrible driving on your part.

Calm down in future and show some respect.

So you like a bit of empathy and understanding even when you are acting out of control. Next time, pay it forward.

Your responsibility was to stop and allow the pedestrians, who had right if way, to cross. So, I'm skeptical that you were using your horn to non-aggressively warn another road user of your presence.

The horn is expressly not for showing annoyance or aggression. I suspect you thought the kids shouldn't have been crossing and were expressing that.

Honestly that was absolutely disgusting behaviour

Was it?

Absolutely disgusting?

I mean, it wasn't pleasant and they all should have known better, but I'm not sure it was absolutely disgusting

You are presuming she could see you- depending on the suns glare you can’t always see who is driving.

Yep, so many kids lack basic manners. I'd be mortified if that was my child. But if she did that to me, I'd also give her a good response too, unless they knew where I lived!

Oh I'm not even engaging with you anymore, honestly. "Out of control" for beeping at someone who almost got themselves run over? Whilst completely ignoring the actual out of control aggressive behaviour I was in the receiving end of? Right-o. 🥴

You have a nice day.

@AwayWithLu

By my definition yes it was.

We need another thread to discuss what else a horn is for.

My DH would say getting the family out of the house … but I feel he’s not the rightful winner of this debate.

I wouldn't be fine, but I'd forget it within five minutes. Some people are unpleasant, I'm happy for you that this is news.

@LaerealSilverhand
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.
Yeah, however she ran out in the road, she wasnt already in the road when i was beginning to pull away. She placed her hands on my car forcing me to stop and was unnecessary swearing and being abusive. I had no idea what she was going to do. I'd rather take my chances doing what I did than not knowing what the fucking loon was going to do next. If you would have been happy sat there, being abused, being called a stupid cunt, silly bitch etc, not knowing if she was going to pull you wipers off or kick at your car,well done you. 👏
I am glad I frightened the life out of the stupid woman. I have never seen her before in my life.

Car horns should only be used when the car is in motion to warn of potential accidents. That's exactly what it was used for here.

These teens were wearing headphones and not paying attention, so you had no guarantee that they were fully aware that you were there. I think your horn use was entirely appropriate, assuming you didn't go for full-on blaring for ages type usage. I also think it might have had more of an impact on those boys due to the horn use, so perhaps they might be more mindful whe crossing the road in future.

Some of the reponses on here are mind boggling. The fact that anyone here think an expletive laden outburst at the OP for driving carefully and alerting these boys to her imminent presence was an appropriate reponse needs to give their heads a wobble. The girl's reponse was totally out of order.

I know pedestrians have right of way but that doens't mean they are absolved of any personal responsibilty for their own safety, like you know, looking both ways before they cross a road.

You can also beep the horn to alert someone to your presence. Crossing the road in front of a moving vehicle while wearing headphones and not looking isn't a great idea. Kids being taught that they have the right of way at all times so they don't have to take responsibility for their own safety when they walk out in front of some poor driver without looking...brilliant.

As for shouting "fuck off", seems as though aggressive parents who have no idea how to behave are breeding aggressive kids who have no idea how to behave. Personally I can't wait until this lot are having kids...

Wow the lengths people will go to make excuses for blatant antisocial behaviour.

Imagine this thread in reverse - "I shouted "fuck off!" really loudly and waved the V sign at a driver who beeped as my friends wandered in front of their car - AIBU?" It would no doubt be a resounding, wow, slight overreaction there!

But of course. People like to be contrary towards the OP don't they. No fun otherwise.

Well, knock yourselves out 😂 I've got better things to do with my afternoon.

@WestwardHo1

THANK YOU!! Some sense, finally.

@TwixOrDoubleDecker also thank you for your equally sensible post.

Funny how you can't just accept that people genuinely just disagree with you. You were wrong, the kid was wrong. Time to move on.

you would 'disown' your daughter for that? not saying the kids havent been little shits but surely disowning your daughter for that is a dick move and an overreaction.