AIBU for confronting an aggressive driver who then drove dangerously?

[bluebunny1]

Had what I think was the last straw that broke the camel's back today with crap men drivers. Was driving back after dropping my kids off at school. I do this route every day and know it inside out. Was waiting at a traffic light when a guy behind me started ranting and raving and shouting out of his open window. I don't really know what his problem was. I live in Italy so the driving standards are even worse here.

Anyway, I had enough of this so whilst the traffic light was red I put my car in park, went over to him and shouted at him to shut the fuck up and wait patiently like everyone else. Showed him the middle finger and walked back to my car. When the light turned green I drove off normally to the next traffic light shortly in front. The guy accelerated and jammed himself in front of me. The road then becomes a dual carriageway. He basically tried to trap me behind him, changing lanes every time i tried to overtake him, swerving really dangerously from one side to the other. Then he suddenly stopped completely right in front of me. On a busy dual carriageway. It was an absolute miracle I didn't go into the back of him. Or anyone else didn't go into the back of me.

Why is it that misogenistic men feel they are entitled to express their anger at whatever non-existent issue they think there is? And when you express that anger back at them they become completely unhinged and produce a totally disproportionate response?

YABU: You should not have escalated the situation by shouting at him
YANBU: He got what he deserved

Should have waited the entire green cycle, then driven off just as it turned red and left him there.

I get you OP and I have done the same in your situation where the red mist has descended and I've let rip at some selfish bellend who has behaved badly. It made me feel good getting it out at the time but afterwards I have thought about it and I agree with PP- it's not worth the risk of escalation. Of course men shouldnt get away with it but thats little comfort if you end up in hospital stabbed is it?

9 times out of 10 that wont happen but if there is even a small chance of being attacked or your children being hurt, the satisfaction of having a go back simply isnt worth it. Also, it's not like these idiots will change their ways as a result anyway. I think dash cam and legal consequences are the best way to tackle it

@DiamondsAndDenial thanks for sharing your thoughts, agree that feelings in the moment and afterwards can be quite different.

The man was a dick, no doubt about it. You were also a dick!!

Thanks everyone, it has been helpful to hear others' perspectives. I like the idea of dashcams and also parking somewhere for a few minutes. I think having an option of potentially taking a legal action if needed is good because it would mean that they are not completely getting away with it if they do something stupid, but without taking an immediate risk. And I am a small, petit woman so definitely not in a position to win any physical confrontation!

Need to get on with my day now, hope you all have a great one. x

You say he just started ranting and raving but you don't know what about. You were both stationary at lights so it might have been nothing to do with driving. He could have just had a phone call or text message that wound him up. So you didn't even know if his behaviour was directed at you yet you were the one that got out of your vehicle and swore at him.

He absolutely shouldn't have responded in the way he did but I think you were the one that started this not him.