Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Morning rant - stupid obnoxious 4x4 driving cow

49 replies

JoshandJamie · 25/07/2006 08:37

So I drop my boys off at nursery this morning. The driveway into the nursery is very narrow - only space for one car, with quite steep slopes off to the side. It also exits onto a very busy road so it always takes a while to back out onto the road.

So I drive out and get to the road at the same time that another mum in her expensive 4x4 arrives to turn into the nursery. She is in a turning lane so isn't holding up traffic or anything. So she's literally there for 5 seconds when she gives me this little dismissive hand gesture as if to say: get out of my way, I want to turn in.

So I just wait because I can't really go anywhere other than reversing all the way back up the driveway. So she does it again. (really, it was the most annoying little hand flick ever - like: you are in my way and I'm in a big car, now move)

The next minute she just turns in forcing me to reverse my car backwards and down the steep slopes of the drive so that she can push past. I was so mad that I very nearly got and told her to not be such a rude, impatient, rich stuck up cow.

But of course I didn't. I just had a quiet seethe in my car. Stupid, obnoxious witch.

Sorry - rant over. Needed to get that off my chest

OP posts:
SSSandy · 25/07/2006 10:59

Could you handle approaching her directly and saying something about it, very loudly but calmly in a no-nonsence but not offensive tone. Pretend to yourself you're a lawyer acting on behalf of a client (that's what I do to psyche myself into it).

Then in future, make up your mind never to back up there unnecessarily again.

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 25/07/2006 11:01

Just wanted to explain why I reversed - basically for her to turn into the driveway, she had to turn across a lane of oncoming traffic. There was a gap which was why she took it. If I had blocked the path and not reversed her car would have been stuck across a very busy lane with fast approaching cars. Quite frankly i could give a damn about her and her car, but I didn't want to be responsible for her little girl in the back getting smacked into by an oncoming car just because I wouldn't move.

Which makes her even worse - because she put her child's safety at risk.

OP posts:
stitch · 25/07/2006 11:02

still not your responsibility.
this is the sort of thing that needs to be dealt with then and there. not after the fact.

SSSandy · 25/07/2006 11:04

Tricky then, under those circumstances I don't honestly know what you can do about it. Maybe she isn't a confident/good driver. What do you think?

munz · 25/07/2006 11:10

ooh I hate it when they do that, where I work we have to go dwon a counrty lane, (big enough for 2 cars or a tractor and a car sort of thing, and the silly women in 4x4's drive their car's in the middle of the bloody road so they don't get theri cars dirty, so when I/smaller cars want to go by we have to go into the grass on the side cos they won't bloody move over

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 25/07/2006 11:10

No - I think she was just being impatient. It's hard to explain this without seeing the road layout. But basically I was turning right so had to wait for traffic coming from the right and left to clear. She just had to turn across one lane, so would have to wait less time had I not been there.

So she didn't feel like sitting there waiting for me to turn - there was a gap in the traffic on the lane she'd have to cross and so she just took it instead of waiting for me to get a gap both ways so that I could go.

Now maybe, she was thinking what a selfish person I was for not having gotten out of her way to start with - but we got there at the same time and there was no way for me to move other than to reverse all the way back up the single track drive.

So I think she was just being impatient. I did try to put myself in her shoes thinking - maybe she's really running late for work or maybe her child really needed to pee or something. And who knows, maybe she does have a valid reason. But knowing what the mums at this place are like, i think it's because she's a spoilt rich cow who is used to getting her way and isn't used to being polite or waiting for anyone.

OP posts:
SSSandy · 25/07/2006 11:12

What would you do if it happened again?

franca70 · 25/07/2006 11:12

I'd make a joke on the absolute necessity of owning a 4x4 in London

nailpolish · 25/07/2006 11:13

i would most certainly have said something to her. dont let people treat you like shit or you will feel like it, and they will do it again.

imagine how fabulous you would have felt if you had said something, instead of still seething like you do now

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 25/07/2006 11:19

This isn't in London. It's in a very prosperous little market town in Oxfordshire. And the need for 4x4s is apparently because they 'live in the country' but believe me, the cars never ever see a dirt track.

OP posts:
franca70 · 25/07/2006 11:25

This is the same excuse used in my area. hardly a part of the country characterized by severe weather or gegeographic conditions (apart from the odd flood, but not in the town centre). perhaps they are preparing themselves for the climate changes...

franca70 · 25/07/2006 11:26

geographic

fairyjay · 25/07/2006 11:32

I drive a 4x4 in the Midlands, but I do have to cross a ford to get my kids to school!

The real point is the discourteous driving, not the vehicle

joelallie · 25/07/2006 12:26

Cow!!

I agree with the others who say that the ignoring strategy works ...ie fascinating mobile phone conversation, or talking to kids... Otherwise respond to her rude little flick with a big smile and a wave each time...AND DO NOT REVERSE just keep smiling

franca70 · 25/07/2006 12:31

I detected a bit of road snobbishness on the part of the woman at joshandjamie's nursery though

HappyDaddy · 25/07/2006 12:31

It's great being a bloke, one mean look and all the cars move out of your way.

fairyjay · 25/07/2006 14:30

You obviously have come across me HappyDaddy - I'm lovely, til someone tries to boss me around!!!

fairyjay · 25/07/2006 14:31

oops - 'haven't'

HappyDaddy · 25/07/2006 14:40

I don't boss anyone around, I'm nice.

fairyjay · 25/07/2006 15:09

Mean looks are not nice!!!

HappyDaddy · 25/07/2006 15:24

I only give them out to those who deserve it.

my2shoesare2hot · 25/07/2006 15:53

i have a renault master van(diasabled access vehical) love it as I now can look down on people in there flash 4X4 cos I am bigger than them

Palpal · 25/07/2006 16:06

I feel sorry for you. Those 4x4 are truly evil.

fairyjay · 28/07/2006 13:10

How can a car be evil? Maybe the person behind the wheel, but even so...........

New posts on this thread. Refresh page