Road Rage

Originally Posted by Nev

Or leave a gap like people used to do
over here.

This is what should, but rarely does happen. Following a load of puddle jumpers at 40mph all nose to tail is extremely irritating but the black looks you get when you overtake loads at a time perhaps makes it worth it !

What a result, would love to have seen the look on the guys face when the coppers spoke to him! People like that need to grow up and chill out - trying to block lanes then getting upset is pathetic.

I turned right into a T - junction this evening and a parked car door opened in front of me. The street wasn't wide and there were cars parked both sides, and there was another car coming towards me. As I swerved I said to the guy getting out of the car, 'You might try looking first'. He said, 'Sorry'. Which was fine, and I continued cycling home.

If I'd been in my car I can imagine it all getting rather more heated for the simple reason that verbal communication is so much more difficult in cars. Well, impossible realy. Can you imagine a situation where two aircraft approaching Heathrow decide who lands first by seeing which can shake the most fists at eachother?

I have to be honest i suffered from a road rage incident last weekend - the one lane of a dual carriageway was closed down.

Everybody gets into the left hand lane as soon as they see the sign except one t--t in a nissan x-trail who goes straight down to the start of the roadworks.

I made it clear that I was not prepared to let him in as I had sat there for 10 mins in the que he decides the usual stuff I'm bigger than you - I will just push you into the hedge.

He wins and then turns around and gives me the old hand shake, when we get onto clear road he gets it back, which is not like me to be honest, but sometimes people have no consideration for other on the road - why was his journey so much more important than mine.

Shame my bro wasnt with me as he is plod squad and it would have given me so much pleasure to see the arrogant jerk given a lecture for his selfishness.

As Alfa drivers, we know we are special (not needs), and should just ignore people in astras, box,s, shopping trollies and the like.
The problem is that if you retaliate you will get done as well.
I am royally sick of the atitude of some drivers when i overtake even on motorways! The first time i was flashed i slowed down to see what his problem was, was then cut up. I stopped my car in front of him and got out. At this point he shut up as i had a baseball bat in my hand. I then invited him out for a discussion on what his problem was. To which the brave person declined and was on the phone. I then received a visit from the Police who after my explanation took my side but cautioned me that waving a baseball bat is not ok, pointed out what if had a knife or gun! It does happen (remember what Kenneth Noyce did).
So i just smile sweetly know and disappear into the sunset.

Originally Posted by crackit

As Alfa drivers, we know we are special (not needs), and should just ignore people in astras, box,s, shopping trollies and the like.
The problem is that if you retaliate you will get done as well.
I am royally sick of the atitude of some drivers when i overtake even on motorways! The first time i was flashed i slowed down to see what his problem was, was then cut up. I stopped my car in front of him and got out. At this point he shut up as i had a baseball bat in my hand. I then invited him out for a discussion on what his problem was. To which the brave person declined and was on the phone. I then received a visit from the Police who after my explanation took my side but cautioned me that waving a baseball bat is not ok, pointed out what if had a knife or gun! It does happen (remember what Kenneth Noyce did).
So i just smile sweetly know and disappear into the sunset.

Originally Posted by SPPalfa

I have to be honest i suffered from a road rage incident last weekend - the one lane of a dual carriageway was closed down.

Everybody gets into the left hand lane as soon as they see the sign except one t--t in a nissan x-trail who goes straight down to the start of the roadworks.

I made it clear that I was not prepared to let him in as I had sat there for 10 mins in the que he decides the usual stuff I'm bigger than you - I will just push you into the hedge.

He wins and then turns around and gives me the old hand shake, when we get onto clear road he gets it back, which is not like me to be honest, but sometimes people have no consideration for other on the road - why was his journey so much more important than mine.

Shame my bro wasnt with me as he is plod squad and it would have given me so much pleasure to see the arrogant jerk given a lecture for his selfishness.

I disagree with this. We as the British public seem to have forgotten what a filter lane is, I see it all the time. Road works are in half a mile yet everyone jumps into the lane causing a tailback. If people used the filter lane correctly there would be no problem. I for one will continue to use the empty lane and file in at the last moment, as this is what you are supposed to do! Infact I would go as far to say you, not he, was in the wrong.

Originally Posted by Captain Slow

I for one will continue to use the empty lane and file in at the last moment, as this is what you are supposed to do!

No, you're supposed to use all lanes but get out of the closing lane as soon as there is adequate opportunity to do so, NOT get all the way to the end and then barge in.

In fact - Highway code rule 288, 2nd bullet point:

use your mirrors and get into the correct lane for your vehicle in good time and as signs direct

Originally Posted by HSTDriver

No, you're supposed to use all lanes but get out of the closing lane as soon as there is adequate opportunity to do so, NOT get all the way to the end and then barge in.

... and when you're piling along at 100mph past the stationary traffic the "adequate opportunity" IS to barge in all the way at the end !!!

Originally Posted by 156Chris

... and when you're piling along at 100mph past the stationary traffic the "adequate opportunity" IS to barge in all the way at the end !!!

What he said

Seriously though, both lanes should be used and then the traffic should filter in at the end ... if everyone gets into the left lane then the traffic jam becomes twice as long, thus potentially effecting other road users who are not waiting to go through the road works (yes other road users might actually be traveling a different route!!)

I normally filter in when I see the cones of the lane closing about 100yards in front of me.

Originally Posted by 156Chris

Seriously though, both lanes should be used and then the traffic should filter in at the end ...

The key word is FILTER. No barging in, and no deliberately blocking someone so they can't get in. Both parties are equally wrong.

There's so much anger on the road (and I'm as guilty as the next man, I admit) and it's totally pointless

Originally Posted by ukmike2008

and on a long downhill section had the joy of seeing a V70 T5 with all its blues and twos on, closing at about 130 and stopping my friend who was about 18 inches off my back bumper.

Wooooaaaaaaaah!! Cool!!


Ralf S.

I've never experienced road rage myself apart from the usual flashing my head lights and fist waving, but whilst on my way to work 2 blokes had stopped in a line of traffic jumped out their cars one with a baseball bat and the other with a breakers bar So I'd always think twice before cutting someone up as I'm a nice guy and don't have any 'weapons' in my car.

But these bad drivers on the road do make my bloody boil sometimes like the person who paid no attention to the road signs and markings and whilst heading towards a gatso at 60mph (the speed limit) at the last second jumped on his brakes to get down to 30mph. I soon found myself in a bit of a situation of either I jump on the anchors and hope to god the person behind is paying attention or I go around the offending car. I went around the car as at the time it was the safest option. This was followed by horn blowing, waving of fists & certain international hand gestures and the flashing of lights. What exactly had I done wrong

Was good to hear the cops were in the right place at the right time.

O and us Astra drivers aren't all bad by the way. I'm usually a certius (sp) and laid back driver, yes I drive at the speed limit if not a bit over but theres no middle lane hogging going on from my car and I always filter when I can rather than at the end and demand people to stop and let me in.

Originally Posted by SPPalfa

Everybody gets into the left hand lane as soon as they see the sign except one t--t in a nissan x-trail who goes straight down to the start of the roadworks.

That's a difficult one that. It would be better for everybody if everyone used both lanes, then merged alternately. The problem with everyone going over to the left is that it does leave the overtaking lane wide open.

I seem to remember Top Gear doing something about this a few years ago (back when they actually did serious motoring items).

Didn't they set up a mock roadworks and try both approaches? One where everybody moves over to the left as early as possible and one where they used the 'zip' or 'zipper' effect (both lanes stay full until the very last point and people merge alternately in turn - like the teeth on a zip).

I think they concluded that the 'zipper' effect is actually better at keeping traffic moving but that very few people have the bottle to stick their necks out and stay in the right hand lane.

It all comes down to the british attitude towards queuing ... after all we wouldn't want to upset anyone would we ...

Originally Posted by 156Chris

after all we wouldn't want to upset anyone would we ...

WE would

I have always gone, and will continue to go, down the right hand lane until I need to get over to the left.
Why make the queue longer than it has to be ?
I don't force my way in right at the last point.
I always indicate and wait for someone to let me in, giving myself plenty of room to match the speed of the left hand lane.