Grrrrr....

[PXW]

Driving home from a major sporting event in the Midlands this evening, traffic on the M42 moderate but moving. I signaled and moved over to the middle lane, traveling c. 70mph, to allow a BMW X5 to filter onto the motorway smoothly at a junction. I stayed in the middle lane as I was then about to overtake a lorry. X5 driver then pulled out, hung onto my tail flashing his lights...obviously 70mph was not fast enough for him, and since he couldn't get into the outside lane I was supposed to put my foot down to get out of his way?

His shenannigins continued for several miles, as the traffic ebbed and flowed, and I ended up in front of him again. Once more he parked on my bumper with all lights blazing, and as soon as safe I moved over to let him past. As he went by I glanced right, and he was glaring at me, flicking V signs (and not looking at the road ahead).

I normally just ignore this sort of selfish idiocy, (and didn't do anything tonight either, apart from showing him that my wife's lexus has got nice bright lights as well...) but he really irritated me, I think especially as I had shown anticipation and consideration in making space for him to get onto the motorway in the first place There needs to be some sort of road signal that allows you to say 'why not just say 'thankyou' and move on you selfish t**t'

 

[greekCL]

Some people are like they are driving a train... do not know what going around things mean!!! And for certainly they think that someone driving in the middle lane is bad driving... no matter the reason! Well I must say there a reason why motoways have 3 lanes!!! for people to use them... he should go on the fast, overtake, right lane ... whatever people nowdays call them. And just overtake. Apparently he had a bad day and he was genuinly rude.
I would not get annoyed by him ... as there are many pl@nkers out there, that they think they are better drivers than others.

 

[corned]

If that had been me, I would have simply stayed alongside the lorry for quite a while. What goes around...

 

[Peter Henderson]

You should have put your foot down as he tried to pass, that would have really irritated him back. Then as he pulled in behind you slowed down again!

 

[Sp!ke]

You're all advocating behaviour as bad as the X5 driver.

Suggest ignoring this advice and taking the higher moral ground and just let people like this pass with a smile and a cheery wave.

It would do wonders for your stress levels.

 

[lynall]

I think Spike is spot on with his advice, but sometimes other people and therir driving aaagh!
Plus of course spike has the coolest bonnet badge going.
Wasnt a member on here doing some sort of development of a kit to fit other cars?



Lynall

 

[MD5]

As he went by I glanced right, and he was glaring at me, flicking V signs (and not looking at the road ahead).

I guess we're none of us perfect, and I agree with Spike (on a stress free day) Reciprocal behaviour is the start of road rage though.

 

[PXW]

I guess we're none of us perfect, and I agree with Spike (on a stress free day) Reciprocal behaviour is the start of road rage though.

Entirely agree - I wasn't eyeballing him in challenge, simply glanced that way (as I often would when a vehicle is passing me, if only to check speed, position etc). It was the rude behaviour in the face of my deliberate courtesy that irritated me. Apart from a brief demonstration that my lights were as bright as his (and yes, I normally wouldn't even do that), I didn't react at all.

It was definitely one of those occasions where you spend the next few miles hoping to see him on the hard shoulder with a police car in attendance though

 

[corned]

I was merely advocating what I would call 'passive resistance' and nothing more!

Mind you, seeing 'BMW' and 'X5' mentioned might have given you an indication that there was a tosseur on board!

 

[219]

Just relax safe in the knowledge that "he'll get his" sooner or later .

 

[Frank O' Phile]

In a simlar vein to the above comment by Mr Corned, I feel sorry for the guy in the X5.
I feel sorry for anybody in an X5.

 

[cl55 amg]

I find the best response, is to laugh at them...

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I find the best response, is to laugh at them...

Open mouthed laughing and finger pointing does it every time if you have to respond.

I prefer to just stare through them as if they were not there.

 

[coshell]

i wish sometimes i had some of those little blue flashing lights under the grill, im not a policeman nor will i ever be or would i imatate them.......but oh to see their face would be priceless.......it makes me smile thinking about it....LOL

 

[Lugy]

If someone really, really upsets you then maybe you could inform Crimestoppers you might have seen some suspicious goings on with them

That would be very childish however. It would also take away valuable police time to do these "practice" runs.

 

[219]

One could always have called the police , described the manner of his driving and explained that you wondered if he might be intoxicated ?

 

[PXW]

One could always have called the police , described the manner of his driving and explained that you wondered if he might be intoxicated ?

Now that didn't occur to me!

The frustration of the whole thing is that in real life (i.e. not in our wheeled tin cans on a road) you would simply give someone a look or a comment that made the point, you'd (probably) get an apology of sorts, but at least there would be recognition that rudeness had occurred and a line had been crossed. But on the road there isn't any decent way of doing that, hence I guess the old road rage/red mist can bubble up - not that I got anywhere near losing it, thankfully

 

[fast_eddie]

Hi,

agree strongly with several posts above, just let trouble pass you by - as quickly as possible!

Highlighting the strength of your own headlights may not have the impact you would hope for if the tosseur driving it specified the auto-dimming rear view mirrors - although it does have the instant gratification factor...

Cheers,
Eddie

 

[EDZ649]

His actions are just another example of the ignorant society we all now live in. Plus he was driving a beemer so what did you expect!

 

[PXW]

Hi,

agree strongly with several posts above, just let trouble pass you by - as quickly as possible!

Highlighting the strength of your own headlights may not have the impact you would hope for if the tosseur driving it specified the auto-dimming rear view mirrors - although it does have the instant gratification factor...

Cheers,
Eddie

Yes, I know - his side mirrors won't have dimmed though! I've got the same auto-dim features on the Lexus, but since I was a safe distance behind him I won't have filled his cabin with light in quite the same way he did mine...