I did a stupid thing today.

[AMGeed]

I am going to get stick for this, but I wanted to recount a silly avoidable incident that happened this morning.
So I have had the wannabe traffic light grand prix boys in their hot hatches wanting a race and always denied them that pleasure. My licence is too valuable, but this morning I came as close as I ever have to losing both my temper, and licence, because of an outside lane moron in an Audi playing the fool.

It was 6 15am and hardly a car on the road. Travelllng out of Bournemouth toward Southampton on a good two lane dual carriageway that runs for about 10miles onto the M27.

I was a little behind time and pushing on in the inside lane when I spotted an Audi in the outside lane travelling at maybe 60mph. I slowed and moved to the outside lane but kept my distance waiting for him to move across.

Either oblivious to me behind him, or just a lane hogger I'm unsure, but after a few minutes I could see he wasn't going to move over. I'm not one for flashing lights and sounding horns, so I just moved back to the inside lane and increased my speed to around 70 so I slowly crept past him. No harm done and nobody else in sight.

Now this may have been incorrect, but he was blocking my progress, I felt deliberately. When I was around 100yds past the Audi I increased my speed a little more but became alarmed to see the Audi was now accelerating very quickly, catching me up.
What to do? Floor it and easily lose him or ignore him.
I'm afraid I rose to the bait today, and hit the loud pedal which sent the car rocketing off into the distance ( I hold my hands up, it was silly).
Good sense took hold quickly and a glance at the speedo got me braking until back at a sensible speed.

The Audi kept coming and passed me at an even sillier speed than I had just touched. I wasn't playing anymore and let him go. But he most certainly wanted to mess around, as he then dropped his speed back to 50mph, in the outside lane, daring me I think, to do it again.

I stayed in the inside lane descending the A31 toward the M27 at 50mph and watched as Mr Audi moved to the inside lane in front of me, brake tested me before accelerating off down the motorway.
I quietly hoped he would run off the road.

One avoidable incident I'm not proud of, and won't repeat.

 

[Scott_F]

Look on the bright side - you'll never set eyes on him again.

 

[developer]

I can hear it already:



I drive to the circumstances and I would have undertaken him too, if he just wasn't moving over.

 

[markjay]

Look on the bright side - you'll never set eyes on him again.

Look at the even brighter side - it wasn't an unmarked police car....

 

[TDE1]

I'll be surprised if you get much stick for that - sounds like he was being quite the plonker.

 

[E55BOF]

I'd have done pretty much the same, though I'd have given him one quick flash in case he was just woolgathering.

He's happy now, though; he's 'won'. Let the prats get on with it; life's too short...

 

[MR.55AMG]

I'll be surprised if you get much stick for that - sounds like he was being quite the plonker.

Ditto, the geezer sounds like an idiot....... I would have done the same thing too

 

[billywhiz]

This happened to a friend of mine. 'Dave'

Only when he was driving sensibly on a motorway, another driver decided that the speed limit should be 40mph in front of him. Dave overtook and then come back into the lanes. He told me that the other car, overtook him again to get in front and proceed to drive at 40 again.

Dave being Dave and not the fellow to cause upset, overtook and put his foot down to make a bit of space, then pulled back into the lower lanes.

Half a mile later Dave had blues n two's in the rearview and when he was pulled over Dave was told he had been travelling at 'Triple digits' back there.

Dave also said the the police pulled over the other guy at the same time. And after a brief conversation, the policeman told Dave, he saw exact what went on and said he was going to have a word with the other guy about his 'dangerous driving'

Dave was waved on his way and got told he had a nice car.

 

[paulshep69]

Look at the even brighter side - it wasn't an unmarked police car....

As per another recent post on here and his dealings with an unmarked Police X5.

 

[c63chris]

Had the same with a Bentley last night. There are some strange people out there so don't think any stick warranted here.

 

[markjay]

Last Thursday, I was driving north on the M1 doing exactly 70mph (70mph on speedo, 69mph on SatNav).

I was in the outer lane as there was a queue of vans and LGVs travelling in the middle lane at a lower speed.

In my rear-view mirror I could see a small 1-Series BMW coming at speed, he then sat on my rear bumper about three feet behind me, lights flashing an all.

I had no room to move to the left, I did not want to slow down and fall behind the vans - not with Mr. Impatient on my back, and I definitely did not want to accelerate beyond the NSL.

So I used my hazards to try and fend him off - which left no impression on him. I suppose a sudden application of the brakes might have brought him around but I am not playing games on the road.

I ended up moving to the left as soon as a suitable gap appeared. The Beemer zoomed past - he was not happy.

Not sure what was going through his mind while sitting on my tail. Did he have a realistic expectation that I will crash into the vans in the middle lane to make room for him? Or did he really think that if he drove close enough to my bumper my car will disintegrate into thin air?

 

[paulshep69]

Last Thursday, I was driving north on the M1 doing exactly 70mph (70mph on speedo, 69mph on SatNav).

I was in the outer lane as there was a queue of vans and LGVs travelling in the middle lane at a lower speed.

In my rear-view mirror I could see a small 1-Series BMW coming at speed, he then sat on my rear bumper about three feet behind me, lights flashing an all.

I had no room to move to the left, I did not want to slow down and fall behind the vans - not with Mr. Impatient on my back, and I definitely did not want to accelerate beyond the NSL.

So I used my hazards to try and fend him off - which left no impression on him. I suppose a sudden application of the brakes might have brought him around but I am not playing games on the road.

I ended up moving to the left as soon as a suitable gap appeared. The Beemer zoomed past - he was not happy.

Not sure what was going through his mind while sitting on my tail. Did he have an realistic expectation that I will crash into the vans in the middle lane to make room for him? Or did he really think that if he drove close enough to my bumper my car will disintegrate into thin air?

It's a sad fact that there are some complete idiots on our roads - wherever you may live.

Unfortunately for us, we have to deal with their strange, errant behaviours in the best way we can.

I bet most of them haven't had an accident but have seen plenty of them in their mirrors!

 

[John Jones Jr]

An Audi, are you sure?

 

[trapperjohn]

No stick from me.

 

[Giantvanman]

two lane dual carriageway
Audi in the outside lane travelling at maybe 60mph

Excepting the car type, you are describing my daily homeward journey to a T. If they aren't doing 60 in lane three, they are doing 50 in lane two with lane one completely empty.

As many have said, there are idiots everywhere. There is also no end of drivers who do not know the speed limits for dual carriageways with central reservations.
Idiot + Stupid is not an edifying combination and best avoided.

 

[Sp!ke]

As many have said, there are idiots everywhere. There is also no end of drivers who do not know the speed limits for dual carriageways with central reservations.
Idiot + Stupid is not an edifying combination and best avoided.

My understanding is that the national speed limit is 60 on a single carriageway and 70 on a dual - central reservation or not.

Is it me or you that falls into your idiot category?

EDIT - it looks like it is me

I always thought a dual carriageway was just two lanes - I never knew there needed to be a central reservation.... wondering how lucky I must have been not to get a ticket on the A303 now.

 

[W4E300]

My understanding is that the national speed limit is 60 on a single carriageway and 70 on a dual - central reservation or not. Is it me or you that falls into your idiot category?

Oops - speed awareness course approaching.....!

Sent from my iPad using MBClub UK

 

[RWDpetrol]

That's why I drive at speeds not to witness such things and get sucked in. I'd be flashing my lights approaching - timed and calculated bursts of full beam on/off (seems to get their attention) well in advance before they can work out what car I'm in. Never had someone not move.

There was one time a XJR was cruising in 3rd lane and decided to floor it as he pulled into the 2nd lane. I was in my V10 M5, and he felt his stupidity...

(Please don't hijack this thread speculating what speed I may have been doing)

 

[markjay]

...There was one time a XJR was cruising in 3rd lane and decided to floor it as he pulled into the 2nd lane. I was in my V10 M5, and he felt his stupidity...

Why was he being stupid in your view?

 

[davidjpowell]

There was a fine time of undertaking in the 20 miles 50 mph roadworks on the M1 yesterday. Towing I was not allowed in Lane 3, and it appeared the 45 mph car drivers were not allowed in Lane 1. A coach and I made fine progress....