Don’t you hate road rage!

[Magna-Carta]

Going through a roundabout to my son's house the car that was there before me (to my left) coming into the circle had his blinker
to right turn (the road I was on). You would take it he was going to exit the roundabout on his right turn.
Nooooo, he kept coming into the circle instead of turning out.
Good thing I never believe other drivers and always wait before I pull out.
He actually flipped me off as he passed by me, and no I didn't know him
Maybe he had no idea his blinker was on, who knows.
I hadn't moved so no idea why the happy wave at all!

From this and your follow-up posts, it seems you did the right thing. In the UK, we have to give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, which is what you did. Not reacting to his indicator, but to his actions. In that you acknowledged he was indicating to turn off before reaching you, but he carried on anyway.

A lot of people in the UK get caught out by this. I was taught not to take action based only on someone's use of indicators alone, but to see what their intention is based on their vehicle's position, and even the angle of their front wheels.

To then have a collision, with a defence of "but he indicated", doesn't usually work in the UK. Maybe not in the US either?

 

[Magna-Carta]

Yes if one's wife continually "yells" about the quality of his/her driving perhaps he/she might take that to heart and decide not to drive any more.

Usually rage happens because someone interprets "bad driving" as an intentional act to irritate or disrupt others ride, simple mistakes appear to be easier to accept. Of course others are in a permanent rage so all bets are off w those folks.

I like to ride in empty space avoiding conflict so I deliberately move quickly and slightly faster than the pace of traffic, other times for whatever reason if I'm driving slower than the pace of traffic due to wx, road conditions, or the presence of big game animals I'll lag behind to let space open in front of me.

I applaud you. There are ways, at times, of 'managing' the traffic around us. Creating a situation that causes other road users to take note and to react appropriately. In some ways, your last paragraph alludes to that.

When I teach driving skills, I teach that all safety comes from observation, and reacting appropriately to those observations. Challenging in a world with people who seem to of the mindset of, "But I'm entitled!".

 

[Nathan]

I understand how you feel, plus it's embarrassing. All the same, I don't take chances with hand gestures, etc. - I just go on, and hope they don't make trouble. Usually it's soon forgotten.

A gesture of apology can be interpreted as an insult, escalating road rage just has no good outcome.

 

[Magna-Carta]

This is an example of how I drive, and honestly, I don’t feel I’ve got the spare time for road rage.

A manual transmission really encourages observation. You’re constantly anticipating what’s happening ahead so you can drive smoothly and choose the right moment for the next gear change -- especially when one hand is coming off the wheel to do it.

The chap in the video is giving a running commentary on his driving. The advanced driving test I took at 22 was based on exactly this approach: two hours on the road while giving a full commentary to the examiner. As far as I know, the advanced driving tests in Australia and New Zealand follow a similar structure to the UK. Not sure about Canada.

Every vehicle on the road has its own body language -- an extension of the driver. If you learn to read it, it tells you a lot.

Has this man got time for road rage? He’s too busy thinking ahead, as we all should be. I’d say the driving in this video is very much in line with Roadcraft, the UK police driving manual.

 

[IrishEyes]

From this and your follow-up posts, it seems you did the right thing. In the UK, we have to give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, which is what you did. Not reacting to his indicator, but to his actions. In that you acknowledged he was indicating to turn off before reaching you, but he carried on anyway.

A lot of people in the UK get caught out by this. I was taught not to take action based only on someone's use of indicators alone, but to see what their intention is based on their vehicle's position, and even the angle of their front wheels.

To then have a collision, with a defence of "but he indicated", doesn't usually work in the UK. Maybe not in the US either?

I have been to England twice now and rented a car and believe me, that is where you learn to drive a roundabout! I made a round trip
5 times in the 1st one I got into there. Other side of the road, other side for the steering wheel and then those! I was a wreck but my
friend instructing me had me laughing about it, I felt the old instinct hit me from that trip when I came across the one here.
Thank you for your confirmation, sweet of you!

 

[StarSong]

When I make a bone head move while driving I try to communicate my regret by putting my hands together as in prayer and mouthing sorry.

I do something similar. Often put my hands on the sides of my head and grimace to communicate, EEK mea culpa fashion.

 

[Magna-Carta]

Road rage: It’s been less than two years ago that some teenage Kids probably P.O’d another driver by pulling out in front of him. The reason for the shooting was never disclosed, thats just my theory given it happened on the state highway right below me.

The guy shot at the teens’ car, hitting one of them in the back of the head —- it was a fatal shot.

That so enraged people that neighbors got together and tracked the guy down — and found him. Amazingly they only turned him over to the authorities without beating the living out of him.

I don’t see anything cute about “cute” comments on this subject. Somebody’s daughter/granddaughter/best friend lost their life over some adult ass’s “I’ll show you” attitude.

Some people need to grow and “go high” when others “go low” ——-

What you describe here sounds horrific.

I recently read that in 2021 in the USA there were 728 road rage incidents involving a firearm, 62% of which led to someone being injured or killed. From memory, I can only recall one person being shot and killed in the UK during a road rage incident -- and that one, in my mind, is bad enough.

On an international forum, with people from different nations, cultures, and experiences, every subject becomes relative. In the UK, road rage is generally considered to be excessive horn use, vulgar gestures, shouting, swearing, and similar behaviours. It’s extremely unlikely someone would get gunned down here.

Every country has a slightly different take on what road rage means and how severe it can get. It's all relative in an international forum.

 

[Magna-Carta]

I have been to England twice now and rented a car and believe me, that is where you learn to drive a roundabout! I made a round trip
5 times in the 1st one I got into there. Other side of the road, other side for the steering wheel and then those! I was a wreck but my
friend instructing me had me laughing about it, I felt the old instinct hit me from that trip when I came across the one here.
Thank you for your confirmation, sweet of you!

On a side note, I find what you say above quite interesting. I've driven in the USA and mainland Europe on the right-hand side in a left-hand drive car. I find driving on the right quite natural -- it takes me no time to get used to it. What surprised me the first time I drove around Europe was how challenging it was for me to get used to driving on the left again when I returned to the UK. For a day or two, it seemed quite alien to me. Having to think really hard when negotiating a junction or roundabout.

I've noticed how easy it seems for most people from the UK to drive a left-hand drive car abroad. But my experiences of people who normally drive a left-hand drive find it difficult to drive a right-hand drive, especially if it's a manual transmission -- changing gear with the left hand.

 

[horseless carriage]

I understand how you feel, plus it's embarrassing. All the same, I don't take chances with hand gestures, etc. - I just go on, and hope they don't make trouble. Usually it's soon forgotten.

Sensible advice, much is happening on the road, even a quiet street could have someone come out of their driveway, just let it go. After all, had someone pulled out on you it might have provoked a gesture, cross word or even a profanity, but you would have dealt with it.

 

[outlander]

I hate road rage, senseless. That being said I always have in the car an assault rifle, sawed off shotgun, at least 2 hand guns, taser, flash bang grenade, baseball bat, machete and wear a bullet proof vest and ballistic goggles. I have a hand held led sign that says f#ck you for communication

 

[Magna-Carta]

Wow, that’s so interesting! I never thought about it that way — it must be so tricky switching back to left-hand drive after getting used to right-hand drive. Do you still get a little nervous when driving in the UK sometimes, or have you fully mastered it now?"

I was born in the UK, so I'm pretty used to it, which makes it more strange that I find it easier to get used to driving on the right than on the left when I return to the UK.

But anyway, as for road rage, the only incident of any significance I've been involved it was when someone stopped dead in front of me. There were 4 people in the car. Two of them wound their windows down and started spraying a middle-aged couple on the pavement with some form of liquid. I wound my window down to see if the couple was ok, thinking there might be acid or something in the liquid they were spraying. Thankfully they were fine.

The people in the car in front of me didn't seem to like the fact that I checked on the couple. As the car in front then waited until I passed, then followed me halfway around the city. Getting out of their car at a red traffic light, then verbally threatening me.

 

[Magna-Carta]

Wow… that sounds terrifying! I can’t believe you had to go through that just for checking if someone was okay. It really shows what a kind and attentive person you are. I’m so glad the couple was fine, but I imagine it must have left you feeling pretty shaken. How did you manage to stay calm in that situation?

They came to my car, with one standing directly in front it it. I always keep an inexpensive camera in my cars, so i took a photo of them all as I was sat in my car. At that they all quickly jumped in their car and sped off.

I would say from their faces, they all looked as though they were in their mid 20s, all with small stature, and darkish skin. Made me think of north Africans. But in reality i hadn’t the faintest idea where they were from.

I'm not sure what their intention was, but I got the impression their heart wasn’t fully in it, being scared off by a camera.