Abusive taxi driver!

bettybelle

I was intimidated in a very aggressive manner by a taxi driver today, in broad daylight, because he insisted I hadn't indicated before pulling out of my lane. There was no potential for accident, it's just because he accelerated so quickly when he pulled out at the same time as me he had to slam the brakes on, I assume.

Whether I was in the wrong or not, his behaviour was abominable. He shouted, swore, flashed his lights, then got out of his car!! I was so afraid I locked my doors. He was like a man possessed!

I know its a case of he says/she says but I saw him indicate, I judged him to be a reasonable distance away for me to pull out too. I didn't anticipate he'd floor the accelerator whilst doing so - there was no need to. Lesson learned there anyway. I maintain I indicated.

Surely a prolific Belfast taxi company can't have crazy middle aged drivers ranting and raving at a young girl on the road?

I was very shaken by the incident and ended up changing my route to avoid him. I have submitted a complaint to the company and I will be complaining to the DVA as well - I was able to get his number plate.

Never, in 5 yrs of driving, have I experienced this. I have never had an accident and have a clean license. The whole thing just shook me so badly, not a great start to Easter

I think I've done all I can do, but if anyone has anything to share, feel free.

gordikin

Indicate more. Mirror-signal-manoeuvre.

Pretani

go on the sick, say you have nightmares and can't drive a car over fear......loose you job, claim DLA if David Cameron will allow you.

there's another option, go onto nagnagnag.co.uk

KiwiCoop

I'll sympathise with you but Pretani did crack me up. Ironically, considering their occupation, they are probably the most inconsiderate drivers on the road. Closely followed by BMW drivers towing their superiority complexes. I'm surprised he got out of his car though - he must be one of the slimmer ones. Next time lock the doors and hang a moon against the window - you'll feel better and we'll get a laugh next time you tell us about it. Though it still won't save me any money.

Golden_Anemone

Betty - what an awful experience. I'm glad you reported it - good for you. I would tell the police as well as the company and DVA.

Last October I was sitting in the inside lane at the roundabout at the end of the airport access road. I was driving straight ahead towards Templepatrick. A taxi driver pulled up in the outer lane beside me. When it was free to go I drove onto the roundabout and signalled to exit at the second exit. As I turned the taxi driver who had taken his time driving onto the roundabout sped up and blasted me with his horn. If I'd seen that he wanted to do that I would have just let him - it wasn't worth an argument.

He followed me the whole way to Templepatrick about 6 inches from the back of my car flashing his lights and banging his horn. He refused to overtake when I gave him the chance and I was too afraid of what he would do to pull over - my disabled sister was in the car with me.

It was dark and raining and he had no lights on except for flashing his headlights. If I had been able to get his number I would have reported him to the police but I was shaking too much and just trying to drive safely.

Fingers crossed when he does kill himself by driving like that he won't involve anyone else.

Pretani

I could write a novel about the amount of ignorant cab drivers in Belfast. Its part and parcel of driving in belfast betty, thank god you're not in London;)

NASA_2

There are a lot of good taxi drivers in Belfast and elsewhere.

Then there are the ones like the OP mentions. I remember crossing a pretty narrow road in Belfast one evening, the light for the on coming traffic was clearly red and had been for a couple of seconds, but the black taxi driver decided that he wanted to carry on through anyway. He had to slam on the breaks and narrowly avoided knocking me down. I sincerely hope his passangers told him what a useless !!!! of a taxi driver he is and that they werent injured through his idiocy.

I narrowly missed out on a few months off work.

absoluteutopia

NASA wrote: »

There are a lot of good taxi drivers in Belfast and elsewhere.

Then there are the ones like the OP mentions. I remember crossing a pretty narrow road in Belfast one evening, the light for the on coming traffic was clearly red and had been for a couple of seconds, but the black taxi driver decided that he wanted to carry on through anyway. He had to slam on the breaks and narrowly avoided knocking me down. I sincerely hope his passangers told him what a useless !!!! of a taxi driver he is and that they werent injured through his idiocy.

I narrowly missed out on a few months off work.

There's people walking back and forth over crossings everyday looking for a chance like that

NASA_2

absoluteutopia wrote: »

There's people walking back and forth over crossings everyday looking for a chance like that

Well, I didnt go into it looking to be clipped, and truth be told I nearly !!!! myself. I wasnt in the wrong though and I was tempted to give him some abuse - he was twice my size though and I would have nearly !!!! myself again.

noodledoodle78

[QUOTE=_I'm_surprised_he_got_out_of_his_car_though_-_he_must_be_one_of_the_slimmer_ones._[/QUOTE]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

MrsE_2

KiwiCoop wrote: »

I'll sympathise with you but Pretani did crack me up. Ironically, considering their occupation, they are probably the most inconsiderate drivers on the road. Closely followed by BMW drivers towing their superiority complexes. I'm surprised he got out of his car though - he must be one of the slimmer ones. Next time lock the doors and hang a moon against the window - you'll feel better and we'll get a laugh next time you tell us about it. Though it still won't save me any money.

My DH has been a cab driver nearly 20 years.

He still drives like "just passed the test perfect driving", he does everything properly & expects everyone else too. I hate having him as a passenger.